What Does Musk Smell Like {Fragnance Guide}

Have you ever wondered, “What does musk smell like?” Is the egg-like brown furball a real musk? You must be also thinking about why this has so much effect on not only animals but also us.

If there are so many questions running in your head, you have clicked on the right website. Today, we will be talking about how this egg has a pleasant, musky smell, definition, musk perfumes, and much more.

So let’s plunge into the heart of musk origins and unravel the secret of its sensual smell!

What Does Musk Smell Like

The musky smell is a heavy base note in perfumery, which gives out a pleasant, earthy, and woodsy smell. In the world of fragrances, musk is an outlier that has such a distinct and unique fragrance. 

Are you enticed? Want to get a strong or light musk perfume for yourself or your partner? Then, keep scrolling to find out the best ones available in the world of perfumery. 

Best Musk Perfumes For Men And Women

We often smell a pleasant perfume and ask, “Oh, that smells so good, so musky. What perfume are you wearing?”

When we humans get attracted to someone, it impacts our senses, which also includes scent. Moreover, you must have also noticed that smelling certain scents can send you on a nostalgic and emotional ride of memories.

What you were feeling at that moment comes back as you smell a particular scent. There are various scents available in the market, which can make you attractive and boost your confidence. And unsurprisingly, the most common one is Musk.

Sources say that women get attracted to men who smell musky. Musk’s fragrances are sensitive to that scent, all thanks to the perfume formula which is nothing but molecules with a subtle scent.

Do you want to smell heavenly? Do you want to make an impact on others by smelling good?

So above were our top-picked musky cologne and perfumes. When it comes to scent, never think about the cost. But if you still wanna know, then the Musk perfume price can start from $20 and can go up to 300 dollars you can also check the price by clicking the button above.

Then here, we have rounded up a list of nine dark and white musk perfumes that have a musk base. So get ready to make the musk talk for you.

Top Musk Perfumes of All Time

1#) My Burberry Black by BurberryMy Burberry Black by Burberry is an Amber Floral perfume for ladies. My Burberry Black was released in 2016. The nostril in the back of this perfume is Francis Kurkdjian. The top notice is Jasmine; the center notes are Peach and Rose; the base notes are Amber and Patchou

2#) Musk Oil Perfume 0.5 Ounce OriginalIt is  Light And Clean, Nothing Else Smells As Good, You May Not Even Be Aware Of Its Fragrance, Smells Different On Everyone. This is the REAL MUSK from back in the day! No heady fragrance from the bottle.

No heady fragrance whilst you follow it. But……….look ahead to it……….supply it about 10 minutes after it warms together along with your body, and a comforting, heavenly heady fragrance will surround you, which others will be aware of as well. Delicious!

3#) I Want Choo by Jimmy Choo

I Want Choo by Jimmy Choo is an Amber Floral perfume for ladies. This is a brand-new perfume. I Want Choo changed into released in 2020. The top notes are Peach and Mandarin Orange; the center notes are Jasmine and Red Lily; the base notes are Vanilla.

4#) L’Envol de Cartier Eau de Parfum by Cartier

 L’Envol de Cartier Eau de Parfum by Cartier is a Amber Woody perfume for men. L’Envol de Cartier Eau de Parfum changed into released in 2016. The nostril in the back of this perfume is Mathilde Laurent. The top notes are Lavender, Artemisia, and Sage; the center notes are Violet Leaf and Pepper; the base notes are Honey, iris, Guaiac Wood, Musk, Patchouli, Amberwood, Vetiver, and Cedar.

5#) Citrus Musk by Pinaud ClubmanCitrus Musk by Pinaud Clubman is a Citrus Aromatic perfume for men. The top notes are Lemon, Lime, Lemongrass, and Bergamot; the center notes are Lily-of-the-Valley, Jasmine, and Carnation; base notes are Musk, Woody Notes, and Tonka Bean.

6. Basil & Neroli by Jo Malone London

Basil & Neroli by Jo Malone London is a Floral Green perfume for ladies and men. Basil & Neroli was released in 2016. The nostril in the back of this perfume is Anne Flipo. The top notice is Basil; the center notice is Neroli; the base notes are White Musk and Vetiver.

7. Royal Copenhagen Musk by Royal Copenhagen

Royal Copenhagen Musk by Royal Copenhagen is a perfume for men. Royal Copenhagen Musk was released in 1974. The top notes are Lavender, Sage, and Basil; the center notes are Jasmine, Lily-of-the-Valley, and Neroli; the base notes are Musk, Oakmoss, Nutmeg, Patchouli, Cloves, and Amber.

8#) Narciso Rodriguez Bleu Noir Extreme For Men EDT

Narciso Rodriguez Bleu Noir Extreme For Men EDT is a Woody Aromatic perfume for men. This is a brand-new perfume. Narciso Rodriguez’s For Him Bleu Noir Eau De Toilette Extreme was released in 2020. The nostril in the back of this perfume is Sonia Constant.

The top notes are Citruses, Ice, Basil, and Green Mandarin; the center notice is Musk; the base notes are Citruses, Ebony, and Cedar.

9#) Mr. Taylors Cologne

Mr. Taylor’s Cologne is an Aromatic Fougere perfume for men. The top notes are Lavender, Bergamot, and Green Notes; the center notes are Geranium and Fern; the base notes are Cedar, Leather, Moss, Musk, and Patchouli.

Musk Origins: What Is A Musky Smell So Famous For?

Can a perfume roar out loud? Can it be sensual? Can it make someone go crazy? Can it be animalistic? Can it be intoxicating?

If there is any single ingredient that can do the above things, it is Musk!

Most of us wear perfumes to smell heavenly and allure others. But do you know that Musk does more than that?

It is said to be a versatile perfume that hypnotizes, balances, and adds more staying power.

But do you know where this heavenly scent comes from? 

Let us take you back to the old centuries when the original musk was taken out from Tibetan musk deer. As soon as people realized that musk could be used to attract females, they started killing deer for it.

To produce a kilo of perfume ingredients, they had to kill more than hundreds of deer. But the use of musk in scents goes way back to the 6th century. It traveled from Greece to India.

Later on, the Arabic and Byzantine perfumers finally perfected the art of bringing out the aphrodisiac smell, and the fame of musk spread like haywire. It was growing popular with spices and silk.

People were impressed and shared that the smell of musk was nutty, dry, fig-like, fatty-chocolate-like, acrid-waxy, sweet-balmy, and chemical-warm. It was believed that if you dropped a single drop of this magic potion on a cloth, then you still would be able to smell it after 40 years.

Well, that is the power of the original Mush.

This most expensive natural product was more valuable than gold.

In ancient Tibetan medicine, the healers used musk as a stimulant for male health.

Plus, traditional Chinese healers still use it for medicinal purposes. In Ayurveda, the practitioners used it for neurological, mental, and cardiac disorders.

The use of Musk continued and it was generously used by the caliphs of Baghdad. Many also used this scent on the walls of religious places to emanate a lovely smell. Even a famous Arab philosopher, named AL-Kindi, used musk.

Today, of course, the perfumers use synthetic musks, which are metallic and sweeter versions that are derived from patented notes like Helvetolide, Velvione, Celestolide, Nirvanolide, Andoxal, as well as Galaxolide. Other ingredients like angelica root, galbanum, and ambrette seed can give musky sensuality. 

The subtleness of the musk makes it versatile for various occasions like celebrations, weddings, and formal weddings. Men who wear opulent and velvety musk are characterized as independent and bold. On the other hand, women who wear sweet and creamy musk are expressed as feminine and sophisticated.

Did you not understand the musk scent description and the origins mentioned above? Want to know the definition of musk?

Then take a look at the musk smell definition, in the next segment.

Definition Of Musky Smell: What Does Musky Mean?

When one asks to define musky smell, a simple and crisp definition from the Merriam-Webster website comes to our mind, and that is:

“An odor resembling musk, especially in heaviness or persistence”

Just a whiff of it can make head turns and give people (mostly girls) a visceral feeling.

Oh, la…!

Today, musk has risen to fame, even though it has been used in fragrances since the period of aphrodite. And this trendy scent has become an essential part of musk perfume lovers.

And it’s our personal favorite too!

Once you sniff the musky perfume, there is no going back! You will understand how alluring and complex it is. So we hope now you know what musky smells like!

Frequently Asked Questions 

Here is the list of most commonly asked questions by the people.

1. Where Does Musk Oil Come From?

Musk oil is obtained by soaking the grains after it is removed from a musk pod. This sac or a preputial gland is situated under the skin of the abdomen of musk deer (male). This pod is about the size of a golf ball. As soon as the grains are removed it dries out and turns into a powdery mixture. The fragrance of this powder can last for a long time.

2. What Does Real Musk Smell Like?

To be honest, the real must smell fecal or like feces because it is high in concentration. Any perfumery won’t suggest you sniff the real musk because it will assault your senses. In simple language, it smells like donkeys at the beach who haven’t bathed for weeks. But if kept for a longer time in pure alcohol it begins to give out an earthy smell.

3. What Does White Musk Smell Like?

White musk smells a little different from ordinary musk. It mostly smells subtle, clean, non-offensive, friendly, sensual, and soapy with a bit of floral nuance. Sources say that white musk is used in fabric softeners, and detergents, and most of it is used in perfumes as well.

Even if it is stored in a tightly sealed bottle, it has a very strong smell. It lacks the natural elements of the original musk, but it is still smooth, synthetic, and sweet.

The original musk has been used since old times, but white musk has become a brand of its own.

Today, the musk-like smell comes from various plants that are capable of producing musky smell compounds such as Ambrette seeds (Abelmoschus moschatus), or Musk Flower (Mimulus Moschatus) Abelmosk and Garden Angelica (Angelica Archangelica).

Our Final Words On Origins Of Musky Fragrance

We hope now you know where the musk comes from and what is musk in the perfume industry. In the world of floral, fruity, and citrus smells, the woodsy base notes of musk hold a special place in people’s hearts, both young and old. Undoubtedly, it has become a cornerstone of the perfume world.

And don’t worry, today’s musky scent is derived synthetically, and not from the glands of deers.

So go ahead and buy one today! Stay tuned for more updates.

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