Musk perfumes
Musk in modern perfume is synthetic: clean, soft and skin-like, the “fresh laundry” smell at the end of many perfumes. It sits in the base and lasts for hours, so it often carries the dry-down long after the top notes are gone. Some people can barely smell certain musks, so how strong one seems varies a lot from person to person. Editorial inference
Perfumes with musk notes
Musk is a key note
-
Bleu de Chanel Eau de Parfum
- Woody / amber
- Amber
- Musk
- Sandalwood
Soft citrus over sandalwood, amber and a little incense. Smoother, warmer and longer-lasting than the EDT, and just as easy to wear.
Perfumer: Jacques Polge
-
Idôle Eau de Parfum
- Floral / fresh
- Rose
- Jasmine
- White musk
Fresh rose and jasmine over clean white musk, with a touch of pear. Bright, easy and far less sweet than most rose perfumes.
Perfumers: Shyamala Maisondieu, Adriana Medina-Baez, Nadège Le Garlantezec, Sonia Constant
-
Her Eau de Parfum
- Fruity / gourmand
- Dark berries
- Jasmine
- Violet
- Amber
- Musk
A big basket of red and dark berries over soft jasmine, violet and a warm musky amber. Sweet, juicy and cheerful without being sugary.
Perfumer: Francis Kurkdjian
-
Paradoxe Eau de Parfum
- Floral / amber
- Neroli
- Amber
- White musk
Bright neroli and orange blossom over a soft, glowing amber and clean white musk. Fresh, warm and polished, easy to wear anywhere.
Perfumers: Nadège Le Garlantezec, Shyamala Maisondieu, Antoine Maisondieu
-
Eilish Eau de Parfum
- Amber / gourmand
- Sugared petals
- Mandarin
- Red berries
- Vanilla
- Cocoa
- Soft spices
- Musk
Sugared petals and red berries over vanilla, cocoa and soft spices, with a base of woods, tonka and musk. A warm, sweet skin scent that’s easy to like.
Perfumer: Not disclosed by the brand
Musk in the full note list
These don’t lead with musk, but it’s in their published notes, usually in the base.
-
Bleu de Chanel Eau de Toilette
- Woody / aromatic
- Citrus
- Cedar
- Sandalwood
Bright citrus over smooth, clean woods. Polished, and easy to wear to work.
Perfumer: Jacques Polge
-
Libre Eau de Parfum
- Floral / fougère
- Lavender
- Orange blossom
- Vanilla
French lavender and Moroccan orange blossom over vanilla and musk. Polished and floral, clean enough for the office, warm enough for the evening.
Perfumers: Anne Flipo, Carlos Benaïm
-
Aventus Eau de Parfum
- Fruity / woody
- Bergamot
- Pineapple
- Birch
Juicy pineapple and bergamot over smoky birch and musk. Famous, expensive and much copied; sample first, because batches vary.
Perfumers: Jean-Christophe Hérault, Olivier Creed
-
Light Blue Eau de Toilette
- Citrus / fruity
- Sicilian lemon
- Apple
- Cedar
Sparkling lemon and crisp apple over clean cedar. A breezy summer classic.
Perfumer: Olivier Cresp
-
Cloud Eau de Parfum
- Gourmand / musky
- Pear
- Coconut
- Praline
A fluffy, sweet musk of pear, coconut cream and praline. Easy to like, inexpensive, and softer than it first seems.
Perfumer: Clément Gavarry
-
Dylan Blue Pour Homme Eau de Toilette
- Aromatic / fresh
- Bergamot
- Black pepper
- Incense
Bergamot, grapefruit and fig leaf over black pepper, ambroxan and a smoky incense base. A fresh blue scent with a darker, warmer dry-down than most.
Perfumer: Alberto Morillas
-
Polo Blue Eau de Toilette
- Aquatic / aromatic
- Melon
- Cucumber
- Suede
Cool melon and cucumber, clary sage and basil, and a soft suede base. Clean, easy and affordable: the classic American summer cologne.
Perfumers: Carlos Benaïm, Christophe Laudamiel
-
Paradigme Eau de Parfum
- Amber / woody
- Bergamot
- Geranium
- Benzoin
Bright bergamot and green geranium over warm balsams and guaiac wood. A smooth, modern amber-woody scent that’s fresh at first and cozy underneath.
Perfumers: Marie Salamagne, Bruno Jovanovic, Nicolas Bonneville
-
Daisy Eau de Toilette
- floral / fruity
- wild berries
- violet
- jasmine
- sandalwood
- Floral / fruity
- Wild berries
- Violet
- Jasmine
- Sandalwood
Strawberry, grapefruit and violet leaf over soft jasmine and clean musk. Light, fresh and sweet in a gentle way, with the famous daisy-topped bottle.
Perfumer: Alberto Morillas
-
Vanilla 28 Eau de Parfum
- Amber / gourmand
- Vanilla orchid
- Jasmine
- Brown sugar
- Tonka
- Amber woods
Rich vanilla and brown sugar with tonka, a touch of jasmine and warm amber woods. Sweet and cozy, but warmer and more grown-up than a dessert perfume.
Perfumer: Gabriela Chelariu
Comparisons
- Comparison Bleu de Chanel EDT vs EDP Bleu de Chanel Eau de Toilette vs Eau de Parfum: the notes Chanel lists for each, how they differ from opening to dry-down, and which to sample first.
- Comparison Sauvage vs Bleu de Chanel Dior Sauvage vs Bleu de Chanel: the two best-known fresh men’s scents compared, with the notes each brand lists, how they differ and which to sample first.
- Comparison Bleu de Chanel vs Acqua di Giò Bleu de Chanel vs Giorgio Armani Acqua di Giò: two fresh classics compared, with the notes each brand lists, how they differ and which to sample first.
- Comparison Light Blue vs Devotion Dolce&Gabbana Light Blue vs Devotion: two lemon-led perfumes by the same perfumer compared, with the notes the brand lists, how they differ and which to sample first.
- Comparison Cloud vs Baccarat Rouge 540 Ariana Grande Cloud vs Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540: the notes each brand lists, how they really differ, and whether Cloud works as a cheaper stand-in.
- Comparison Dylan Blue vs Sauvage Versace Dylan Blue vs Dior Sauvage: two fresh, peppery blue men’s scents compared, with the notes each brand lists, how they differ and which to sample first.