Musk is a complex fragrance component that creates an irresistibly animalistic and aphrodisiac aroma. From the ultimate must-have to low budget options, we’ve rounded the top musky perfumes to add to your fragrance arsenal. You will also get tips on what qualities to look for in the best musky perfume.
Musky perfumes let you radiate an elegant scent wherever you go. With these musky perfumes, you’ll get a powerhouse scent that would match your sophisticated lifestyle and alluring character.
The Top Musky Perfume Reviews
Best Overall Musky Perfume: Glossier You Eau de Parfum
If you want an ambiguous musky scent that gives you a warm yet sparkling feeling, the Glossier You Eau de Parfum can provide a creamy and spicy smell from opening to dry down.
Unlike traditional musky perfumes, it balances the musky scent from top to base notes by mixing natural musks with other musk-like ingredients. After opening the perfume bottle, you’ll immediately smell the earthy top notes consisting of ambrox, pink pepper, and the extremely rare iris root.
The middle notes incorporate grapes and ginger for a cleaner and fresher aroma to tone down the neroli’s animalistic scent. As you spend the day, the projection emanates the most pungent scent from white musk and blonde trees.
Its muskiness in every layer makes the aroma linger for hours, which means you don’t have to reapply frequently. Glossier You is also a great option if you want a gradual introduction to musky fragrances, as the fruity-oriental notes are appealing even if you have a sensitive sense of smell.
The various layers of musks may sometimes smell like rose or pencil shavings. This interesting use of musky notes allows the perfume to blend well with different body chemistry, ensuring you won’t smell like anybody else.
What We Like
- Delicate and fit for sensitive nose
- Enhances the body’s natural scent
- Moderate longevity
What We Don’t Like
- A bit expensive
- May feel waxy on the skin
- Old-fashioned powdery fragrance
Best Musky Perfume for the Money: Tom Ford Noir Eau de Toilette
- Designed for men
- For casual use
- This product is made of high quality material
- Opens with bright, pure citrus oils and herbal notes Infused with central notes of Bulgarian rose,...
Are you looking for a perfume that evokes a mysterious memory on a rainy day? Then, the Tom Ford Noir Eau de Toilette is the aromatic and spicy fragrance for you. Of all the Tom Ford fragrances, this one has probably the most balanced and quality aroma.
Unlike Glossier You, you won’t smell musk right away as the opening notes emit citrusy scents from mint, bergamot, vervain, and lemon. The middle layer serves as a bridge using oriental fragrances from black pepper, geranium, leather, and vanilla. It also has some herbal nuances from iris and nutmeg.
It’s only in the base notes when you get the strong musky scent from dry wood, musk, patchouli, and civet. As a result, it’s musky projection isn’t as strong as Glossier You, although it presents a dynamic aroma coming from a mix of herbal and musky notes.
Despite the Tom Ford Noir being a men’s fragrance, ladies can also use this for casual days or occasions when you want a masculine edge without emitting an offensive smell. Depending on the body chemistry, the fragrance may either smell like an old-fashioned leather or a slightly sweet herbal tea.
What We Like
- Long-lasting sillage
- Mediterranean and retro vibes with a hint of contemporary scent
- A ‘dark’ scent for those who want more depth
What We Don’t Like
- Moderate projection
- Powdery effect on the skin
- Herbal notes may not be appealing for some people
Best Cheap Musky Perfume: Dolce & Gabbana The One Eau de Parfum
- This beautiful fragrance for women is elegant and classic, evoking the timeless sense of ages past.
- Top Notes: Bergamot, Mandarin, Lychee, Peach
- Middle Notes: Madonna Lily, Muguet, Plum, Jasmine
- Base Notes: Vanilla, Amber, Musk
Musky perfumes tend to be expensive because of rare, natural, and plant-based ingredients coming from several parts of the world. With, Dolce & Gabbana The One Eau de Parfum you can experience a rich, musky fragrance without splurging.
If the Tom Ford Noir has a dark, mysterious vibe, this one veers to a more soft and sweet side of musk. Each spray opens with fresh fruity notes of lychee, mandarin, orange, and peach, with a hint of bergamot.
Floral notes of jasmine, Madonna lily, and lily-of-the-valley intertwine in the middle layer. Like the Tom Ford Noir, the muskiness only becomes prominent in the base notes, with amber, vetiver musk, plum, and vanilla finishing the spicy scent.
This musky perfume is a great option if you want a long-lasting fragrance for the winter months, as minimal body heat prevents the aroma from evaporating faster. Its sillage is almost similar to Glossier You, creating an animalistic and sensual effect when mixed with the body’s natural oils.
However, the dry down may smell more fruity or creamy than musk. Nevertheless, Dolce & Gabbana The One is an excellent choice if you prefer a sweeter and smoother effect on the skin.
What We Like
- Powerful longevity
- Good for both daytime and nighttime use
- Classy fragrance for a budget-friendly price
What We Don’t Like
- Floral-fruity composition may not be alluring for some men
- Has a powdery vanilla trace
- May smell like mature or old flowers
Best Light and Refreshing Musky Perfume: Narciso Rodriguez Pure Musc Eau de Parfum
- Launched by the design house of narciso rodriguez in the year 2019
- Musk, flowers and cashmeran casual wear
- Long lasting fragrance
- Increase attraction and skin friendly fragrance
Musky perfume doesn’t automatically mean it’s repulsive; it can also be cool and non-obtrusive. If you want a scent that reminds you of childhood pureness with a pang of teenage vibe, the Narciso Rodriguez Pure Musc Eau de Parfum will give you that reminiscent feeling.
This perfume is like the middle ground of The One and Glossier You. If you want to wear a musky perfume at work or school without smelling too aromatic or spicy, you’ll enjoy the milky and slightly green scent of this musky perfume.
It opens with a floral touch of African orange flower, jasmine, and ylang-ylang, emitting a hint of medicinal scent. Unlike Tom Ford’s Noir, this perfume introduces amber and musk early in the middle notes.
Honey, vanilla, and vetiver in the base notes reinforce the top and heart notes to create a more potent musk aroma. Even if you use the Pure Musc during summer or spring, the dry down on the skin doesn’t feel heavy or sticky. In fact, the heat only makes the perfume oil smell better.
What We Like
- Sillage radiates within an arm’s length
- A more conservative fragrance
- Ideal for fall, winter, and spring
What We Don’t Like
- Very floral opening
- May smell more synthetic musk than natural
- Not suitable for those who want a strong, musk aroma
Best Musky Perfume for Women: OUI Juicy Couture Eau de Parfum
- Ingredients: ALCOHOL DENT, PARFUM (FRAGRANCE), AQUA/WATER/EAU, BENZYL BENZOATE, BENZYL SALICYLATE,...
- Release year: 2018.
- Top notes: watermelon, Acai Berry, tea, pear. Middle notes: jasmine, tuberose, honeysuckle. Base...
- Middle notes: jasmine, tuberose, honeysuckle. Base notes: woodsy notes, amber, musk.
Some musky perfumes come off ‘too masculine’ or ‘mature’ for a sensitive smell, like the Glossier You and Tom Ford Noir. If you want a mix of youthful edge and enchanting feminine touch, you would say ‘oui! (yes)’ to OUI Juicy Couture Eau de Parfum.
What sets this perfume apart from the others is that it opens with a blast of watermelon and açaí, making each spray light and aquatic-like. The top notes linger as the middle notes of jasmine, tuberose, and honeysuckle emit a sour, musky aroma.
The sour note fades a bit, as wood, amber, and musk give the right amount of muskiness. In effect, the musk notes keep the sweetness and creaminess at bay, making the musk more prominent. Besides, it smells even better when used with lotion or soap with the same scent.
Depending on the weather and your body chemistry, the dry down may smell either like a fruit bowl with a tinge of musk or sexy, musky metallic.
The OUI Juicy Couture can be your signature musky perfume if you want a sweet, musky aroma with a hint of freshness. As a bonus, the eye-catching perfume bottle serves as a glamorous decoration to any fragrance collection.
What We Like
- Powerful sillage
- Fleeting, refreshing aroma due to the unique addition of watermelon
- Sophisticated, vibrant scent
What We Don’t Like
- Weak longevity
- Aquatic notes may overpower the musk at some point
- Has a sour part
Features to Consider in Musky Perfumes
The ingredients, notes, and concentration are essential in finding the right musky perfume for your needs. While musky fragrances may vary, some aspects can help you determine if a certain fragrance is the best one for you.
Raw Materials
If you’re looking for a perfume that shouts like an animal’s roar or sex appeal in a bottle, musky fragrances can give you that effect.
Musk is among the most commonly used fragrance notes because it provides various scents. It is a perfume fixative, which means musk balances and slows down the evaporation process, helping the other ingredients live longer. Perfumers have three sources of musks.
Natural Musks
Traditionally, musk is an aromatic substance that comes from an animal’s glandular secretions. The most common is the secretion inside the abdomen’s internal pouch of a male deer. This is why it gets its name from the musk deer, an animal that uses a sac to attract mates.
Ambergris is another natural musk that comes from sperm whale vomit. While it sounds disgusting, this raw material’s aroma becomes a delicate, sweet rosy scent when mixed with alcohol. This is also common in incense, which is how some musky perfumes smell.
Greek explorers started using musk from India in the 6th century. Later, Byzantine and Arabic perfumers’ use of the musk’s aphrodisiac powers became popular along the silk and spice routes. These are two types of natural musks in trade:
- White musk: Clean and powdery scent that resembles the smell of clean linen. This type of natural musk is more versatile, letting it blend better with other ingredients.
- Dirty musk: Means there’s some filth that makes the scent more exciting and animalistic. This type of natural musk is more suitable if you prefer a more charming or intoxicating scent.
Synthetic Musks
The trading of natural musks is controversial because Tibetan musk deer became endangered. At present, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora protects the animal.
It’s illegal in some countries to obtain and trade deer musk, driving perfumers to innovate on developing materials that can emulate natural musk’s animalistic properties.
As an alternative to natural musks, there are chemically-produced patented notes such as:
- Helvetolide
- Velvione
- Celestolide
- Nirvanolide
- Galaxolide
- Tonalide
- Musk xylene
Plant-Based Musks
Some plants produce musky-smelling compounds that are excellent substitutes for natural musks.
- Oud: One of the most expensive and highly potent perfume materials known for its warm, woody, and smoky scent. It comes from the tropical agar tree that produces a dense, dark, and fragrance resin to protect itself against mold.
- Orris: When dried, iris flower root creates a warm and creamy quality that adds a powdery effect to a scent, like in the case of Glossier You. It’s a rare ingredient as the plant’s cultivation is almost exclusive in Italy, and the process takes about years.
- Patchouli: Has a musky-earthy scent that smells like candles and incense. As part of the mint family, patchouli releases a fresh and cool aroma to perfumes like Tom Ford Noir.
- Bergamot: An incredibly bitter essence that resembles Earl Grey teas. Like Dolce & Gabbana The One, musky perfumes with bergamot tend to have a fresh yet spicy citrus fragrance.
- Amber: Gives off a warm, rich oriental scent that blends well with honey-like perfumes, much like the mixture of OUI Juicy Couture. Since the ingredient comes from sticky resin, perfumes with amber tend to have creamy dry drown.
- Neroli: Steam-distilled from the blossoms of bitter orange. This ingredient makes musky perfumes give off a sweet, honey-like, and almost metallic scent. Like in Glossier You, neroli makes strong fragrances smell woody than herbal.
- Vetiver: Comes from a tropical grass native to India that generates a woody earthiness, making perfumes, such as Narciso Rodriguez’s Pure Musc, smell like smokey incense and cigars.
Fragrance Notes
Every perfume contains different notes that help create the overall fragrance. Knowing where you can find the musk allows you to decide how long you want the musky effect to resonate.
- Top notes: If you want to smell the musk scent right away, opt for perfumes with the musk found on the top notes. This part shapes the fragrance’s story, often giving the scent’s first impression. Head notes usually evaporate after 15 minutes before smoothly transitioning into the next level.
- Heart notes: The middle notes make up the ‘heart’ of the fragrances by introducing the new, main ingredients. This part makes the scent fuller since the layer evaporates slower than the top notes.
- Base notes: Along with the heart notes, the base notes form the fragrance’s foundation. This part boosts the lighter notes to add depth and resonance to the mixture. This heavy layer allows the perfume’s oils to mix with the body’s natural oils, prompting body heat to enrich the musk.
Of all the fragrances, only the Glossier You maintains a musky scent from top to finish. Dolce & Gabbana The One mixes musky materials from opening to heart notes.
Meanwhile, Narciso Rodrigue’s Pure Musc introduces musk from the middle to base notes. OUI Juicy Couture and Tom Ford Noir focus the musk notes at the base or dry down.
Concentration and Projection
Your sense of smell plays an essential role in choosing a musky perfume. Musk is an often misunderstood ingredient, with some people thinking of it as a nuisance. Some fragrances may smell too strong or light for you, and such factors depend on the varying levels of concentration.
Since musks allow a perfume’s ingredients to last longer, the concentration levels also tend to smell longer. In choosing the right musky perfume for your preference, you must also consider which concentration level suits your style.
- Eau de Fraiche: Has the lightest scent among all fragrances, lasting for 2 to 4 hours. This is ideal if you want an everyday fragrance without going over the top while still radiating a striking aroma.
- Eau de Cologne: Includes 2-5% perfume oil concentration, with the musk allowing the perfume to last for up to 6 hours. Perfumes of this level include fresh and light notes, along with musk accords that create a subtle yet powerful statement.
- Eau de Toilette: The suitable concentration if you prefer something light and less complex scent. This level lets you gradually try musk while taking advantage of up to 10-hour projection power.
- Eau de Parfum: When mixed with alcohol, this level projects a tenacious aroma for up to 12 hours, making it perfect for those who want a longer-lasting sillage.
- Parfum: The most expensive due to its high concentration. It delivers a richer and more complex scent that may last for up to a day.
Even if you spray several times, the perfume won’t stay long unless it has a high concentration level, and thus, superb projection. To ensure maximum longevity, we’ve provided four Eau de Parfum options. Tom Ford Noir is the only Eau de Toilette, although its projection can compete with the others.
Cost
Price may increase as the level of concentration surges. However, perfumes with more potent concentrations, like Glossier You and Tom Ford Noir, tend to have a longer-lasting aroma. This is why the list provides you with choices that balance quality and cost.
Conclusion
Are you ready to add some mystery and depth to your scent? Musky perfumes can have woodsy, earthy, spicy, and even sweet aromas. Depending on your style and preference, the best musky perfume can become your staple, long-lasting fragrance.