Musk perfume: The 9 best perfumes with the captivating scent

Musk perfume: These are the 9 best perfumes with the captivating scent

Leathery, velvety and a bit animalic: musk is one of the most sought-after ingredients in the perfume industry. As the heart of many fragrances, it is not consciously perceived and thus gives a “you, but better” smell.

Musk used to be taken from the animals of the same name when its sweet, velvety smell was discovered - but don't worry: these days, perfumes are almost exclusively made with synthetic musk, giving so manytheir depth.

We've collected the nine best scents with musk, whether sweet, fruity or tart notes. Have fun shopping!

1. What is musk?

Musk, also known as “musc,” is a, which has been used in perfumery for centuries. It originally comes from the glands of the musk deer, which produces it to mark its territory and attract mating partners. Nowadays, however, natural musk is no longer used; it is produced artificially.

2. Why is musk forbidden?

Not all types of musk are banned, only those that have animal origin. In the past, natural musk was obtained by hunting musk deer, which led to ethical concerns and environmental problems - because the secretion from the animals could usually only be extracted through torture. Today, the use of natural musk in perfumes is largely banned to ensure animal welfare. Instead, perfumers use synthetic musks that are ethically sourced.

There are various synthetic musks used in the perfume industry, but the two main categories best known are nitro musks and polycyclic musks.

3. What does musk smell like?

Describing the smell of musk is not easy. Most people describe it with attributes such as warm and velvety. Depending on how they are combined, the scent notes of musk can range from powdery to woody to slightly floral.

There is one thing about musk, however: it is never really consciously perceived. Musk plays a crucial role in perfumery as a fixator: This means that it gives other scents a warm base note without pushing itself into the foreground.

4. How is musk used in perfumes?

Musk is used in many perfumesused. It is the longest-lasting of the three fragrance notes (top note, middle note and base note) - and stays on the skin the longest, so that with a good perfume you can still smell it for hours. Base notes form the foundation of the perfume and only develop after a certain amount of time - perfect for the depth of the musky smell.

5. Musk perfume: These are our 9 favorites