It’s taken me the latter part of my teens into my early twenties to figure out what my signature scent is. I don’t know about you, but I’ve definitely suffered from scent fatigue going into Sephora that no amount of coffee beans could ever fix.
Lately, I’ve grown very fond of musky scents. They’re the most intimate of skin scents, like the fragrance equivalent of no-makeup makeup. Incredibly versatile, super effortless. I gravitate toward musks because, to me, they feel timeless. Living in Brooklyn, I appreciate the clean and soothing aspect musks give to my skin, keeping me sane. Musks are a reassuring and relaxing scent to combat with the bustle and honestly, the olfactory hellscape that is NYC.
I have an incredibly sensitive nose. Since moving here four years ago, I’ve become a little obsessed with the need to smell good, but not overpowering. I want something gentle and easy to wear. I want to feel warm, cozy, grounded, and fresh. I need a scent that improves my mood and makes me feel at ease. Something to counterbalance my environment. Musky fragrances work in tandem with your skin, mimicking its natural scent and enhancing each person’s individual aroma. So keep in mind that musk smells completely different on everyone. It’s a quiet power— a better compliment to be told you smell good rather than someone asking what fragrance you’re wearing. In that way, it’s very alluring and sensual.
My musk preferences err on the woody side, usually something more masculine. With all of that in mind, here are my thoughts on 5 musky fragrances tried and tested by a beginner yet passionate frag-head.
Not a Perfume by Juliette Has a Gun
Main Accords: amber, musky, woody
Notes: ambroxan, cetalox
This was my first introduction to the whole clean musk universe. It’s incredibly simple—made from ambroxan, a synthetic replacement for grey amber that’s often used as a base note, but standing alone in Not a Perfume. It’s subtle, marketed toward women but not outwardly feminine. On first spritz, it’s smells a little like alcohol, and a little soapy. But I wore this bad boy as one of my main fragrances for the past couple of years, so clearly I enjoy it. It lingers well on clothing. It just isn’t doing enough for me now—I want something a little more complex.
Xtra-Milk by Dedcool
Main Accords: musky, powdery, amber, animalic
Notes: white musk, amber, bergamot
This one might be my least favourite of the bunch. Well, least favourite is a strong declaration—it’s not bad, by any means, there’s just better out there. The longevity isn’t great and I found the scent to be super mild and a little bit vegetal. The first time I used it, I couldn’t smell a thing—a bad sign. Xtra Milk is built for layering, something I honestly haven’t tried just because I want a low-effort experience. Despite not lasting long on skin, it certainly lingers on clothing, which is part of what I like most about these skin-adjacent scents. I secretly love the scent of clothing that’s been buried deep in a drawer for ages, add in a faint whiff of Xtra Milk and the nostalgia factor kicks in.
While I wouldn’t necessarily recommend purchasing the eau de parfum, the Room + Linen spray is very enticing to me.
You by Glossier
Main Accords: iris, musky, powdery, amber, violet
Notes: pink pepper, iris, ambroxan, ambrette
I’ll admit it, I’ve never actually worn this fragrance, but it’s one that most of my friends wear or have historically worn. I’ll forever strongly associate it with my university days. You is a bit too feminine and floral for my own collection. If I had to purchase any of Glossier’s perfumes, I’d honestly probably choose their latest, You Fleur. It still has the classic notes of You, but it’s elevated, the amber accord taking the centre stage.
Dylan by Rosie Jane
Main Accords: woody, musky, powdery, amber
Notes: cedar, white musk, olibanum
Dylan is a cedar, frankincense, and white musk blend. It’s really clean and refreshing—precisely one of those scents where you walk in the room and someone would say, wow, you smell amazing. Through my exploration of this fragrance family, I’ve found that I really enjoy the combination of cedar and musk together. It’s a unisex fragrance, but I find the cedar makes it more masculine, which I greatly appreciate. Sadly, it doesn’t last as long as I’d like it to.
Dylan’s stronger, wiser cousin is 2030 Park Ave by Pearfat Parfum (shout out to oddcritic’s founder jenn for putting me on). It’s incredibly long-lasting. It’s aquatic, ozonic, woody, and musky, with main notes of rain, ambrette, cedar, lemon, sugar, and tuberose. Not precisely the clean musky scent that I have been gravitating towards, but it’s still in the family. It’s quite potent, so one spritz usually does the job, but it’s so fresh that I needed to mention. The cedar and lemon certainly comes through, and it’s so fresh dare I say it’s borderline minty. The rain notes in it make it so invigorating, truly the star of the show.
Missing Person by Phlur
Main Accords: musky, woody, powdery, floral
Notes: musk, bergamot, jasmine, neroli, cyclamen, orange blossom, sandalwood
Missing Person is heavy in my rotation. It lasts so long, and it’s the one I’ve gotten the most compliments on. The idea behind the fragrance, to my understanding, is that it’s supposed to be reminiscent of someone who is no longer in your life, evoking feelings of longing and nostalgia. To me, this is the most sensual of the musky skin scents I’ve tried, due to the floral notes. It feels very warm and comforting to me, and I enjoy walking around feeling like a hug. If musky scents are the fragrance equivalent to no-makeup makeup, I reckon they’re also the artificial equivalent of wearing a boyfriend’s sweater, or something like that.
What to try next? I’m really intrigued by rice scents. White Rice by d’Annam, and Dirty Rice by Born to Stand Out are next on my list. They’re more complex than the others, but still retain the musky base notes.