The note of musk is an incredibly complex fragrance note with a widely varying scent. Due to this variety, there are many different musk fragrances on the market, but what are the best musk fragrances for women?
What Is The Note Of Musk And How Does It Smell
Musk is one of the most commonly used fragrance notes, for multiple reasons. Firstly, musk smells incredible. However, there are many ‘types’ of musk, all providing you with a different scent.
For example, the note of white musk can have a very clean and even powdery scent that’s often compared to clean linen. There are a lot of fragrances that use a musky note for the clean, almost skin-like scent. However, there are also more intense scents of musk. These are often called dirty musks and give the fragrance a dirty animalic scent. Even though dirty sounds like it’s not that good, it’s actually fantastic. Dirty means that there’s some filth in it, making it more interesting and appealing.
The second reason for the common usage of musk has more to do with the chemistry behind fragrances. Musk is a fixative, which means that it slows down the evaporation process. This essentially means that musk makes a fragrance last longer.
Both clean musks and animalic, dirty musks can make for some absolutely beautiful fragrances. Below are some of the best musky fragrances for women, in no particular order!
1. Kiehl’s Original Musk
Scent: Kiehl’s Original Musk is a beautiful fragrance with a clean and animalic scent. This fragrance opens with a powdery scent of white florals, creating a clean and fresh feel. Quickly after the opening, the note of musk is added, which, together with the powdery florals, creates an almost soapy-like scent. From here on, the fragrance becomes a bit more animalic, turning into a realistic scent of actual deer musk. Overall, you get a stunning fragrance with a realistic and accurate representation of what musk is about.
Notes: The top notes of Kiehl’s Original Musk are bergamot and orange blossom. The middle notes are rose, ylang ylang, neroli, and lily. The base notes are patchouli, musk, and tonka bean.
Best for: Kiehl’s Original Musk is a fantastic fragrance that you can easily wear all year long. This fragrance has a musky and clean scent, which works well in both the warmer, as well as the colder seasons. Throughout the year, this fragrance is quite easy to wear. It works great as a casual daytime fragrance, but it works just as well in the office. You could even wear this one when you’re working out as well. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
2. Nasomatto Silver Musk
Scent: Nasomatto Silver Musk is the embodiment of the term ‘clean musk’. This fragrance has a fairly linear scent, but the scent itself is truly beautiful. It’s on a whole different level. From the first spray, you get a gorgeous scent of clean, skin-like musk. This smells as if you’ve just washed with the best smelling, long lingering soap. This clean scent of musk stays there for the remainder of the fragrance, leaving you with this bright, clean, soapy, and almost divine scent.
Notes: The only listed note of Nasomatto Silver Musk is musk.
Best for: Nasomatto Silver Musk is a truly beautiful fragrance with a clean and fresh scent. Even though this fragrance can easily be worn all year long, it works best with the warmer months, where the clean and soft scent of musk can truly shine. During the warmer months, this fragrance is perfect for the office or any other formal setting, but it works just as well in a casual setting or even in the gym. The clean scent of this fragrance will never be out of place and will never disappoint. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
3. Versace Woman
Scent: Versace Woman is a beautiful fragrance with a fruity and floral scent. This fragrance opens with a light scent of sweet fruits, supported by some faint floral notes. This scent will stay there for quite a while, only to be accompanied by a beautiful scent of clean musk. When the musk is added, the fruity notes also become more pronounced, creating a richer, more elegant scent. In the dry down, a warm hint of amber makes itself known, leaving you with an overall beautiful fragrance with a sophisticated and romantic scent.
Notes: The top notes of Versace Woman are rose, bergamot, and jasmine leaves. The middle notes are lotus, cedar, plum, and raspberry. The base notes are musk and amber.
Best for: Versace Woman is a fantastic warm-weather fragrance, perfect for the spring and summer. During these months, a clean, fruity fragrance like this will fit in perfectly, as the fruits have a lively feel to them. Throughout the warmer months, this fragrance is great for casual everyday wear, but you cannot go wrong with this in the office either. This is also a great fragrance for a date, as the clean musk and sweet fruits have an alluring and romantic feel to them. This fragrance is also very inexpensive as well. If you’re interested, you can check out the current price over here on Amazon!
4. Rasasi Emotion
Scent: Rasasi Emotion is an incredible fragrance with a fresh and bright scent. This fragrance opens with a burst of fresh citruses, creating a happy and uplifting scent. A little while after the opening, you can start to notice some more fruity notes, such as pineapple and kiwi. These add a natural sweetness to the bright citruses, creating a nice contrast. When this fragrance starts to dry down, a nice hint of clean and fresh musk comes forth, leaving you with an overall stunning and happy fragrance.
Notes: The top notes of Rasasi Emotion are mandarin, orange, bergamot, and lemon. The middle notes are pineapple, blackcurrant, freesia, kiwi, water lily, and jasmine. The base notes are vanilla, cedar, sandalwood, and musk.
Best for: Rasasi Emotion is a burst of citrusy freshness. Such a scent is perfect for the warmer months, where it will provide you with a refreshing and uplifting vibe. The citruses in this fragrance are on the stronger side, so you might want to avoid this fragrance is a formal setting, but in a casual setting, it’s absolutely perfect. It’s attention-grabbing, but not overpowering, making it perfect for get-togethers with friends or family. It’s also incredibly affordable. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check out the current price over here on Amazon!
5. Frederic Malle Musc Ravageur
Scent: Frederic Malle Musc Ravageur is a beautiful fragrance with a warm and spicy scent of musk. This fragrance opens with a beautiful, warm scent of spices, namely cinnamon and cloves. Quickly after the opening, a soft hint of lavender is present, mellowing out the warm spices. Along with the lavender comes the musky note, giving the fragrance a dirty feel. In the dry down, a creamy scent of vanilla is added, leaving you with an overall gorgeous, warm, and spicy scent of dirty musk. A truly beautiful fragrance.
Notes: The top notes of Frederic Malle Musc Ravageur are tangerine, bergamot, and lavender. The middle notes are cloves and cinnamon. The base notes are cedar, guaiac wood, amber, vanilla, musk, tonka bean, and sandalwood.
Best for: Frederic Malle Musc Ravageur is a warm and spicy fragrance that’s best worn during the colder months. During these months, this fragrance will provide you with a sophisticated and warm feel, making you irresistible anywhere you wear this. And even though this fragrance is on the dirtier musky side, it’s still fairly easy to wear. With an appropriate number of sprays, you can wear this to the office, to a date, to a night out, or just casually throughout the day. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
6. The Body Shop White Musk
Scent: The Body Shop White Musk is a beautiful fragrance with a powdery scent of florals and musk. This fragrance immediately opens with a hint of musk, creating a soft and clean feel. This is quickly accompanied by a powdery feel, courtesy of the white floral notes. After a little while, the musk starts to take a subtle, yet noticeable animalic turn, creating an addictive and sensual vibe. In the end, you’re left with a beautiful, feminine fragrance with a musky, powdery, and clean scent.
Notes: The top notes of The Body Shop White Musk are ylang ylang, basil, galbanum, musk, and lily. The middle notes are rose, jasmine, musk, and lily. The base notes are vanilla, rose, musk, vetiver, patchouli, oakmoss, peach, iris, amber, and jasmine.
Best for: The Body Shop White Musk is a fantastic fragrance that you can actually wear all year long. The combination of the fresh florals and the animalic musk creates a lovely scent that works great during both the warmer and colder months. Throughout the year, this fragrance is perfect for casual everyday wear. And, due to the addictive and sensual animalic scent, this is also a fantastic nighttime fragrance that works great for nights out and dates. And besides smelling great, this fragrance is also very inexpensive. If you’re interested, you can check out the current price over here on Amazon!
7. Narciso Rodriguez For Her Musk
Scent: Narciso Rodriguez For Her Musk is a beautiful fragrance with a musky scent of white florals. This fragrance opens with a somewhat medicinal scent that could be a bit offsetting. Luckily, this quickly fades away and makes room for a beautiful scent of musk and white florals. Added to the musk is a warm touch of amber, making this almost smell like a clean and gorgeous second skin. In the dry down, some woody and sweet notes are present, but this fragrance is all about the warm musk and florals.
Notes: The top notes of Narciso Rodriguez For Her Musk are ylang ylang, jasmine, and African orange flower. The middle notes are amber and musk. The base notes are white honey, vanilla, vetiver, and woody notes.
Best for: Narciso Rodriguez For Her Musk is a fantastic fragrance that’s perfect for the fall, winter, and spring. During these months, the temperatures are on the cooler and colder side, in which a warm, musky fragrance like this truly thrives. Throughout these months, this fragrance works great in a casual setting. Due to the medicinal opening and warm scent of musk, this fragrance might not be the best for the office, but in a casual setting or even a nighttime setting, this fragrance is perfect. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
8. Serge Lutens Clair De Musc
Scent: Serge Lutens Clair De Musc is a gorgeous fragrance that truly embodies the clean nature of musk mixed with powdery notes. This fragrance opens with a strong scent of powdery notes, but this quickly settles down to something much more beautiful. Hints of powdery iris, supported by bergamot and neroli create a stunning scent of clean soap. When the musk is added, this soapy scent is taken to the next level, leaving you with an overall clean, inoffensive, but oh-so-good scent.
Notes: The notes of Serge Lutens Clair De Musc are bergamot, neroli, musk, and iris.
Best for: Serge Lutens Clair De Musc is a true masterpiece. With its clean and inoffensive scent, there really are no limitations to this fragrance. It works great during the summer and works just as well during the winter. Throughout the year, this fragrance can easily be worn to the office, but can also be worn to a date, a night out, or a casual gathering with friends. Whenever you wear this, you’re surrounded by a clean, classy, and likable aura. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
9. Narciso Rodriguez For Her
Scent: Narciso Rodriguez For Her is a gorgeous fragrance with a musky scent of rose and peach. When you first spray this fragrance, you’re greeted by a fruity scent of peach, supported by a beautiful, powdery undertone. This creates a very welcoming scent, setting the tone for the remainder of this scent. After the opening, the note of rose makes itself known. Together with the rose is the note of musk. These all come together to create an inviting and clean scent of rose, peach, and musk.
Notes: The top notes of Narciso Rodriguez For Her are peach and rose. The middle notes are amber and musk. The base notes are patchouli and sandalwood.
Best for: Narciso Rodriguez For Her is a fantastic fragrance that you can easily wear all year long. This fragrance has a very safe and inviting scent that works well in any season. Throughout the year, this fragrance is perfect for casual everyday wear, but it’s also great for the office. The clean and inoffensive scent is just one that you cannot go wrong with. Overall, you get a versatile, welcoming, and fantastic-smelling fragrance. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
10. Jovan Musk
Scent: Jovan Musk is a fantastic fragrance with a simple, clean, and soapy scent. This fragrance opens with a fresh hit of bergamot, supported by a floral touch of neroli. Quickly after the opening, the note of musk makes itself known, giving the fragrance a clean vibe. Together with the citruses and white florals, you get a soapy and clean scent. On the base, the note of jasmine peeks through, strengthening the overall soapy feel. This leaves you with an overall simple, but truly fantastic fragrance.
Notes: The notes of Jovan Musk are bergamot, musk, neroli, and jasmine.
Best for: Jovan Musk is a fantastic fragrance with a clean and inoffensive scent. Such a scent works slightly better during the warmer months, but could honestly be worn all year long. Throughout the year, this fragrance is perfect for the office, as it has a clean and soapy scent. However, the musk makes this fragrance interesting and alluring enough to wear it to an intimate setting as well. And besides smelling great, this fragrance is very inexpensive as well. If you’re interested, you can check out the current price over here on Amazon!
11. Guerlain Idylle
Scent: Guerlain Idylle is a gorgeous fragrance with a musky scent of florals and fruits. This fragrance opens with a beautiful scent of green notes and floral notes, creating a lively and happy scent. After a little while, a beautiful touch of clean musk is added, giving the fragrance a beautiful layer of depth. When this fragrance starts to dry down, the fruity notes can be detected. Even though they stay relatively hidden when compared to the florals and musk, they’re definitely noticeable. Overall, a beautiful fragrance with a scent that’s best described as happy.
Notes: The top notes of Guerlain Idylle are litchi, raspberry, rose, and freesia. The middle notes are lilac, lily, peony, lily of the valley, and jasmine. The base notes are patchouli and musk.
Best for: Guerlain Idylle is a beautiful fragrance that’s best worn during the spring and summer. This fragrance has such a lively and happy scent that fits in perfectly with the seasons where nature is coming back to life. During these months, this fragrance is perfect for casual everyday wear, especially when you’re out doing something fun. And, because of the clean and musky feel, you can also wear it to the office as well! If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
12. l’Artisan Parfumeur Mure Et Musc Extreme
Scent: l’Artisan Parfumeur Mure Et Musc Extreme is a beautiful fragrance with a musky scent of fruits. This fragrance opens with a sweet scent of berries, creating a unique scent of fruits. Quickly after the opening, a clean scent of musk is added. From here, the fragrance doesn’t really change that much anymore. Luckily, the scent that’s already there is clean, safe, and smells overall fantastic. Even though this is a simpler fragrance, it’s definitely not one to easily dismiss.
Notes: The notes of l’Artisan Parfumeur Mure Et Musc Extreme are bergamot, red berries, musk, and blackberries.
Best for: l’Artisan Parfumeur Mure Et Musc Extreme is an extremely safe fragrance with a linear and pleasant scent. Because of the fruity touch of the berries, this fragrance has a more lively scent that fits in perfectly with the spring and summer. During these warmer months, a safe fragrance like this will always be great. You can easily wear this casually throughout the day, but you can also wear it to the office or even when you’re working out. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
13. Amouage Dia Woman
Scent: Amouage Dia Woman is a fantastic fragrance with an interesting scent. This fragrance opens with a clean scent of floral notes, supported by an aldehydic undertone. This creates a fresh and soapy scent. This, however, completely changes after the opening. A bunch of warmer floral notes, as well as woody notes start to appear, creating a warm and slightly powdery scent. Here you can also notice a soft touch of musk as well, rounding out the woods. Every now and then, you can also notice a spicy scent, leaving you with a rich oriental fragrance with a powdery, slightly musky scent.
Notes: The top notes of Amouage Dia Woman are sage, violet leaves, fig, tarragon, bergamot, cyclamen, and aldehydes. The middle notes are peach blossom, Turkish rose oil, orris root, orange blossom, and peony. The base notes are heliotrope, incense, white musk, guaiac wood, cedar, vanilla, and sandalwood.
Best for: Amouage Dia Woman is a fantastic fragrance to wear during the spring and fall. This fragrance has a warm scent of florals, which creates a scent that’s perfect for those transitional, cooler seasons. During these seasons, this fragrance is quite easy to wear. Even though it’s on the stronger side, it’s not that offensive. For close encounter occasions, you might need a few sprays less, but this is an easy to wear fragrance that works great in most situations. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
14. Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely
Scent: Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely is a truly gorgeous fragrance with a fresh and clean scent. This fragrance opens with a blast of lavender, supported by a bunch of other floral notes. These create a fresh, clean, and almost powdery scent. After a little while, a warm scent of amber and musk makes itself known, adding a whole new atmosphere to the scent. In the base, some woody notes are present, blending in perfectly with the musk and florals. Overall, you get a warm fragrance that manages to stay fresh and clean.
Notes: The top notes of Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely are rosewood, martini, bergamot, mandarin, and lavender. The middle notes are orchid, narcissus, and patchouli. The base notes are white amber, cedar, musk, and woody notes.
Best for: Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely is a fantastic fragrance to wear during the spring, summer, and fall. During these seasons, the warm and fresh scent comes to its right, providing you with a clean, classy, and inoffensive scent. Due to the inoffensive nature, this fragrance works great in the office, but it will work just as nicely in a casual setting. There really is no going wrong with a versatile and inoffensive scent like this. And besides smelling great, this fragrance is insanely affordable as well. If you’re interested, you can check out the current price over here on Amazon!
Should You Have A Musky Fragrance
Odds are that you already own a fragrance that has musk in it. Earlier, we discussed the common usage, so chances are that the fragrance you’re wearing right now has musk in it. However, not every fragrance that has musk in it is also a musky fragrance.
Owning a fragrance based on the scent of musk is highly recommended. Musk has a wide variety of scents, ranging from clean to dirty, so there’s bound to be something for everyone.
Whatever type of musky fragrance you decide to go with, though, you’re assured to have something fantastic. The clean musky fragrances are insanely versatile, whereas the dirtier musk fragrances are intoxicating and alluring.
Owning a musk fragrance also doesn’t have to be expensive either. There are quite a few fragrances on this list that are very affordable, and otherwise, there’s always the option to purchase a fragrance decant. A decant is basically a smaller bottle, usually 5ml or 10ml, filled up with the original fragrance. This way, you can get your hands on a smaller amount and don’t have to purchase a full bottle. If you’d like to learn more about fragrance decants, where to purchase them and how they’ll save you money, you can read this article I wrote here!
Overall, though, a musky fragrance is definitely worth owning. You won’t regret it at all. I’d recommend you take a good look at the fragrances listed above and see which of these musky fragrances would fit you perfectly!