Musk fragrances

Musk was originally a secretion from a gland of the male musk deer, which meant killing the animal. Since the species was listed under CITES in 1979 it has practically vanished from perfumery, replaced by a whole family of synthetic molecules — galaxolide, habanolide, tonalide, muscone. So today 'musk' doesn't mean one note but a range: white musk is clean, soft and reminiscent of freshly washed laundry, while darker musks are warm, skin-like and slightly animalic. Its real role is rarely to be in front. Musk is a binder — it ties other notes together, smooths transitions and gives a fragrance that quality people describe as 'smells like skin, only better'. That's exactly why it's the most common base note in perfumery, and exactly why you often overlook it in a list of notes even though you smell it all the time.

Electimuss Imperium: Dark musk — animalic, sensual, intense. For anyone looking for maximum musk effect.
Xerjoff Erba Pura: Clean musk with citrus and vanilla — a light, fresh approach to the musk accord.
Superz Aura: Musk beneath fruit and white florals — a soft, clothes-like trail instead of the classic clean musk.

Is the musk in fragrances of animal origin?

No — since the 1990s almost exclusively synthetic musk has been used. Natural musk (from the deer) is banned in most fragrances. Synthetic musk is cleaner and more consistent.

Why can't some people smell musk?

Musk anosmia is common — some people are genetically unable to detect certain musk molecules. It's not a flaw in the fragrance but an individual trait of the olfactory system.

Which fragrances have the strongest musk?

Electimuss Imperium is the most intensely musky in our range. For clean white musk: Electimuss Puritas.

Are animals still killed for musk?

Not in perfumery. The musk deer has been protected under CITES since 1979, and natural musk has practically disappeared from commercial perfumery. Everything you buy in a shop today uses synthetic musks, which are also more consistent and more stable than the natural kind.

Why do some people not smell musk at all?

Because musk anosmia is real and genetic. Some people can't detect certain musk molecules while smelling others perfectly normally. If a fragrance everyone raves about 'disappears' on your skin, that's often the reason — the fragrance is still there, you just can't hear that part of it.