Collection: Musk Fragrances

Musk fragrances smell of warm, clean skin, and every musk used in fine fragrance today is synthetic.

The original material came from the gland of the Himalayan musk deer, which is critically endangered and CITES restricted, and it has been effectively absent from perfumery for decades. What replaced it matters more than most people realise. Polycyclic musks such as Galaxolide produce the familiar laundry and fabric softener effect. Macrocyclic musks such as Exaltolide and Habanolide are more complex and far closer to skin, and these are what fine fragrance uses. Ambrette, from hibiscus seed, is the closest natural equivalent and adds a slightly nutty warmth.