I am totally taken with the Kiehl’s Original Musk Blend No1 EDT (R595). I actually can’t believe that it has taken me this long to try it – as I LOVE a musk based scent. I called it in a few weeks ago as I wanted to feature it in a story for Destiny Magazine (I write their beauty). All it took was one whiff and I fell in love. I’ve never been to Morocco, but I image that walking through the souk must smell a bit like this fragrance – A heady (but wearable) blend of what smells like incense, rose and a whole lot of sexy.
While it launched in 2002, the Kiehl’s Original Musk Oil is believed to been created in the 1920’s at the ‘Kiehl’s Apothecary”. It was discovered in a vat labeled “Love Oil” in the late 1950’s.
Kiehl’s Original Musk Oil is a unisex scent that has top notes of orange blossom and bergamot, middle notes of lily, neroli, ylang-ylang and rose and a Tonka bean, patchouli and musk base.
I love how it dries down to a light, powdery musk with just a hint of florals. It has a slightly masculine smell, but is really sensual, warm and just a little bit dark. In fact, I think it’s the sexiest scent I’ve ever smelt, and it lasts. Oh, then theres a great price point – R595 for a 50ml.
I’m often asked what musk actually is and where it comes from.
Originally, musk comes from the deer musk and was extracted from the animal’s musk gland that lies between its genitals. It’s a strong smelling brown substance that’s secreted to attract males. The scent is said to smell like ‘sweaty genitals’ – I kid you not…
The original deer musk was prized for thousands of years as one of the most precious raw materials in perfumery. It’s been used since antiquity and Byzantine and Arab perfume makers often used it as a key ingredient.
The musk used in perfume today is synthetic, as the deer musk was declared an endangered species in 1979.
Musk (the synthetic kind) is the most commonly used raw material in fragrance today. It has the unique ability to balance a fragrance and adds a touch of sensuality and warmth.
