Musk

Musk is one of the scents most coveted by the greatest noses. It exudes a certain sensuality, as well as an animalic, exhilarating quality. This material originally comes from an animal, the chevrotin. It is found in Tibet and Siberia. It gives off an atypical scent, that of musk when in rut.

Musk in its pure state represents a very strong odor with animal, woody and fecal tones. To extract this unique scent, the animal had to be slaughtered. However, this practice is now prohibited. The one you'll find in the various sales outlets is produced identically in laboratories.

the exquisite scent of musk

As soon as it was discovered, musk was a resounding success with the major perfume houses. It was the ingredient that gave their various fragrances the virile state they lacked, thanks to its animalic, woody scent. Lavoslav Ruzicka is one of the great names in perfumery. In 1926, he found the perfect synthetic replica of musk.

Musk is appreciated for its warm, woody, enveloping, soft and sensual notes. There are three types of musk:

• Nitro-musks: these give off a powdery, floral scent, with a slightly animalic tone. They have been overexploited by perfumers. However, French legislation prohibits their use.
• Polycyclic musks: these offer fruity, floral and even powdery tones. This category is much criticized for its impact on the environment.
• Macrocyclic musks are the most harmless category.

A must-have in every perfumer's arsenal

Musk is a must-have, especially in oriental compositions such as Dubai oud 5 ml. Its sensual tones make it a must-have in the pyramid of many references. It can also be found in Western fragrances.

In fact, it can be found in every note in the various olfactory pyramids. In the famous perfume Oud Mood by Lattafa, it is present in the base note, accompanied by amber, incense, resins and woody notes.

Musk now occupies a special place in niche perfumery. It is highly coveted for its sensuality and warm, enveloping tones. What's more, it adapts and combines perfectly with all the different olfactory families, in addition to providing its own atypical scent.

Unsuspected virtues known since Antiquity

People have been using musk for its many virtues since ancient times. Even then, it was considered a luxury item. The trade became particularly important during the era of the great explorers, who helped export bags of musk to the Mediterranean basin.

The Arabs fell in love with musk, and even incorporated it into many of their rites. Allah also refers to it in the Qur'an as the fragrance that the residents of paradise will smell.

According to oriental medicine, this raw material purifies the air and helps expel parasites from the body. In the Middle Ages, the wealthy wore musk in amber apples to combat disease-causing odors.

While there is a certain divergence between East and West regarding the effects of musk, both agree on its aphrodisiac power. In their desire to make themselves attractive, some even go so far as to drink it through a straw. My Qamis recommends that you pair it with a Qamis Sultan Blanc / Doré - Avec Broderie - Satiné ! Everyone agrees that this is a sensual fragrance, and has been for centuries.

Synthesis, a choice alternative for animal protection

In the 1900s, mammal hunting was practised intensively and without restriction, in order to meet the growing demand. What's more, it was a lucrative business, as musk could fetch huge prices on the open market. It sold for up to 400,000 francs a kilo.

The hunting of chevrotin was banned in 1979. To cope with this measure, some people tried to extract the glands on farms. However, the secretion stopped in captivity.

Perfumers had to wait for the development of chemistry and synthetic materials to enjoy this sensual, animalic scent once again. Now we can enjoy this luxury product without harming the animal.

When was white musk discovered?

Before the authorities decided to ban animal musk, researchers were working on synthetic ingredients as early as the 19th century. One of their ambitions was to reproduce musky notes. The results obtained did not fully achieve the animal scent so sought-after.

However, they did manage to obtain a "clean" scent. Laundry merchants were quick to use it as a powerful ally in their desire to give their products a fresh feel.

It was not until Lavoslav Ružička succeeded in synthesizing natural musk. This discovery was not made until 1926. This led to the production of a multitude of molecules designed to reproduce the scent of musk. These are known as white musks. Today, this component is a reference in the olfactory pyramid of a multitude of fragrances. You'll find it in the base note of Extrême Aoud, available on our website.

White musk and an infinite range of olfactory notes

Musk notes offer a wide variety of facets. They can be declined in many different ways: floral, cottony, coppery, etc. In addition to these scents, synthetic musk also acts as a fixative. In fact, perfumers often use it as a base note to link the different ingredients.

As a little tip, if you want to prolong the life of your perfume of choice, simply apply white musk to the affected area before spraying on your favorite fragrance.