Sensual, Mysterious, Animalistic Aroma Lingering on the Skin

A young woman looks at her reflection in her chamber, admiring her reflection. She has just bathed in a pool of fragrant water, and her skin is soft and smooth. She reaches for a small bottle and carefully pours some of the liquid onto her palm. She rubs the perfume on her wrists, neck, and temples, enjoying the sweet and spicy aroma. She smiles as she thinks of the banquet she will attend later, where she will impress her guests with her beauty and grace. She puts the bottle back, next to a jar of kohl and a comb. She picks up the comb and runs it through her long black hair, which she has adorned with a lotus flower. She is ready to face the day, confident, and happy. This is a scene describing people using perfume as part of their daily routine in 3000 BC. Read more in Sensual, Mysterious, Animalistic Aroma Lingering on the Skin

So what is this liquid that the young woman used? It is, in fact, one of the most crucial elements in the perfume industry; Musk. This precious substance has been used as a popular perfume scent and fixative since ancient times and is one of the most expensive products in the world.

Musk is described as having an ‘animalistic’, ‘feral’, ‘woody’, or ‘earthy’ and even soft-skin-like aroma. It was used for centuries to perfume the halls of palaces, castles, mosques, and churches. Musk is mentioned in ancient Chinese texts on herbal medicine and in Persian poetry. Wearing Musk was a symbol of status, as only the truly wealthy could afford fragrances containing this rare tincture.

Natural Musk doesn’t really exist anymore, as it is unethical and illegal as the oil comes from live animals hence that is why it is no longer used in perfumery.

But it was in the late nineteenth century that a German chemist, Albert Baur synthesised an artificial Musk, which is the basis for most modern Musks used in the fragrance industry. Musks made in laboratories are now so popular that there are literally hundreds if not thousands of versions of them.

One of the synthetic white Musks, Musk Ambrette

In the modern perfume industry, there is also a figure who is famous for his musky olfactory autograph. The Fashion Designer Narciso Rodriguez was inspired by an Egyptian Musk oil that was given to him in his youth. The powerful and intimate connection with Musk meant that it had to be the perfume’s heart when Narciso Rodriguez came to create his own fragrances.

Narciso Rodriguez’s For Her perfume collection, is a line of fragrances that celebrate the sensuality and beauty of women. The set features different variations of the signature heart of Musc, a precious and addictive ingredient that is derived from the Musk deer. (which would have been the original oil used before the practice was made illegal) The, For Her perfumes are designed to reveal the inner strength, elegance, and sophistication of women, with notes of floral, woody, and oriental scents.

This year, the sensual new fragrance brings a new mood of delicacy to the iconic For Her collection. The exquisite blends of MUSC NUDE are designed to harmonise perfectly with the skin and become part of the wearer. The perfume has a lovely ‘second skin’ effect that makes it feel like a natural extension of the wearer’s own aroma. The Musc core, along with the other notes of the perfume, resembles the smell of skin, creating a cosy and intimate quality.

Set in a classic chypre framework, the fragrance opens with subtle Pink Peppercorn notes alongside a bunch of abstract florals. An accord of white Jasmine Blossoms sings her sunlit song. At the very heart of the fragrance is the elegant yet delicate Damask Rose, at its most potent. The heart of Musc, the unmistakable signature of the For Her collection, gives For Her MUSC NUDE its second-skin sensuality. This seductive heart evolves into a rich base of soft woody notes, Indonesian patchouli, and tonka bean absolute—a beguiling blend that envelops the skin in a warm and addictive trail. 

A perfume of light and warmth, of skin and Musk, of Rose and Spice. A perfume that caresses the senses and whispers of intimacy and desire. A perfume that reveals the nude beauty of For Her MUSC NUDE.

There also comes a new male fragrance added. For Him, Vetiver Musc marks a shift from the powerful allure of the bleu noir collection to a fresh new olfactory expression. For Him VETIVER MUSC is a new story that develops the collection towards a more nuanced, multi-dimensional masculinity, created by the new floral, aromatic, and mineral aspects.

Woody notes of textured Vetiver with dryness amplify the signature Narciso Rodriguez Musc, while the aromatic mineral heart gives the scent a remarkable elemental quality. The minerality comes from many different aspects. Fresh and spicy Cardamom, aromatic Geranium Incense, Leather, and moss-like Red Seaweed are beautiful ingredients.

A perfume of contrast and balance, of earth and fire, of Musc and Vetiver. A perfume that explores the complexity of modern masculinity and blends the floral, the aromatic and the mineral. A perfume that reveals the hidden power of For Him VETIVER MUSC.

Musk or as the French refer to it, Musc, is a truly biblical ingredient, but it is one that can be revisited and brought forward in the most modern of ways just as Narciso Rodriguez has created here.

To read more and buy For Her MUSC NUDE Buy the perfume Here or visit NarcisoRodriguezparfums.com

To read more and buy For Him VETIVER MUSC buy the scent here or visit NarcisoRodriguezparfums.com

If you enjoyed reading Sensual, Mysterious, Animalistic Aroma Lingering on the Skin why not try White Musk

 .Cent Magazine London, Be Inspired; Get Involved

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