Musk Oud

Note: Fragrantica lists artemisia in the mid notes, but Kilian themselves indicate davana, which smells more like wine/grapes, and not at all like the "traditional" artemisia, which is wormwood. Davana does come from a species of artemisia (but not the same species as wormwood) and I think that causes the mix up (Fragrantica often lists davana as artemisia), but they are not the same thing! One more thing to note: Kilian himself has mentioned on twitter and elsewhere that this scent contains a fair dose of both civettone (civet) and muscenone and muscone. Just an FYI for those who pick up animalic and or fecal notes in this, that is why! Onto the review! Well... this is definitely one of those times when you sample something with knowledge of the general consensus, and afterwards are left raising your eyebrows in bewilderment of said consensus. I find this to be absolutely gorgeous from top to bottom, which is saying a lot as I've never fallen for a Kilian scent before and find some from the house to be downright poor. The top of Musk Oud is a very alive, very rich citrus that is immediately flanked by the rose and grape and wine nuances from the davana. The cardamom is present too, and smooth, and this alongside the never forward and yet quite long lasting coriander seed note work as a wonderful spice offset. In color and hue, this is quite akin to the opening of XXV - dark berries and coriander/bay/clove in XXV, grape/dark berries/coriander in MO, and both share rose, as well. Their weight and feel are drastically different though, with MO being light on its feet, a dark and diaphonous silken purple scarf with golden orange flecks, while XXV is more heavier and regal both out of the gate and throughout its development. All of that being said, this is seriously one of the most amazing openings that I've ever smelled. I compared it to the openings of some similar scents: XXV, Harrods oud Patchouli, and even Fate Man (not that similar) and it makes them seem clunky and pedestrian in comparison. Its balance is perfect and all of the notes are alive; nothing flat or out of place. Unlike most, I find this scent neither simple, linear, or weak in projection or longevity. An hour in and the heart becomes a deeper rose/geranium, and just as the coriander fades out, a subtle lemony frankincense note starts to rise up in the background. Perfect linkage of two notes throughout the evolution of the frag. The oud is slightly smoky, and the musk is becoming more dominant. Yes, it's an animalic musk, of the animal hair variety. The rum and davana are still present and the oud deepens this accord, adding to the purple hues shades of black. This accord of rose, davana and rum, and smoky incense and oud slowly crescendos and then decrescendos into the deep base, joined by a subtle patchouli and just the faintest whisps of airy vanilla (likely, actually, hints of some sweet musk). Deep but never heavy or overly dense, with the impeccable balance of Kilian's Incense Oud but striking out in a much bolder direction (my one criticism of IO and what leads it to not being FBW imo is how safe it plays it in all regards). In some ways, it calls to mind an oudy take on Ungaro II. Musk Oud is not exactly fecal but it is feral, and the deep purple hues alongside the orange/golden notes, coupled with some similarity in the patchouli/vanilla of the bases and the seamless transitions really does put it in the UII category, in my mind at least. I have a feeling that some people who've reviewed it are anosmic to the musks, or are suffering olfactory fatigue (eg: Kafkaesque's review mentions picking up the animalic hair note briefly, and then it vanishing for the rest of the scent), and this will change their perception of the scent drastically. Just two sprays on my chest are projecting strong many hours later, and the few swipes I put on my arm about 16 hours ago - with a shower in between - can still be smelled if sniffed close. Subtle patchouli and frankincense smoke. Gorgeous stuff.

I am of the opinion that the very best fragrances are almost entirely visceral. They don't have to evoke images in your mind's eye, trigger memories, or transport you to some otherworldly place. Instead, it's a sense of certainty, your subconscious telling you that what you're smelling doesn't just feel right but IS right. The what, how and why are irrelevant. Musk Oud falls into this category. The first time I sniffed it I got all hot under the collar. Steamy, sultry, dangerous, voracious. There was no thought given to further sampling or cost. I bought a bottle there and then - I was compelled to. And it's had me in raptures ever since. It is so well put together, no note overwhelming nor superfluous, at once harmonious and distinctive. To wit: Musk that growls but without the need to bare teeth; oud that straddles the line between bold and restrained; rose and cardamom, which form a lovely spice duo; geranium gives a touch of freshness, cypress a hit of pungency; the rum mildly sweet; and the incense a haze of wispy smoke. And then there's the lemon, such a clever inclusion because it helps to cut through the heaviness of the composition - and thereby making it wearable beyond the winter months - as well as tempering the more forceful notes (such as the cypress and musk). An absolute triumph.

ZESTY, FRESH,WOODY and ENERGIZING Rose, Oud and patchuli , a fresh , super aromatic rose on a bed of patchouli, some rum and lemon and some musk. This perfume has a musky skin scent type its fresh ,aromatic and sour , its zesty and energizing. Starts very fresh and fruity, like a sour lemon or grapes, with a tinge of rose and rum but soon warmer with musk. It doesn't smell as much of a place or thing as it does of a FEELING. If that makes any sense. Some musky ones do that, it rather just evokes a feeling than smelling like a flower or a fruit. But if some image needs to be present to imagine the smell , I would say ,,,, Its like walking through the woods after a hefty rainfall, smells of fresh wet woods, rose and rum and citrus. Its fresh spicy and tart, absolutely wonderful !!! This bottle is 400 $ , but you can go with the purse spray bottle that comes with refills and it becomes more affordable. I am considering a purchase ! I bought the gold heavy 30 ml purse spray, its amazing as it comes with 3 extra vials , one is already In the gorgeous atomizer. Easy to put in purse or great for the bathroom, in its metal case it's nicely protected from sunlight and can be stored even in bright places. Presentation 10/10 Smell 10/10

I agree with Germany on so many accounts but especially about the feeling part. Musk Oud is that kind of fragrance for me. I get more of an overall feeling from it instead of notes or images. The notes are all in equal parts and blended in such a way that I do not smell any individually unless I desperately search for it. They join together to create a whole. I get a tart, aromatic scent that dances between energetic and calming, clean and earthy, feminine and masculine. It is a chameleon of a fragrance and it smells different every time I wear it. It seems to blossom differently depending on my mood and my mind. Some days I get rose others I get none at all. Some days it feels clean and fresh and others it is very earthy, woody and musky. Musk Oud is something you wear for your own pleasure, not for others. It hangs close to the skin and wafts in and out all day. Just when you think it is gone it appears again. Musk Oud is a very pleasurable fragrance for me and has that craving factor to it. Almost kind of mouth watering the way you crave something tart. Since I got a bottle I can't go more than a few days without desiring it again. Those are the fragrances I truly love.

Kilian wasn't a house I was really that interested in, I think because I had seen some of their fragrances in Sephora, and the ones they had I wasn't super impressed by. I went to Saks just to see what they had and started smelling away. The two that stood out to me was this one and A Kiss From A Rose, and when I looked it up later I saw they were both created by the same perfumer. I unexpectedly fell in love with this one as I tend to shy away from oud fragrances. But the oud in this is airy and blends so well with the other notes. I love the boozy note in here, and the rose smells like dried crushed rose petals. I can detect a squeeze of lemon in the opening. This fragrance is so aromatic. Perfectly unisex. You could get away with wearing this on summer nights as it has an airiness to it and isn't insanely dense. Longevity and projection is moderate. I would definitely recommend this as an intro to oud fragrances.

By Kilian Musk Oud is my final try from the Arabian Nights collection, a mix of rose, oud, musk, and incense, mainly, with some other smaller contributors as well, which I don't really detect, such as geranium and rum. Interestingly, it both opens very musky and dries down after several hours to be musky, with the middle few hours being more rose-dominant. I quite like Musk Oud and find it pretty agreeable relative to Pure Oud given that Musk involves more of a mix of notes. I also prefer it to Rose Oud, though Pearl Oud, in my opinion, remains the class of the By Kilian "oud"-named fragrances so far (I've not tried any of the Middle East Exclusives, though). As with the rest of the Arabian Nights collection, Musk Oud performs very well, but the steep retail price of $395 for 50ml is big ask, but deals can usually be found for bottles that omit the lavish By Kilian presentation that includes the coffin. 8 out of 10

I have owned this one for a number of years but never took the time to write a review. Of the many Killians I have ro have tested this is one of the ones I like most. Honestly, I should wear it far more often than I do. it is powerful but not close to overwhelming. Like most Kilain fragrances the ingredients are not novel but are well-blended. The oud/rose/musc now a bit cliche but remember this one was launched in 2013 . The touches of lemon ,geranium, cardamom, and rum add floral with some booze. It is sophisticated, Moralis did a great job with this one. It leans male, more of an evening scent and better in cooler weather. I do not think many wear this one so if you want to stand out and demonstrate some what some might think of as old fashioned class, then this might be worth trying.

Geranium and lemons... a luminous, beautiful bouquet with a clean, fresh pink dewy rose note. By Kilian Musk Oud is quite arrestingly beautiful to my senses. Fresh and natural, there is no dark vibe like the bottle suggests. Even the trace amount of oud is very delicate and woody and complements and softens the clean rose beautifully. I do feel having 'oud' in the name is a little misleading as this isn't a dominant note. Subtle, woody spices and fresh, green herbs add to the piquant floral bouquet, wrapped in a pink chiffon ribbon, reminding me a little of musk Lifesavers candy that you can only get in Australia. If I didn't have Bond No 9's Washington Square which is very similar, with Musk Oud being a little more sweet, I would have bought this beautiful Morillas in a heartbeat.

Kilian's second foray into the tried and true Rose x Oud composition is a resounding success. Musk Oud has an almost chocolatey vibe to it with a fresh lush Rose (Bulgarian to my nose). It's very well blended and worrying about the notes is not necessary. I do get a lot of the (dark) rum in this and this adds oriental opulence to the fragrance. While many Western Rose x Oud compositions go for the seXy angle, this one is truly luXurious and opulent. It can be called Rose Oud v2.0 with monster performance. I wouldn't call it quite worth the price, but if you're shopping in this price range, then that isn't most likely the most pressing concern of yours. This would make my top10 Rose fragrances somewhere in the middle. Smell - 8.5/10 Performance - 10/10 Versatility - 7.5/10

wow! alberto morillas created a masterpiece for kilian, i'm not a huge fan of this house but i'll admit they do have some bangers including this, this is a less popular option for those looking for a rose & oud fragrance, underrated imo, not spoken highly enough of. musk oud starts out bright, zesty and spicy but it quickly transitions to the mid and base which is full of rose, oud, cypress and musk. this smells so luxurious with the perfect amount of rose, oud and musk. slightly fluffy and sweet, airy but dense when up close. perfect for evening and night wear when you feel sexy or when you wanna leave an impression, awesome rose & oud fragrance. performance is also good as well, checks all the boxes, just quite overpriced. 9.5/10 (-0.5 for insane price point)

Very clean, metallic, and polished. Has a gasoline-like undertone. No skank in here at all - yet this is undoubtedly an oud fragrance. While dark and mysterious, Musk Oud also has airy qualities to it and is totally wearable during the daytime. All in all, a very unique creation, not your typical rose-oud scent. I don't know from which year my refill bottle is, but the performance is really impressive. I recall being rather underwhelmed by the performance a couple years back when I got decant of this stuff, so I wouldn't be surprised if there had been a reformulation at some point in time. 4.5/5 Edit: Having worn this on the daily for the last couple weeks, I'll upgrade my rating to 5/5. This is magical. A perfect daytime counterpart to Ombre Nomade.

Musk Oud by Kilian, an extremely manly cologne, is a scent of mesmerizing allure, seamlessly blending the timeless sophistication of oud with the sensuality of musk. With each application, it envelops the senses in a captivating embrace, leaving a trail of elegance and refinement. The rich complexity of oud is delicately balanced by the warmth of musk, creating a fragrance that is both bold and inviting. From its luxurious packaging to its exquisite composition, Musk Oud embodies the epitome of luxury and craftsmanship. It's a fragrance that commands attention and leaves a lasting impression, making it a must-have for those who appreciate the finer things in life.

My least Favorite of the five "oud" fragrances by kilian. A little to flowery for my taste. I like more darkness and smokiness...warmth perhaps in oud fragrances. That being said, it's not a bad scent at all. I don't have a sophisticated nose so I can't really pick out individual nuances, but the overall feeling I get is flowers laced with drizzles of machine oil. In a good way. It hangs around better than most of the five, only the rose oud lasts longer on me, and the projection is above average. I don't own a bottle of this, only a 7.5 ml sample, but with this particular scent that's enough for me. Scent 5/10 Projection 7/10 Fortitude 7/10

genuine slutty masterpiece one of the best perfumes ive ever come across my favourite piece from one of the best perfume houses 10/10 monstrous date night juice you will feel so HOT when u wear this it's also more wearable than you'd think. the sillage is massive, but it gently wafts so it's inoffensive huge crowd pleaser like most perfumes this can be unisex if you wear it with enough hotness. kilian specialises in making hot vampire perfumes so it’s surprising how little people talk about this one it could be bc its disgustingly expensive definitely worth punishing your wallet for this tho

I have been looking for an oud fragrance from so many designers. This is the first I adore. I have Creed Royal Oud. I do not believe there is oud in it. But I love RO. This has the same oud note as other designers. I love the oud, rum, wood mix. It has a sweet chocolate scent, but Im sure its due to the mixture of other notes be the way it moves around in the fragrance. I also agreed that their is a lemon note I detect. Great great great! Update: I wore this to my first event. I got compliments I felt I was in a class all by myself. Its time to move from a sample to a full bottle!

So I finally got the chance to try this, I had the chance to travel 270 KM to another city that has this fragrance in stock and original. This one smells like nothing I've smelled before, even when the worker at the shop was surprised about how I knew this one was the best thing that Kilian made xD. Anyways, this truly lives up to its name, It is literally "Musk&Oud" and the oud in it smells pretty genuine, I don't think anyone can dupe this, not even close. I won't forget the smell of it, I will one day obtain this masterpiece when the time comes.

I expected more musk but regardless, this is damn good. A rose/oud that smells clean and polished. The rum is well blended, and the davana/geranium, and cypress really lift up the rose. Smells herbal green and soapy. Almost akin to rose soap, but this is the best rose soap you have ever smelled, mixed with freshly picked forest plants. It's all held together with patchouli and oud. I don't get much incense, or it's blended well. Projection is massive. One of the best from Kilian's oud line. Scent 8/10 Performance 8.5/10

I don't have it in me right now to write a long, detailed review of this fragrance. I do own it, along with 11 other Kilians. Musk Oud is a potent, wet, dense creation that evokes feelings in me. It is my favorite out of the Arabian Nights collection so far... this one smells a little more natural. I would find it sexy if I smelled this on a woman. I think this perfume has that type of effect... I recommend getting a decant and giving this two or three full wearings before purchasing.

I got this fragrance for my birthday after testing it for about 2 weeks. It's a great perfume with a beastly silage. I have received many compliments on it and in my opinion it is a great scent for all year round, you just have to be careful how much you use. It might be too strong for some, I've also heard that some people think it's too harsh for a woman, I think that's just personal preference. It's quite expensive but for the quality and silage I think it's worth the splurge. 9/10

The only thing I dislike about this perfume is its punishingly high price - I mean, 350€ for a 50ml bottle is immoral! Other than that, it is truly gorgeous, powerful and long lasting. It should be called Lemon Rum Musk Geranium Oud, in that exact order. As the scent settles down, I also get spices and patchouli. So, kudos to maestro Alberto Morillas for creating this beauty; and boos to Kilian Hennesy and the Estee Lauder corporation for being greedy b*stards.