Rajamusk

Wow! This is good, REALLY good, way better than expected! To be honest I wasn’t even planning on getting a sample of this, but when I got a sample of Phool this came with it. Ironically it’s this one that I fell in love and much prefer over Phool, even though I probably wouldn’t have tried this otherwise even though I’m a huge fan of musk because let’s be real, most musks out there are VERY similar to eachother ie classic white musk accord (which is lovely, I adore it but I only really need one or two such scents in my collection) and I for sure thought this would follow that typical white musk formula but not at all! This is definitely a musk, but it’s SO much more, and I’m not even sure I’d call the musk in this a white musk. It’s more like a blend of white musk and dirty animalic musk and I LOVE it! But this also has a lot of other notes besides musk yet they’re blended so well it’s hard to pick them out individually and what you get is a gorgeous, complex, strikingly unique musk. There’s definitely lots of tonka here, a nice portion of lavender... It’s sweet but not candy sweet, rather it’s sweet like SL Chergui. Actually, this feels like it has Chergui DNA in it somehow! Like a Chergui Musk Edition. Besides this I’ve tried Phool, Moroccan Tuberose, and White Gardenia Petals from this line, of which I own Moroccan Tuberose, but this is by far my favorite from Illuminum so far. A complete and total instant love. Granted, I knew by the notes and scent profile that I would at least really like it, but I didn’t expect to love it THIS much, nor did I expect it to be so deep and complex and unique! I was expecting much more of a soliflore-type scent, especially since the floral perfumes I’ve tried from Illuminum have been in that style, near-soliflores each based on a particular white flower with supporting notes to add depth and complexity but the focus undeniably being on the flower, or in other words, fragrances that are built around a single note. Instead, I got one of the most complex and delicious musk perfumes I’ve ever smelled. DEFINITELY getting a bottle of this one. Excellent strength and projection btw. Can’t comment on longevity yet but I’ll update once I find out! If you like the following, you will very likely love Rajamusk too: Serge Lutens Chergui Diptyque Volutes Keiko Mecheri Les Zazous

Wow. I don't get anything like bergamot or lily of the valley on my skin, possibly some red currant but not much. What I get is pretty straightforward: some coriander, white must, a soft patchouli, and possibly some amber or cedar undertones. Reminds me of a more powdery version of Dior's Patchouli Imperial.

More just OK then anything close to WOW... This is neither bad nor offensive, it doesn't impose (as much as it tries) nor invade, yet it is on the border of boringly recognisable mid-90' deodorant with too much muskiness that suffocates the patch ... this creeps on you rather then caresses (as it has apparently intended) with the intent recognisable after those first 10 minutes of pure unfortunate mediocrity. Not completely a bad scent, it will never manage to stand in the line of fine or the great ones unfortunately...just something to spray on perhaps when expecting the "beige friend" over for the afternoon tea: it won't be a conversation opener and she would feel at ease a whole loooong hour of her stay. And by then this Rajamusk will disappear anyhow.

This is my fourth Illuminum fragrance, (Rose Oud being my favourite), it's very nice but gone in 5 minutes!! It leaves a nice, shower fresh skin scent on the body. Seriously this is ridiculous unless I have a fake bottle!