Musk 12

hey yall, I’ve been on a mission to establish a seasonal and functional perfume collection. Thanks to the many options for samples at twisted lily and lucky scents ( and living across the street from Sephora) I’ve been able to compare and contrast a lot of perfumes. I am currently looking for a staple Musk perfume that I can wear to enhance my spiritual practice, do yoga, and to layer like a Moor Princess (musk, oud, and perfume of choice). So, I compared Musk 12, Musk Therapy, and I even threw Flowerbomb Dew in there... My first impression of Musk 12 was that it was screechy floral. But I realized I have not exposed my nose to Freesia and Lotus. So, I gave my nose time by wearing Musk 12 once and a while. I have the duo with Vanilla 28. I found myself layering it with Nemat Vanilla Musk (not vanilla 28 it drys down like blistex/carmex on my skin idk why). But I really wanted to appreciate Musk 12 as I believe Musk perfumes are like wardrobe basics/essentials. You gotta have at least one you love! So, anyways, I would alternate between Musk 12 and Flowerbomb Dew. I am still not sure if I like Flowerbomb (still expanding my nose ) but I was willing to explore Nectar and Dew. Comparing Dew to Musk 12 allowed me to see how the water note is “watering” down the original fragrance but in a pleasant way similar to Delina and Delina La Rosee. So revisiting them today (3/26; sunny 61 degrees) see that Dew and Musk 12 are completely different to the point I do not think it is redundant to have both of them. They are both florally but Musk 12 dry down is cozy and little bit like skin. Flowerbomb Dew has a sweet floral maybe even green dry down. So, I am still considering how I feel about Dew. So, when I compare Musk 12 to Musk Therapy (also today) I noticed how citrusy fizzy and earthy Musk Therapy is... it smells similar to Musk 12. Its giving Musk but its not ringing bright with florals which makes sense because Musk 12 is floral forward and does not have citrus in the listed notes. Musk therapy actually reminds me of a clean shaved man. It transports me to a memory of well groomed men. It does have a cologne vibe. I think it is truly unisex but it was not projecting and lasting long enough for me. I will save the rest of the sample for summer. They seem like variations of each other. Maybe Musk 12 is for her and Musk Therapy is for him. My final verdict is that I am willing to invest in the travel size of Musk 12 and make it my spring and summer musk. By the end of the summer season, I will buy a full bottle. This is beautiful. Highly recommend as a collection staple.

Gorgeous low key musk. Perfect middle road between sweet, clean, floral, woody, and warm. If you love soft scents, and just want to smell ~good~ without seeming to try, you need this. The hint of vanilla gives just a dash of sweet and the scent as a whole could never be overbearing. Lasts up to 6 hours on skin, but doesn’t project or leave a trail. Perhaps if you overspray like crazy you might get noticed as just smelling very nice, clean, & cozy. I’ve made some comparisons, since this is rated as “reminding” people of 3 of my most heavily used scents! - Clean Reserve “Skin:” Skin & Musk 12 are like sisters. CR Skin is much sweeter than this (and performs better), but I prefer Kayali Musk 12 since Skin can become very sugary if you overdo it. Musk 12 is a bit cleaner and quieter. I guess I might layer them to see if I can get a more sillage out of Musk 12! - Victoria’s Secret Dream Angels “Heavenly:” Heavenly & Musk 12 are like cousins. I immediately thought of the OG version of VS Heavenly when I sprayed Musk 12. I heard they’ve reformulated Heavenly throughout the years, but I still have half of an old bottle from 2015ish. It was my signature scent all through high school and college. Musk 12 is a little sweeter and woodier than Heavenly. They have a very similar vibe though: Effortless, inviting, like your clothes are clean but not tide/gain clean, maybe cleaned in the clouds by a vanilla musk fairy 😅 - Philosophy Pure Grace: Pure Grace & Musk 12 are like.. really good friends but not related 😂. I’m only mentioning this since it’s pulled some votes here on the comparison. Pure Grace is another “go-to” scent for me, but is quite different from Musk 12. Pure Grace is a lot more fresh, clean, soapy, citrusy & floral. Musk 12 is more of that warm cozy clean musk.

Kayali Musk 12 is musky and powdery. But not dense powder. Like a clean powder that's soft and balanced with white musk, dewy florals, and a little vanilla. I actually smell loads of really dewy watery florals, freesia and possibly lotus, like in Phlur Missing Person which is more fresh, molecular, less sweet, and something I'm more anosmic to. Musk 12 isn't as molecular but I can imagine a tiny bit is in here. This is a really true to name cleanly warm musk, that is perfect for when you want to smell like yourself. It is also the perfect work scent, especially in healthcare settings. I can't imagine this offending most people. For more comparisons, I think Clean Reserve Skin is a sweet skin musk but less dewy with more of a salty-sweet clash, creating a bathroom cleaner effect that was too much for me eventually. Phlur Soft Spot is heavily suedey vanilla with only a touch of dewy florals. Still Musk 12 is better for me since the sweetness is more subtle, maintaining the clean aspect. I'll save you time and suggest you buy the 100 mL from jump. Not sure how, but my 50 mL is already half way done and I've only sprayed about 4 sprays once or twice a day. Been using this everyday for work and I'm delighted every time I get a whiff in my personal space. It lasts on me a good 4 hours but I suggest testing Musk 12 first since it seems many are anosmic, including Mona herself as she stated. Before repurchasing though, I want to try the new Kayali Freedom Musks first. In case I prefer one of them over this as they all have that brand signature freesia, amber vanilla musk, and sandalwood combo.

I bought a decant of this from a decant shop without thinking much about it. At first sniff, I noticed how comforting it is. It's definitely in the same category as White Musk from The Body Shop but this is somehow smoother and softer. It's not as powdery as White Musk. I can smell the freesia and lotus in there, which makes it airy and a rather fresh. The musk is soft and it reminded me of the musk in Signature by Mont Blanc. It's not heavy or sharp, just very smooth and almost smells like sweet skin (?). I think the vanilla rounded up everything perfectly. This is the type of perfume that you can never say you oversprayed because it's very soft. It HAS to be oversprayed to have presence lol. I don't know, somehow this scent reminds me of a mother or a wife. Not that it smells mature or anything. It just gives this womanly, feminine, calming and comforting essence. I really like this. I just wish it lasts longer. For me, as a person working in an air-conditioned building in South-East Asia, this barely lasted past 4 hours. I really want to get something similar to this but I can't get over the beautiful combination of freesia and lotus, it makes me want to go find more freesia or lotus prominent perfumes. 😞

This is sooo good. I love musky perfumes and this one is very well balanced. But of course, as always, it does not last. For me max 2 hours. Still would purchase a new bottle when I finish the current one. I have not found anything similar yet. Clean Reserve Skin comes close but leans more masculine and I don't like that. And Prada Candy Kiss was too soapy for my taste (It's tough to be so picky)! Musk 12 is very upbeat, clean, warm white musk, soft floral and powdery in the dry down. Some mention it smell synthetic to them but I don't get any of that thankfully. I get that synthetic cheap smell with Vanilla 28. Musk 12 is perfect for spring and summer and is very feminine. I just wish it would last longer but for that price I don't mind to reapply this one over and over again. Update: Why do they always discontinue my favorite fragrances? Please bring this back. There is nothing like this. I have tried so many plain musk perfumes and even Jovan White Musk (which was still too masculine for my taste) does not give what Musk 12 gives. Good things come to those who wait. I am waiting and waiting...