Original Musk

This is the OG soapy, lotion-y white musk. Imagine those cheap/drugstore white musks like The Body Shop, Alyssa Ashley, Jovan, etc.. but more plump, fuller, has more depth, much multi-faceted and just more vibrant and flavorful in general. The floral notes of neroli, orange blossom, ylang ylang, and rose creates this homogenous, old-fashioned, soapy-floral medley akin to the likes of Chanel N°5, but there's this cushion of musk that coats each threads of the floral weaving. The result is soft, creamy but not in a lactonic way. It almost feels like its made out of a combination of silk and cotton. Like a pillow you love stroke your skin against to. Yes it does remind me sometimes of some sort of soap, or a lotion, or a fancier fabric conditioner. It has a little bit of a detergenty vibe at some days, depending on my mood or the climate, but hey, I guess toiletry companies have based the scents of their products on the scent profile of Kiehl's musk. The opening though is a little bit harsh for me. My sister said it smells like a bug spray, which I do get. I guess that factor depends on the climate of the environment you're in. I live in a humid climate so i find that spraying this on is a little cloying and sickening. But when I spray this at night where it gets a bit more chilly, it gets a little bit smoother. The best form of this fragrance is when it stained my shirt after a day of wearing it around the house. It gets even creamier and softer and smoother, it's really irresistable and comforting. I really think that this would pair well with a simple, plain vanilla scent. Something along the lines of Eau Duelle by Diptyque. Or since I don't have the budget for that, I could just go with something cheap like those vanilla body sprays by Body Fantasies, because you can't judge me. I'm a sucker for sweet gourmand scents even if it's something I just picked up from the drugstore:P I guess my only main critique for this fragrance is I wish it's more animalic. When I read reviews of this fragrance before I bought a bottle few years ago, I expected to get some animalic notes which I didn't get at all, despite multiple testings and wearing of this scent. It's basically just a more luscious, colorful, and meatier version of the classic, clean white musk.

I'm a bartender and first time I felt the smell of this it was on a guy that came at the bar to order something and I had to ask him what perfume he is wearing. I was working outside in the winter time surrounded by snow (this is kinda important). He told me was this and straight away I start looking for it. I ordered a bottle and first spray on my skin, the first impression was a little different and contradictory with what I remembered I smelled on that guy. I didn't hate it, it just felt like it smelled like a cheap old fragrance. And kinda too sweet for me. As the minutes passed I had mixed feelings. After another hour or so, I was keep smelling it and still didn't know what exactly to feel about it but it kinda gave me a warm, reassuring feeling. Then my girlfriend smelled it on me and she loved it but she said it remembers her of her grandma. Still mixed feelings from me cus she was all over me but in my mind I was like "wth, I'm not your grandma and this is kinda weird". Then, going outside I received lots of compliments on the way I smell. This gave me confidence and I start to like it more. I finished that bottle and by the end of it I was actually in love with the smell. After that it was very very hard to find it to buy again. Not long ago I found it again and bought this time 2 bottles. I love it! Myself, smelling it, feeling it, I absolutely love it. Is like if I'm stressed or depressed, two puffs of this already change my mood in good. I still receive lots of compliments but one notable and weird comment on my scent wearing this, was that I smell like church. I don't see it as a bad or as a good thing. And to go back at what I said before, I think this scent it makes more sense in winter or autumn or maybe chill nights. I don't know why but when is colder outside seems to smell better. Is musky but not pungent and it has more of the powdery white musk in it but also after a while subtle animalic.

Kiehl's Musk reminds me of a preppy guy I knew in college in the 80's who belonged to the same fraternity as my boyfriend. He was handsome but kind of a jerk, like the stereotypical rich preppy bastard in John Hughes films usually portrayed by James Spader. He was not as good looking as James Spader but he had one of those traditionally masculine faces with a strong jawline and big white American teeth. Yet there was something uncannily, slightly, just barely caveman about his face. I bet he had some Denisovian or Neanderthal genes deep in his familial history. In any case, I kept my eye on him, waiting for caveman behavior but he never quite delivered on that expectation of mine. He never accidentally uttered early man sounds like ooga booga, mid sentence, like I thought he eventually would. He remained polite and controlled but you just knew that he had that in him. When I picture him now, wherever he is, he is still wearing Kiehl's Musk and a Lacoste but I think that the primitive features of his face have most likely deepened with time and that the veneer of civilized presentation has worn off. Like Patrick Bateman but hopefully not to that extreme level. I do love this fragrance, it's a great classic musk scent like the Jovans and the Body Shop and all of the other staple oils we used to wear. It was the type of scent people wore as a signature and despite its apparent hippie origins it was actually a very preppy scent back when. Worth a test if you like caveman musks and John Hughes films.

Went to the Kiehl's boutique in Provincetown, Mass today. I was searching for a rollerball vial of their traditional musk oil. They had zillions of every other Kiehl's product, but not that oil. However they DID have Original Musk Blend No.1 in the eau-de-toilette. I spritzed some on... the smell is pretty much identical to the oil, yet even stronger, and also with a bit of "development" on the skin that the pure oil does not. It's very good-smelling stuff... musky in the animalic style, augmented delicately with what appear to be floral notes. Paid $44 US for the flacon of EDT. I wonder: If this is their "Blend No.1", then do they also make a "Blend No. 2" or other such thing? I seem to remember that Kiehl's did indeed make another musk-based eau-de-toilette which was NOT a "solinote" type (like this EDT is), but rather a more complex EDT with varied notes. Smelling more like a sophisticated men's cologne type. Thoughts? It's funny: the Kiehl's website includes user reviews, and there are invariably a few in which the customer bitches ands moans that they will no longer buy the musk essential oil because "it doesn't smell like it used to, you've changed the formula". And yet, I myself have not noticed the scent structure change appreciably over the last 25 years. Did Kiehl's Musk Oil smell differently, once upon a time, than it does today?

Musk is one of those perfume words that can refer to diametrically opposed smells. Some musks are animalic and sweaty; others are the ultra-clean scents of laundry detergent and fresh linens. Kiehl’s Musk is neither. It’s warm, friendly, subtly sweet, and basically smells like the skin of a person who smells really good. It’s spicy, in a way that makes me think not of spices but of flower stamens; I know lily sometimes has that kind of a spicy facet, or narcissus. It makes you smell warm and alive and altogether lovely. Imagine: You’re a houseguest visiting a middle-aged bisexual man who lives in San Francisco. He has a gray mustache, curly chest hair, twinkling eyes, a deep tan. He’s got that Whitmanesque humane serenity you see in people who have explored a lot in their lives and ended up deeply comfortable in their skin. He knows how to relax. He gives great massages. He likes taking long walks uphill. His shorts are uncomfortably short and his stamina is infuriatingly better than yours. You step into his bathroom, and his medicine cabinet is full of supplement pills and serious-looking skin and hair treatments in tinted brown bottles. His sponge is an actual sea sponge. His towels are off-white and extremely fluffy. The way you feel and smell after taking a long soak in his tub – that’s Kiehl’s Original Musk.

Not sure why people are saying this is a "dirty", animalic musk - it's so interesting that people get such different experiences with the same perfume. It's very white and clean to me, a plain, comforting and sexy white musk along the lines of Clair de Musc by Serge Lutens, except Original Musk is slightly less soapy/bright citrus and more musky. I fell in love with it when I smelled it in the store. I don't smell any flowers; and I think they're just used to "round" out the musk in this case. It doesn't smell like Chanel No. 5 to me - Chanel No. 5 smells fatty and waxy and kind of like a luxurious French soap. For me, nothing faecal or urine-like at all, and definitely no toilet smells. Nothing naughty, except by imagination. Maybe the name "musk" makes people start thinking of sex, but on its own, while sexy, doesn't smell like sex. Scent: 10/10 - as a musk lover, absolutely gorgeous Projection and longevity: average Polarity: 100% unisex --- Interestingly, I went back and sprayed it on my skin again (and also bought the bottle), and today I'm a little sweatier, the weather is more humid, and I was walking in the sun for a while. I'm starting to get a hint of that dirty, slightly pissy, kind of like an animalic jasmine note.

this is The Reference Skanky Musk for me. whenever I smell a fragrance that’s supposed to smell musky I expect it to smell like this. I can’t help it. This is the first Musk fragrance I had and whenever searching for a musk note in other frags need them to at least resemble this one. I definitely smell a similar animalic type musk note in FM Musc Ravageur, SL Muscs Koublai Khan and Parfum d’Empire Musc Tonkin. I think these are the best musks. Best bang for your buck is the Kiehl’s, which is most definitely a sexy, animalic musk scent. Totally unisex. Totally Classic. Performs very well with good longevity. Yes, it’s a bit skanky, it’s supposed to be! if you want a clean (not animalic) musk look for SL Clair de Musc or even the basic Jovan. Those are clean, fresh, almost floral musks. I have no idea what is going on over at Narcisco Rodriguez but that’s not musk. Kiehl’s Original Musk is The Reference fragrance for getting to know skanky but gorgeous musk. Promise me you’ll give this at least 3 hours before making any snap decisions. Kiehl’s Original Musk will meld with your body chemistry. It becomes you. It takes a few hours to get how gorgeous this is. 10/10 SEXY MUSK

The musk fragrance that I've loved for eighteen years, Kiehl's Original Musk (and their now sadly discontinued Forest Rain) holds so many memories of my 20s—wearing it to DJ gigs, having folks lean in when asking for a request or for the name of the track I was playing, and getting compliments on how great I smell. It's Dial Soap squeakiness, somewhat rosy but mostly rose and ylang ylang, and the musk bases in this, let's talk about them... I don't know this for certain, but what I pick up seems to be Tonquitone and/or Shangralide, both produced by IFF, bases that imitate natural deer musk. Perhaps there is also Muscenone from Firmenich, which is an animalic, diffusive musk that has since replaced the now highly restricted musk ketone. This may even have some Animalis from Synarome; a sensuous, costus-like animalic base famously used in YSL Kouros. Original Musk is not, however, a skank monster: all the elements are blended in such a way so that is a careful treading the line between clean and dirty, with it settling smooth and silt-fine powdery, with lived-in sheet loveliness in its dry down. One of the best bangs for your buck, Original Musk is a certified classic.

Purchased for my wife as I found a bottle, lotion, and shower gel for next to nothing. Rude awakening for her because this is NOT what most women would consider a traditional lady's perfume at all. This one is an updated modern and more wearable YSL Kouros. I wasn't necessarily a fan of Kouros but my father wore it when I was a kid so it brings back memories of the good times in the 90's. It actually gets compliments as well. I highly recommend this one for guys looking for a cheap masculine fragrance with excellent performance without shelling out the cash for a YSL Kouros or Chanel Antaeus. Don't be afraid this one is quite light and crowd pleasing as far as the civet and deer musk notes go. If you are interested in the old 80's powerhouse fragrances this one is a great place to start before working your way into the more offensive stuff. Simply because it's anything but offensive. Also the matching lotion and shower gel are the best quality I've ever owned. I've also been layering this one with PDM Layton Exclusif to boost the civet note a bit. Highly recommend.

I'd like to update my review after almost one year of wearing Kiehl's Musk and letting it macerate. The longevity has massively improved. Although the fragrance still sits close to the skin, I can smell it until late evening after work. I can't deny how much I have learned to love and appreciate this perfume. It's still my signature scent that I choose anytime I don't feel like wearing perfume but still want to smell good or need the feeling of comfort. Kiehl's Musk is so universal that it's my pick whenever I can't decide which perfume to wear either. Something else that I have noticed, is that although it's and EdP it feels oily, not literally on the skin but the way it wears (which is really good in my opinion). I like how there is something cheesy or subtly sulfur-like about it. I don't really detect that pink rose note in the beginning anymore (see my original review). Also that opening like a "vase with overripe flowers in water" is also gone. In conclusion, I will always have Kiehl's Musk in my collection.

A clean, cuddly, cute, fluffy type animalic—a small furry creature with a burst of beautiful florals that mellow down and give the fragrance a slight soap lather feeling amongst that beautiful, tiny bit skanky (but not much at all) musk. It’s beautiful, pleasant yet complex. Nice paired with the radiant glow of your own fresh sweat. If you know, you know. That cuddly, funky furry musk warms on the skin and teases, sometimes nuzzling, flicking its tail and purring... then continues minding its own business for a little while... all laced with a soap suds kind of clean. Ylang ylang gives body, creaminess and thickness, the lily is ripe on the cusp of decay and a little spicy. Sweet powdery nuances from tonka and a breath of dirty patchouli. Perhaps like a hippie’s scalp... that and some kind of little furry animal. I don’t know lol but I swear it’s nice! I don’t personally get the references to N°5, to me they smell very different. Original Musk is one of its own. Would love to get my nose on the original oil.

This is a lovely fragrance! this smells like a clean, expensive spiritual store. To my nose, the florals are very light, and I mostly get a deep, slightly resinous, and incense-like sweet musk. The animalic notes that some people detect are very light and are mostly unnoticeable unless you can recognize animalic notes in perfume easily. I find this fragrance to be unique as it is a pointedly un-soapy musk. There are so many super clean, powdery musks out there, and this is certainly not one of them. It is unique, a little bit edgy, and preserves a classic perfume DNA that is somewhat hard to find in the oversaturated perfume market of today. That being said, this is very easy to wear, and shouldn't offend many people. I get very good longevity, at about 8 hours, and the sillage is appropriate for a fragrance like this. Especially at such a great price point, this is 100% worth buying. Unfortunately, I will not be repurchasing since I no longer want to support the L'Oréal group.

Like with most blindly bought fragrances I was a bit disappointed at first. I imagined a completely different scent, something like Ambilux by Marlou. Urinous and dirty. But Kiehl's Musk is pretty soapy clean and initially smelled to me like overripe flowers (although it is the best rose note I've ever smelled in a perfume) in a vase with old water. Not in a disgusting way though. It's intriguing and makes you want to sniff it repeatedly. In addition, Kiehl's Musk stays very close to the skin and is barely detectable past the 3-4 hours. After a few times wearing it, it started to grow on me. I get it that this is supposed to be a comforting and personal perfume. And it is indeed. It melts into your skin and gives the illusion of you naturally smelling good. The vintage characteristics are definitely there. Sometimes I get whiffs of red wine with cheese. Right now I'm very satisfied with it and would even make this my signature scent.

Nordstrom still selling it online so I picked up two bottles for $33 each on sale today. Nostalgic, this one. My dad wore it and my mom loved it. It's got an old-fashioned feel (makes sense, given its pedigree and backstory) but it develops into something really nice and dare I say contemporary (in a retro-cool way) on dry down after the initially strong old school first impression; something warm and understated, modest, even humble, maybe? I remember not liking it as a kid, but it has grown on me. By the data here, it seems like people think it's more night than day, more cold season than warm, but I find it works just fine any time because of the mellow dry down. There's even something 'beachy' about it the longer it's on you...maybe it's that bergamot/tonka bean mix that makes it feel like driving in a convertible alongside a beach in Cuba c. 1966 where you're understated in a Panama hat, Ray Bans and a guayabera.

Musky, powdery, floral, and a little animalic. This is a perfect unisex fragrance. It is reminiscent of that barbershop, shaving cream type vibe. Great for all seasons and occasions. More safe than sexy, if you know what I mean. Although myself and others find the smell very pleasant and clean, it didn't start out that way for me. This is one that really grew on me over time. For me, this was a blind buy. The first time I smelled it, it smelled like a clean public restroom, or something the elderly would wear. So a sexy grandpa on a good day, or a used urinal cake on a bad day. Needless to say, I couldn't get myself to wear it all that often. But when I did wear it, I was surprised that I was getting compliments from people around me. That in itself changed my opinion about this fragrance, and made me truly appreciate it. Certainly an acquired taste on my part. And now, it is one of my favorites, a true masterpiece!

Since I wear it quite often and it’s one of my staple perfumes for years (though I'm still on the hunt for the perfect musk), I asked my boyfriend, "When I wear this perfume, do I smell like pee?" He replied, "You’re being silly, you smell like fabric softener and rose." I enjoy perfumes that blend with my skin, almost as if I’m not wearing anything but naturally exude the scent, like a flower. Kiehl's Musk is one of the perfumes that gives me this feeling. The scent is simplistic and doesn't evolve much, but is great layered under other fragrances. It makes everything better. At first, the fragrance is stronger, then it fades into a light, comforting smell, similar to scented baby skin, like Johnson’s baby oil, but not as intense. I know my boyfriend is just one person, but no one else has ever told me I smell like pee or stink in any way when I'm wearing Kiehl's Musk.

Great for sleeping in but also for lazy summer afternoons when you are less 'doing' than 'being'...subtle but definitely present, it is less likely to present as a distinct first impression than to bathe hazily in the aura of friendly retrospect. Try wearing a little of it on fabric as well as on your skin as the differences are notable, each being a distinct pleasure and the two overlapping favourably. This is wonderful for being exactly what it sets out to be -- a comforting/cuddly/clean/sensual musk that is well-executed evocation of an animalic experience that you can purchase and wear in a synthetic age...If you're feeling metaphorical, consider that this might mean as a translation of the 'love musk' ethos of the 1960s-70s in the aspirational/anxious 2020s. Can you be simultaneously sexy & barefoot yet friendly & safe? Apparently you can.

I have both the oil and EDT ca. 2016. I can see the comparisons with Chanel N°5. Especially during the opening. It’s quite yellow and powdery. But then it goes barnyard, barnyard lite tho. Like sticking your face in freshly ridden horse’s mane (or tail) on a very hot, sunny day. Standing in the stables before they’ve been swept. Sun-warmed dirty hay, wildflowers,a warm animal that’s a little sweaty, just enough skank to be pleasurable and nostalgic. It ends like honeyed bourbon to me, and fruity tobacco spices. Chewy. I apply this to my armpits, between my breasts and to the back of my knees mostly. I actually think it’s a little too clean for me. But I do like it. Very well balanced. When I want to dial it darker, I layer with Ava Luxe’s Kama. Now that’s good. The oil has been in stock off and on at Kiehl’s website lately.

Can everyone just chill down in the comments? If you think this is skanky, you must be used to the cheapest and most aquatic trash perfumes from the dollar store, or the discount section from your para-pharmacia. This is a classic composition, that embraces the sense of human skin. It's a composition that is fresh & worn in, old & new, clean & lived in, stale & current. If you can't deal with those things playing with each other, go back to your discounted designer or celebrity perfume bottles, don't even dare go further in niche perfume, because you'll encounter compositions that are much more controversial. I find it remarkable and very respectable that Kiehl's, quite a main-stream company located on the high street world wide, carries a musk that feels this wonderfully vintage. And I hope they will never discontinue it.

Under my profile I have down that I have this fragrance, but what I really have is the Original Musk Oil that comes in the little cylinder bottle that seems to be out of stock everywhere nowadays. That probably means it's coming back reformulated. I hope any changes will be respectful. That said, I love this fragrance, especially after a shower. It seems to heighten my Human ness if you will. It has that animal-like quality to it that gives it life but not so much that it's overwhelming. I get some floral aspects to the oil, but mostly I smell a deeper musk than is usually offered. The fragrance is beautiful and perfect for evening when I have time to relax and really enjoy the fragrance. This is a fragrance I particularly enjoy, and I would love to see how the more traditional EDP spray compares to the oil.

I think someone else said this before me, but if I would smell this on a man I'd go FERAL. It is soapy fresh but with an underlying animalic musk that, together with the flowers, is extremely sexy. It gives the vibes of a strong, intelligent and confident being. I (as a woman) love wearing it at home or in bed as a comfort scent. My boyfriend really likes it (on me), but I wouldn't dare to wear it in public. It's a bit raunchy with the old school animalics, I think it requires a more intimate setting like a date or after an evening shower. To me, this is one of the best fragrances I've ever smelled, it has freshness and depth and it gives me all kinds of good feels. Would not recommend for anyone under 30 though, you have to have lived a little to really appreciate this (VERY priceworthy) gem.

The oil is primarily what I use, and finish off with the EDT sometimes, so what I'm going to say is only about the oil really. The Kiehl's Original Musk Oil is beautiful on its own and works wonders with almost any other fragrance. I'm often stopped and asked what I'm wearing because I think the real magic is its sillage and scent bubble. It's not too overpowering and Imo unisex. Good for any occasion. It's funny how this reacts in different seasons. I find it very warm, almost resinous in the fall and winter. In the summer its citrus notes pick up, all the while having that quiet musk, like the skin underneath your clothing is super clean, and you radiate something - something sexy without even trying to be sort of vibe. Needless to say, I will forever have this in my collection...FOREVER.

Kheil’s Original Musk is something I would easily consider a modern classic. Although it might not hold the fame and cultural impact of its designer counterparts atop the shelves, the scent is out of this world. A truly unique and inimitable musk which, I strongly believe, is a must-have in anyone’s collection. It holds a strong, soapy white floral presence, yet it never becomes too heady or outdated, for the musk powers through. It’s a hard musk to describe; it is clean, smooth and perfectly balanced, and yet holds a subtle sharp scratchy facet, alongside just a touch of eroticism. I adore this perfume, not only for its classic and innovative scent profile, but also for its more-than-fair price point. I could not imagine not having this in my collection; this is THE musk to own.

Kiehl’s Original Musk (2004) - rose musk - This fragrance has a lot of good memories associated to it. Apart from Lush’ Dirty, this was the other fragrance I was using when I was dating my girlfriend, now wife, back in the day. Oily and musk heavy. This fragrance is dense using a myriad musks - from white to something more animalic. I observed wearing it through the years that it easily adapts to the wearer’s chemistry and temperature like second-skin. So, what most people will smell is a “better than your skin smell” mixed with florals across the journey. Rose, Ylang-ylang, Orange blossom and other fresh white flowers. Rich, powdery, fresh. Powerful musks combined with a vintage accord of florals - for a collector for modern classics, a perfect example of bliss in a bottle.

Some have suggested that KOM resembles Chanel No.5 And while I had never made that connection, I do now see how they are related. It's almost as though KIEHL'S smells like a concentrated, highly animalic version of Chanel No.5 Those of you who are familiar with the names of various synthetic musks will likely know what chemicals the two scents share. Not listed in the above "official" pyramid, but I definitely smell a woody sandalwood note lurking in the base of KOM. KIEHL'S will not be my favorite animalic music-- that would be Serge Lutens MUSCS KOUBLAI-KHAN. But it smells wonderful, has a beautiful journey on the skin from Head to Base, and gosh knows the price is right (I bought my bottle of KIEHL'S for $40 in Provincetown; MKK will setcha back around $320).

Second review: This is the swiss army fragrance that works for anyone, anywhere, and anytime. Give this an hour on your skin and you will smell naturally delicious and clean. One of my all time favorite perfumes. While compliments are not the most important factor for me the level of positive feedback I have gotten from this perfume is on another level. I happen to love it's strong musky opening but it settles into a smooth and clean fragrance. Projection is better than most people give it credit for. It doesn't actually smell like a fragrance so much as the way someone who NATURALLY smells incredible. 10/10 for price, minimalist/clean presentation, versatility, unisex nature, and overall delicious sillage. Real signature scent worthy timeless perfume!!

I am 46 as of 2022. When I was younger, I did not care for musk fragrances. However, at my current age, I am drawn to them. Two of my favorite musk fragrances are Jovan Musk for Men and Moonlight Path by Bath and Body. On my skin, both ooze a comforting smoothness. Kiehl's Musk is no different. It is clean, slightly floral, but it has a bit of an animalic feel to it. I do detect a minimal urine/fecal note, but it does not come across as skanky or dirty. This is my first time using Kiehl's Musk. I wanted to try a new musk, and since it is characterized as a Floral Woody Musk, my go-to fragrance family, I wanted to try it. I have found a lovely musk that has stolen my olfactory heart! I hope it will be as special to you.

What a delish middle weight, unisex musk fragrance. No where as heavy and animalistic as the fabled SL Musc Koublai Khan which reminded me of the days when I muck spread mixed farmyard manure one February many years ago. You can spritz this on as your going out the door and be sure not to offend anyone. You smell warm and cuddly. Kids and your special one want to nuzzle you. There has a very soft floral aspect to this. It's a gentle musk with just a few whiskers of animalic. It's 7 degrees in here and I still can detect a decent sillage. It is only edt strength so I guess I can only expect a couple of hours longevity. Very nice and very affordable. Possibly a nice Valentines gift and bodice ripper! 😁

From my entire collection of perfumes which consists of 90% niche releases that I rotate, this is the only one I keep on returning to. The only perfume I have been restocking for 12 years now. It's a perfume that I wear, and doesn't wear me, that's why it's my go-to when I want to smell sexy. It's like a clean, yet sensual skin scent, that makes people want to be close to me physically. I'm very worried though, as it seems to have become unavailable in my country (The Netherlands) since a few weeks. EDIT: After months of not available, Kiehl's Original Musk is available in the online shop again (I got a notification of it). Does anybody know of a reformulation in Europe?

I just got this and i really like it. It reminds me of NR musc but i think stronger, or more sharp, more oily is the word that comes to mind. I think it is sexy, clean, versatile, layerable, and sophisticated. I cant imagine an occasion it would not work... maybe not church or a funeral? I am surprised by how much i enjoy musk as a note. I think i like a floral musk more than a gourmand honestly. I like the clean feeling i experience from musk. I can see why this has been around for so long, it def is unisex and mass appealing, but different enough that there is some intrigue and mystery. This is an easy reach for me, a good gift and a good blind buy in my book.

This is THE musk. I started wearing this several years ago and its become a comfort scent for me. Not sure if its been reformulated or not, but it still smells the same to me (after 12 years of use). It lasts quite awhile on skin: over 12 hours. It’s a skin scent so don’t expect people to comment from more than a foot away. Expect compliments hugging people or sitting next to them on a couch. If you work in healthcare this is the perfect work scent. It’s wonderful for layering, although I really enjoy it on its own. Definitely worth the price. I appreciate the oil as well. It definitely lasts longer if used with the oil. The body wash is luscious!

I tried out both the EDT spray and the oil when I got this, and I chose the oil in the end. The spray is lighter than the oil, which starts off with a pleasant pollen-like smell. Don’t get either one if you were hoping for a strong, animalistic musk, though; you will be disappointed 😃 It’s not too different from the cologne spray of Jōvan Musk Woman; it just doesn’t start off as sweet. The dry down puts me in mind of sweetened cocoa butter with a little musk mixed in. As long as you don’t bathe in it, it’s a great Jack-of-all-trades scent. It also smells great when layered with Cool Water, Solinote’s Pomelo, and Pure Grace Nude Rose 👌🏽

This is a very interesting product. I think it smells very good, BUT....it's not its performance/quality that makes it top-tier. This is the rare fragrance that I encourage others to combine with another fragrance. This is generally a taboo, but this elixir is such a uniquely engineered juice, that it complements other great fragrances that would be superb if they only had that injection of classic musk. Kiehl's Original Musk is like an equipable accessory item in a JRPG that is essential to have in your inventory for its ultra-rare ability. For me personally, I combine this with Hermes' Pamplemousse Rose and it's utterly divine.

An impressive budget fragrance. Kiehl's Musk has two parts, showcasing a gradual progression from "black" musk to "white" musk. Indolic ylang ylang at the top, a creamy white floral heart alongside the oily skin/hair smell of costus, and a base of warm, slightly soapy musks, patchouli, and coumarin. The warm musk base of Kiehl's Musk smells remarkably similar to Jovan's Musk for Women, although Kiehl's is less woody. I'd also say Kiehl's has more clarity and depth than Jovan, it smells less "play-dohy". Utterly fantastic. This was a love at first sniff, it has quickly become one of my favorite musks. Great value for the money.

My love for wearing stock standard Jovan Musk as a second skin under everything else led me to look for something a bit bolder. This is exactly what I wanted. The musk is definitely more pungent and the florals a bit more amped. The initial slightly dirty musk is addictive and beautiful. Now I wear this under my clothes during the day and Jovan Musk at night as it is softer. I had heard about Kiehl's before and don't know why it took me so long to try.. better late than never I guess! Unlike Muscs Koublai Khan and Carnicure, Kiehl's is the one I can wear in most settings and still get that musk satisfaction. Great scent!

I felt like it was similar to the old fashioned Brut every household had in the 90s but not the abrasive alcohol smell. Then I felt it smelled like the most expensive 100% handcrafted, authentic leather pair of boots. The dirty deer musk, animal side smells like every man that goes hunting. They always smell like that after cutting up deer. You secretly wanted to date/sleep with and never have to see again. I want this smell on my fabrics, bedding more than on me. So i can nest and bed rot and pull the covers closer to my nose. Dry down is this insanely delicious white floral. Intimate but intoxicating.

After being out of stock in all European stores for at least 6 months ( if not longer ), it has returned. Bought a new bottle and I don’t notice any changes in the composition but I do feel like the longevity and projection has returned to how it was when I first started wearing it in the 2010. It lasts forever, at the end of the day I still smell a single spray on my wrist and if I apply two sprays in my neck I have a cloud of musk, violets and patchouli around me the entire day. It will always be my signature scent. It’s only 55 euro here and it smells like a much more expensive composition to me.

Scored a 50ml bottle of Kiehl’s Original Musk in a bundle deal, never even sampled it before, just blind faith. Put it on today and... DAMN. Instant love. 100% a keeper. I get why it’s called “Love Oil.” 😂 or if it isn’t, it should be 😂 I don’t know what the oldest vintage versions smell like yet, but trust me, I hunting for one . As for the mixed reviews , I can see it. This isn’t for everyone. If you’re still in your Eros era, this probably isn’t gonna be your jam. But once your nose graduates from “clubbing mode” to “grown-up mode,” this stuff hits different. And I’m here for it

I am in a musk period right now. I dont know why but i just love wearing musk. Kiehls is really hitting different right now in a GREAT WAY. This is so great for a bed scent or cosy scent or after shower scent. It starts out strong and sharp but give it like 10-20 min and you will feel comforted. Perfect for sleeping because as you heat up under the covers it “activates” IMHO. I do not detect any urine nor fecal notes in any way. Or, maybe i do but i like it?! Great for layering and any occasion but give it time to dry down before you go to a conservative environment.

Smells nasty in a good way. Soapy, masculine, anamalic, sharp, and classy. I can see why some think this is sensual, each time I wear it I am more intrigued. I don’t think this is really for a younger crowd though, you’d probably get loads of compliments if you wore this to bingo at the nursing home. I wear this for me though, the way it makes the nose tingle each time I get a whiff is becoming addictive. And for the price, if you know musk and want a realistic musk scent addition to your collection it’s worth grabbing a bottle off their website.

Honestly one of the best musk I know, very good quality for the price, long lasting, dirtier than white musk from Body shop that I dislike, it feels much more natural (thanks to wonderful floral notes and particularly the ylang) but cleaner than MKK though, just soapy enough. Very vintage in a good way and that's a good thing to me, when I wear it I feel like in a woody Allen Movie (Annie hall or Manhattan period) in some NYC streets wearing a velvet jacket, my favorite book in my pocket listening to a Bob Dylan's song or some jazz...

Initially this comes off as very soapy on my skin. In the first few minutes of spraying it reminds me of Helmut Lang EDP with a distinct fougere, but with a slightly more prominent rose than HL. The musk rides up behind this as it starts to warm up on the skin. It has an addictive sensual quality to it, I find that I keep smelling my wrist where I sprayed it. Starts off a bit loud and brash but melts into a slightly powdery (I don't get the "creamy" that Kiehls describes) and very classic, but not outdated, wearable musk.

Hey Fragrantica, how about you invest in having a little oversight on your AI comment aggregator? Respecting that fragrances can be polarizing (and that people ave every right to express their opinion on an individual basis, I really don't need to see phrases like 'bum pee' or comments generalizing in denigrating ways about homeless people. This kind of of lazy editing is what gives AI usage a bad name. Excellent fragrance, IMO -- everything I wanted a musk to be... multidimensional, animalic, comforting and attractive.

I don’t know what I expected from a fragrance that was invented in the 1920s... this stuff smells vintage, unapologetically floral. Initially, it was a hard pass for both my husband and I. He said it smelled like a box of Pampers to him. I have been sniffing KOM on myself and from the bottle for the last two days, and I am starting to appreciate it. It occurred to me that KOM smells a lot like a mellowed out version of Chanel No 5 (they do share so many notes!) and it seems many other reviewers thinks so, too.

I like this a lot, and find it versatile and layer-able. I like this quality because I enjoy combining multiple perfumes, and it's very well suited for that. Smells very clean -- first impression honestly made me think of bug spray, but the nice herbal kind. The initial hit of alcohol fades quickly and it settles into a powdery, fresh, musky scent. I definitely get a strong hit of musk, but it's a spotless clean musk. Like fresh clothes that you've been wearing for a couple hours. Light, airy, and warm.

Sexy musky non-animalic scent. Great for when you just want to smell great and not scream that you’re wearing a fragrance. Putting this on after a shower is wonderful. Leaves you smelling cozy, clean, and expensive. It sits super close to the skin but it’s just so pleasing that I don’t mind at all that it doesn’t project. Super safe blind buy and in my opinion would make a great unisex gift for any age group. In my opinion it’s the perfect skin scent and works super well in any season.

First forty-five minutes or so. Old smelling soap. LOL. Harsh neroli and bergamot with florals. Then it turns. The "OLD" smell goes away and you are left with a super soft musk and slighty sweet patchouli. A remarkable juice for something created before I was born. A winner but a clear try before you buy IMO. Enjoy! Edit... after going through one 50 ml bottle I will say that this is an absolute must have for musk lovers and fragheads in general. Great musk juice. Enjoy!

Male counterpart of CHANEL No. 5 edt in my opinion. This is probably the perfume that I've owned the most in my life (I've reviewed this with passion in the past but accidentally deleted it and I couldn't get myself to go there again, so here's a shorty). If you love burying your face into your cat's fur (and paws lol), you'll surely love this one as well. Yes there's also that tiny HOBO vibes, but somewhat elevated lol.

This fragrance is so amazing! At first when I put it on, I wasn't sure. But with every wear, it's been growing on me. I actually saw this on a guide to best summer fragrances on morescentsthansense.com, and while I love it, I have to disagree. wear it in the fall and winter, and think that's probably the best time for it. Its so warm and smooth, and just makes me feel all around cozy. Overall, it's a 9/10 for me.

Skanky and Clean at the same time. Classic White Musk One of the few "white musk" I can pull off that does not smell synthetic and chemically on my skin. This starts off animalic (animalic is an euphemism. This reminds of cat urine) then transitions into florals I cannot exactly pick out. This gets cozy white musk that emits out pleasant aura perfect for the "sweater weather" and cuddling with your loved-one.