Egyptian Musk

Oh my, how I love this for my age-dry skin type. Normally, scents do not sit well or last long for me. A Redditor had the perfect words, saying that her skin "eats fragrance" or something like that. Well, this one goes on soft and starts warming up quickly. It definitely hits the "powdery" notes but there is a mild sweetness underneath as it warms on my skin. I put this on in the morning and it is still very noticeable (not in a bad way) some 12 hours later. Unusual for me, I will have to pull back a little on how much I apply. A little goes a long way and I am finding that it's best to start out with a little and wait at least half an hour. That's when the scent really "blooms". More of the musk came out as it wore through the day. It was sweeter and sort of powdery during the first couple of hours. "Musk" is not something I normally look for in a scent so I'm glad I gave this a try. It's not "loud" but it speaks above a whisper & doesn't fade away as quickly as others. I have Kuumba Made's Amber Paste and Vanilla Bean. The Paste is nice but does fade out fast. The Vanilla Bean is just "meh" on me and is barely noticeable. I just got this Egyptian Musk and the Vanilla Musk. I love this one the most. I will be buying more of this. I am going to wear this no matter the time of day. Right now, it's summer-humid and that works. The winter-dry season might make a difference.

So last year I've discovered Kuumba Made: They're sold in the US at Sprouts, several head shops / 'hippy stores' where they sell crystals and incense etc... As well as through Amazon, Etsy, their own website and more. I've only purchased their roller ball fragrance oils, and my experiences so far have been amazing! I've tried their Arabian Sandalwood, Egyptian Musk and Frankincense and Myrrh. This Egyptian Musk is just that: A warm, deep, cozy musk scent that low-key stays with you all day! Great longevity with a decent sillage. There's definitely some floral quality, for sure, although I couldn't say which flowers exactly - and a soapy vibe as well. The musk is not a white musk in my opinion, and not a clean musk; but rather a multidimensional sweet musk - with some animalistic tendency (though never being overwhelming). This fragrance is excellent for layering, but it also performs really well by itself! There's been comparisons to Narciso Rodriguez on here, but to be honest (being a For Her fan for years) that doesn't really resonate with me. Narciso uses a sharper, less sweet type of musk? Egyptian Musk feels more warm, deep, and less synthetic. I've also read that some people got a weak batch, or can't smell this fragrance much, for other reasons? Seem like a try-before-you-buy type scent.

I’m shocked at how close this seems stay to the skin, but in reality projects enough to elicit compliments from others! I was at a self checkout the other day when a lady at the checkout next to me looked over at me and said, “Oh my god, you smell AMAZING!” I had to think for a second to remember what I had put on in the morning, because Egyptian Musk just blends right into my skin and I tend to forget it’s there unless I actively sniff my arm. She was probably a good 4-6 feet from me when she said that; the registers aren’t that close. It’s so beautiful. I like layering it with other skin scents, like Glossier You or JHAG Not a Perfume. It’s just clean musk, so simple and perfect. It can smell like clean laundry, but I get more of a fresh, out of the shower skin scent from it. However, based on some recent unfavorable Amazon reviews, from now on I will probably only buy it directly from the Kuumba Made website or try to find it at Sprouts. I think there are some shady Amazon vendors trying to offload old stock, because reviews are calling the oil rancid or containing no scent at all.

I am so conflicted about this perfume oil because on the one hand I LOVE the scent, and on the other hand the fragrance comes out of the roller bottle really inconsistently in terms of strength. You're not going to reliably get a good hit of fragrance. I would pay a lot more money for a better quality version of this that smells identical. I've tried buying this on Amazon and on the kuumba made website - both times, same issue. I've tried out other egyptian musk oils and while others are more consistent, they just don't smell quite as good. Anyways, the fragrance itself is a really gorgeous, feminine skin scent. Very subtly sexy. I suspect this is one of those types of perfumes that men tend to adore - my husband goes feral for this one and he is not overly interested in fragrances, doesn't usually go ga ga for any one, but this one he loves. Anyways, please kuumba made, improve the strength and consistency of your perfume oil (without changing the actual scent) or make some sort of stronger version and charge more for it.

I should probably start by saying I am not a fan of musky scents, but this perfume has honestly changed my mind. I threw this on today and while I was doing my makeup, every time my wrists would move past my face I would catch a whiff of this amazing perfume. Such a good scent. It sits very close to the skin, and honestly smells quite a lot like skin itself. I find this scent to be super versatile and wearable for any occasion. I had a friend of mine smell this and she wasn't the biggest fan of it, so if you're not a fan of musks obviously steer clear, though you might find your new favorite type of scent like me! Wouldn't say this is a safe blind buy, but I find this scent absolutely breathtaking. I can't stop smelling myself when I have this on. Smells like I threw myself in the dryer with a few dryer sheets! Super cozy and clean, so so worth the price.

At the time I discovered Kuumba Made Egyptian Musk, I was wearing a limited edition Narciso For Her that featured vanilla and vetiver in the drydown — the original black bottle Narciso For Her being too sharp, too musky and too strong for me. Over time, I realized how often I was reaching for this simple little rollerball oil instead. None of the headache-inducing sharpness of a “perfume” . . . and it lasts and lasts. Hours after applying Egyptian Musk to the nape of my neck, people will comment on how good I smell. This little powerhouse will still be there in the morning. Nuzzleworthy. Props to Ingrid.superstar for the comparison to Russian olive tree blossom. Wear it day or night, but it’s perfect for day as sillage is enticing but not overpowering. Soft, sexy, comforting floral musk. A fragrance that subtly slays.

Finally! The Kuumba Made oils are on fragrantica! I've enjoyed many of their scents over the years, but this is the leader for me. Allegedly, JFK Jr.'s wife, Carolyn Bessette wore an Egyptian Musk oil which became the inspiration for Narciso Rodriguez's first scent. Whether it is this one, who knows. However it is a bewitching scent that make people lean in a bit closer to you. It's a cozy, skin scent. Not an animal-like musk, but not as sweet as Kuumba Made's Vanilla Musk. This scent veers towards a cleaner scent, a bit soapy if you will. But it does not have the immaturity of many White Musk scents, like that popular one from the mall soap store in the purple bottle. Graduate to this musk, which can be found at your friendly neighborhood health store or Whole Foods type establishment.

If you are like me and are constantly looking for more fragrances and lotions that smell like yummy vintage soaps... BUY IT. it's fresh-out-the-shower clean, very inoffensive and sits close to the skin-- also a great one for layering. Perfect for that moment where you hug someone and they tell you you smell delicious. HOWEVER, if you are someone who likes to smell up a room, have very loud perfume, loves putting a whole lot on and being wrapped in your fragrance, save your money and don't buy it. Egyptian musk is not that kind of girl. It is best appreciated for its subtlety (which is one of my favorite things about it, as a skin scent enjoyer) so don't be out here coating your nostrils with it because it will not be a fun experience. 10/10!

I love this perfume oil, it's such a creamy and clean smelling musk on me that reminds me of sun warmed skin on a Spring day. There's no sweetness or spice or anything else to detract from this almost woody musk. I found it to also be really similar to Kuumba Made's Water Goddess perfume oil, but that one is more aquatic and floral. I love wearing this one to bed and think it would be great layered under fresher perfumes to give them more depth! I found the scent of this oil to be apparent from the first sniff of my new rollerball (it does get stronger with time too) and I can smell it lingering on me for a while when I use it so I think there is a lot of anosmia going on with people's ability to smell the musks in this one.

I have a generic roll-on version of this and its just as I remmeber... They sell this among many of the similar roll on oils in the head shops of Woodstock, NY which is where I first purchased this back in 1999. It was for my ex girlfriend, she wore it well. It was a turn on. I've noticed it labeled as unisex and have been wearing a small amount on my wrist. Its sort of soapy, laundry detergent, dandelion at first, but there's something under it, sweet, vanilla, but musky. Like something vapor that you catch and then lose. The more you sniff the longer you capture that smell and the soap odor dissapears. It's mild and yet lasts for a while. A gem for sure. Perhaps an understatement. A very, very special creation.

Kuumba Made's version of this popular style of white musk is just delightful. Slightly sweet, a little floral, fresh, and just plain pretty. It's my go-to "non-perfume" for when I don't really fell like wearing any perfume but still can't bear to go without. I see votes for it being similar to Narciso Rodriguez fragrances, but there are key differences in ingredients. NR is the kind of sharp white musk that seems to coat my nostrils and give me a headache, while KM's Egyptian Musk is just gentle enjoyability, inoffensive, easy to take. If you have trouble with white musk, still try this one. Also if you are anosmic to white musk, give it a shot. I can smell it plainly.

My favorite perfume. On me, it smells warm, welcoming, and very slightly sweet in a skin-like way. It reminds me of the sheets at my parents' house, bedtime stories, a combination of familiar skin and a cool pillowcase. Cuddling, basically. Considering all that, it's subtle enough that it feels appropriate enough for everyday wear. It does get noticed, though—while wearing it I get compliments from my husband, coworkers, ladies at the grocery store, you name it. I love how natural it smells, too. It's one of the few perfumes I've tried that feels like a nice extension of myself rather than something I'm putting on to impress or create a certain statement or feeling.

I think of this perfume as a kind of enigma. It smells better further from the skin somehow. If I sniff my wrist I get this kind of dusky woody musk that doesn't appeal overmuch to me, but then out of the blue during the day I'll get whiffs of this beautiful musk, vaguely floral but still warm. Very clean smell. Very comforting. I have another Egyptian musk by another brand, and that one is much more brash and powdery and less floral and more like the musk perfumes that were really popular a few decades ago. The Kuumba one is light and breezy and clean by comparison. But still satisfying I think.

The problem with Kuumba products (and this, their most popular scent, in particular) is that they are inconsistent with the batches. The smell is so faint, it's very easy to miss the mark. I recommend going to the local Whole Foods or other supermarket that sells it and making sure you're getting a good batch; ordering it online is too risky. Otherwise, this stuff is great for when you don't want to have a cloud of headache-inducing perfume floating around you. The scent is exotic without venturing into "hippie smoke shop" territory. One of my favorites.

I used to be so scared of “musks” because my moms friend OVER LOADED ever room she walked in with this strong musk perfume. This, however, is gorgeous. Not cloying, reminiscent of sun warmed sexy skin on a happy day. My boyfriend said this smells natural. Like you just naturally smell this good! I mix it with Tunisian jasmine and let me tell you, it makes me feel like the sexiest woman alive! Perfect silliage, feels like you’re radiating a warmth around you. Perfect for al year round, so glad I picked this up on a whim! I think I found a cheap winner !

This is a beautiful, clean fresh scent! If you like NR for her, you will probably like this too. It is a tricky scent- you will think it has worn off and suddenly get a compliment from someone standing 5 ft away. It will waft up to your nose and you will wonder what is that wonderful, fresh smell. Whenever one of my colleagues walks into my office, he always asks why does it smell so good in here? This gets me more compliments than anything else I have ever worn- it's crazy!

I get complimented on this constantly. I wear it sparingly on my wrist. Even the day after, people comment. Men, women, little girls, all ages. Most recently I was in a grocery story. Two women (seemed to be mother/daughter) both started oo'ing and ah'ing to themselves-- "Ooooo I smell something nice, like a Musk!" Even my BF comments on how I leave his truck and pillows smelling nice. I realize that for some people, the chemistry does not work. For me, it's a home run.

i HATE musky fragrances. that being said... i am a fiend for this one. to me though it doesn't smell very musky in the sense that i associate musk scents with nighttime and fall/winter but this scent reminds me of a bright sunny afternoon. for reference, i've worn it layered with light blue and bath and body works gingham and this combo smelled just lovely and sunny. idk if i just perceive this scent oddly but it really does smell clean and delightful to me

I've worn this one for years and it always got compliments - even when I thought it had worn off, someone would mention how 'soft' and warm I smelled. It has a nice balance of clean, musky, powdery and a touch of sweet but without too much woods note like the Narcisco for Her tends to smell; I like NR, but it can get a little heavy at times. I'd say this is a great cheap thrill of a scent that is portable, you can throw it in your bag or purse.

So this reminds me of Egyptian Goddess. I had it once and then lost it. I like the smell of it but it was a little more lighter than Egyptian Goddess from Auric blends. It's very close to the skin and doesn't project at all. You have to be close to smell it. It's one of those oils that's good to put on after your shower and are getting ready for bed. It's also good if you want to put on something like to go to the gym.

I really love Egyptian Musk, and Kuumba Made is one of my favorites. It smells clean to me, and it lasts for hours on my skin. It's one of those fragrances that you forget you're wearing until someone asks you what you have on. Men, especially, seem to love it. EM makes a great everyday perfume, very easy to wear. I've tried other Kuumba Made perfumes, but this one remains my favorite.

A simple and clean, musky better-than-skin skin scent. The musk is the natural-smelling oily kind, not the synthetic Middle Eastern one that starts smelling plasticky after some time. It's a very natural smelling perfume oil. I wish it was made into an actual eau de parfum spray so it would project more. Smell: 10 out of 10 Strength: 6 out of 10 Unisex, leaning feminine

People who say this smells weak are probably just anosmic to the musk, which is a feature of some musk oils, particularly the Egyptian blends. You may be able to stop smelling it but that doesn't mean others won't take notice. I've noticed that this will last a good 8 hours and has very decent projection despite your ability (or lack thereof) to perceive it.

This is one of the first musk scents I smelled as a child, and it's still my favorite. Seductive, but not too animalistic, and clean, but not soapy or synthetic. It layers wonderfully with other perfumes. My only gripe (as others have noted) is the inconsistent application. I would err on the side of caution with it because this stuff is pretty strong.

one of the best unisex perfumes i've owned. best impulse purchase ever. kind of smells how i'd expect a priest or religious official of some sort to smell? it's very comforting! very inoffensive! very cheap! would recommend 100% :)

This has been one of my favorite scents for years. It smells like a hug, so comforting and cozy. It’s not too much but not too light. It works for any occasion. I layer it with kuumba made’s vanilla bean and I never get sick of it.

I love this. To me this is the “classic” Egyptian musk fragrance. Its a clean cozy musk on my skin. Missing Person smells similar, more animalic on me, but I prefer the Kuumba Made by a mile. So glad I just picked this up.

It smells musky, but also waxy. Kind of like an unscented bar of soap. Small hints of yellow flowers here and there. But otherwise, smells clean. I like the way it smells on my skin especially.

I actually like the indolic quality that appears at the outset. Auric Blends Egyptian Musk is similar overall but with less indole, more incense and vanilla.

Warm, cozy musk. Reminiscent of a warm hug. When I smelled the roll-on immediately after opening, I smelled nothing. When I put my nose to my skin immediately after applying the oil, I smelled nothing. But after it warmed up on my skin, it began projecting a very pleasant fragrance. It's actually quite potent, considering I didn't apply too much. I tried layering it under Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensee, which does not project at all on me, and after a few minutes or so, a beautiful mix of Egyptian Musk and Vanille Insensee radiated off my skin. Its also happens to be a warm day today, so that helps as well. I'm excited to experiment with layering this under different perfumes in my arsenal. This is my first Kuumba Made oil, and I am looking forward to trying more! Edit: It's a bit (or a lot) like a "my skin but better" kind of fragrance, which I'm not normally into, but I appreciate its versatility in layering with other scents. I do not like investing a lot of money in these type of scents, so I stay away from the muskier JHAG offerings, but for this price point, I don't mind, as a little goes a long way. Also, it's been 3 days and I can still smell this on my cardigan! Also, a few days after opening I was able to smell it more directly from the rollerball.

I have the oil rollerball. This is a great layering scent but that's it. Not because it doesn't smell awesome, it does, but it's atrociously weak. I can barely smell it at all unless I layer it. As for the scent, it's not a dirty animalic musk but it's not sterile either like a laundry white musk, making it perfect for layering as it goes great with just about anything. Very similar to the musk in Narciso Rodriguez for her, though not like NR for her in any other way nor in any way a dupe. This is ALMOST a pure musk, but it does have a hint of floral. Nowhere near as much as NR, nor does it have an patchouli or anything else. But I guess I can see why it's voted as being similar only because it's almost the exact same kind of musk. I don't like the rollerball packaging because it releases very little oil, you have to press hard and roll it all over and you still don't get much, making the strength problem even worse. The oil itself is also kind of sticky. I will say that the longevity is at least ok. If it weren't this would be pointless. I will keep using it but am definitely on the hunt for a stronger version of the same scent with better packaging.

While Kuumba Made Egyptian Musk is a nice scent, it's a little light. I'm one of those people who has trouble smelling certain Kuumba Made fragrances (I can baaaarrrely smell Persian Garden), as well as some musks; it must be a case of differing olfactory receptors in different people. I find Auric Blends Egyptian Musk to be very similar to Kuumba Made's, except I can smell it more distinctly -- and it really lasts. I asked one of my friends, who has no trouble smelling Persian Garden, for her impressions of these two Egyptian Musks, and she described Kuumba Made's as more of a clean, daytime scent and Auric Blends' spicier and stronger one as something she would wear going out at night. In fact, I'm going to give her my little roller bottle because she will enjoy it more than I!

I love this, and always, always have a rollerball on hand! I feel like when I die, this will probably be the smell everybody associates with me. Which is a great thing, because it smells fantastic! I layer it with Narciso Rodriquez's For Her, and it adds some staying power to that spray. It's great on it's own. I feel like lots of people, including myself, feel like this does not have staying power, but really that's because I think most people aren't able to smell musk after a while? Bc I will reapply this over the course of a day, and when my husband comes home he will say the whole house smells of it! In a good way! Good to mix with body lotion as a base for other fragrances. Just a good, sexy, skin scent that last and lasts on your clothes.

I agree with other reviewers that this is a very “natural” scent. It doesn’t smell like you’re wearing perfume, per se, just that you and your natural skin smell nice. I also experience the fluctuation in being able to smell this scent — just when I think it’s worn off and I can’t smell it anymore, it ambushes me in the most pleasant sense of the word. It’s a very nostalgic scent for me. It’s very clean without being harsh... imagine fresh sheets that have been slept in for a night or two. This is my new post-shower and bedtime scent. All in all, I really really like this, but it won’t be turning any heads... it’s more for you than anyone else.

I use this for work! It sits close to the skin and is a sweet, musky, warm, powdery, slightly clean fragrance. The first time I bought this, I was in Hawaii so it conjures up really beautiful scent memories for me. If a client does smell it, they’ll always ask me what I’m wearing and don’t believe it’s a $10 oil roll on. It layers well with fragrances similar to it, I’ve been loving layering it with CLEAN’s “Skin” perfume. Can’t go wrong with it, especially for the price.

Kuumba Made Egyptian Musk is the BB or CC cream of fragrance oils. Its fragrance is intimate. It projects and is most beautiful when worn in warm, hot, humid weather. On my skin, it is creamy, figgy, fruity sweetness mixed with white musk. Although don’t care much for white musk, it is well balanced here. To truly experience this fragrance, it MUST be worn during the warm/hot humid time. It will bloom.

This is a really pleasant Egyptian musk that definitely leans more powdery. Very soft, clean skin scent and not much sillage, but I have received a couple of compliments from people who have hugged me while I was wearing this. I think this would also make a great base for other softer perfumes, perhaps with powder, floral, or musk notes.

It's okay :) It's not the best ever Egyptian musk I've ever tried (best one for me is a tie between Auric Blends' Egyptian Goddess and Blooddrop's ltd ed Egyptian Musk from a couple of winters ago), and it's far from the worst. It's a good, clean scent.

Smells soft, sweet, and powdery. A very nice musky fragrance. It does open indolic and this is why I prefer their oriental musk a little better. I have the oil. It's wearable every day and night of the year. -

A light musk with powdery finish. I first smelled this at a Whole Foods and had to have it. I wish I lived somewhere cooler as the scent sharpens too much in the heat. Lovely and inoffensive in my opinion.

I can understand why other people would enjoy this fragrance, but for me, it was way too unnatural and laundry smelling for my taste, basically like a strong, synthetic detergent, and I really dislike detergent smells. On my skin it smelt like grandma to me, but maybe that’s just my association with detergent. Very unflattering and agitating for me. Not really for a younger person imo. I expected it to be a bit more animalic, warmer and sensual, my mistake though as I didn’t pay attention to the overall reviews and just to a few stray ones 😬

So glad I didn’t blind by. It’s a very mature, soapy yet earthy scent. Not bad but not for me, and anyone who compared this to Fine’ry “Without a Trace”... do I have words for you 😂

Plasticky-vanilla scent bubble...no thank you. I'm a "creamy-milky-vanilla" guy...ala "Montale - Vanilla Cake". This isn't for me.

I bought this perfume oil last winter and I couldn't stand it. It was so animalic and strong that is really bothered me and it lasted forever! I'd wash and it still wouldn't go away. I remember first applying (liberally, especially when working the tricky rollerball) and I didn't smell anything and I thought I wasted my money and like half an hour later a big whiff of musk hits me in my face. I wondered what that smell was forgetting the oil I had applied earlier. I thought I never smelled Egyptian musk before, and I was expecting something more fresh, like cotton, but then I realized I've smelled this scent before. It was all in the air growing up, especially in the 90's and I had no idea it was an oil musk, I thought it was an ointment or lotion everyone was using. I didn't like it then and I still don't like it now. Until I reached for it again last night ( I was feeling bold) and I braced myself for the indolic notes that I was about to embark on as I gave this oil another chance. To my surprise, I got that note but only for a brief second and then it went away, and all I could smell was a skin scent that was slightly fresh but not soapy, a little sweet, but a natural sweetness and very subtle, and smoky incense note. It was bazaar and I wondered what changed? Was it my nose, was it the perfume oil that had settled, maybe my body chemistry? And then I realized it's the weather, it's a lot warmer now. I still wouldn't say I like it now, but it's a lot more tolerable now. Update (9.7.2021) : I just finished a roller bottle of Egyptian Musk and I still feel the same. It's just not the musk for me, too animalic for my taste. However, I will say it has really good longevity and very strong projection, and I appreciate that it doesn't smell too synthetic. I won't repurchase EM but will try another fragrance oil from Kuumba Made.

I blind bought this since it was Kuumba Made's most popular scent. I have no idea what anyone is smelling. Very, very faint wood is all I can smell. That is ALL. With a name like Egyptian Musk I expected something sweet, exotic, and yes... musky, maybe something like Moroccan Oil. There is none of that to it. I keep trying but keep straining to smell ANYTHING to this perfume. My bottle of olive oil in the kitchen cabinet is stronger! Very faint wood smell, like opening a box of toothpicks. That's all! Tried to leave a review on the site but it never showed up. So far the most disappointing perfume I've ever bought.

Picked one up from Amazon to fulfill free shipping minimum. It has zero scent. It's as if there is only mineral oil in this and that's it. It's not a matter of me being anosmic to it as my sister couldn't smell it either. Reading through the Amazon reviews, which I should have done before purchase, it seems to be a common complaint. So either Kumba changed the formula, or something was going on with that seller on Amazon. Total waste of 10 bucks. Looks like I paid for that shipping after all. On a brighter note, the Kumba Arabian Rose from a different seller on Amazon is gorgeous.

If I just use the tiniest amount it is a nice clean skin musk that I catch a whiff of every now and then & enjoy. If I use a full dab though it is just an extremely synthetic smelling headache inducer that gives dryer sheets and cigarettes. Amber Paste by the same brand is 1000x better especially when well macerated.

This makes me like the oldest and meanest lady you've ever met. I hate this and it's impossible to get off my skin. What a disappointment.

I look at the listed notes on the brand website and read the reviews here, and I am dumbfounded. To me, this perfume has a sharp chlorine scent and nothing else. I let it sit for a few months to age, and it still smells the same. I love white musk, but this smells nothing like musk. I also don't get any of the listed notes. I own several musk fragrances, and this chlorine scent seems unique to the Kuumba Made musk note. I also tried KM Vanilla Musk, and it was the same chlorine scent combined with a gourmand vanilla, which I found nauseating. I will say, I found the fragrance strong and there was no problem with longevity. I seem to be the only person whose nose registers the fragrance in this way, so I can only assume that is an issue with my sense of smell, and I will not judge the fragrance good or bad; it's not fair to the fragrance or the brand. I wanted to write this review in case others have the same experience.

This is the closest thing I have ever smelled to a Russian olive tree blossom -- a scent I have been seeking in a perfume for years! Definite shades of Narciso for Her Edt (as stated all over the place) which contains osmanthus -- a close relative of Russian olive. Egyptian Musk is a slightly sweet, breathy, woody scent that makes me feel like there is a honey-gold halo hovering above my skin. It smells delicious in the bottle; when smelt on the skin, it practically makes me feel delirious. This stuff is downright magical. It has that curious duality of "I can't smell this / It's all I can smell" even for the same person in the same wearing. When applied with too heavy a hand, there is a lingering indolic smell that fades after about 15 minutes. This, too, is intoxicating in its own way. As a sidenote, I really love having this in a little gold-capped vial that I can carry around like it's a talisman.