Fun fact: “Musk” used to come from deer groins. No lie. The best musk colognes were products of a powdery pheromone-packed substance that musk deer stags used to attract their mates. These days, though, the “musk” used in musk-forward colognes and perfumes is synthetically made. The deer get to live in peace, and we still get scents built around musk’s deep, sexy note—one that helps lighten up heavier fragrance notes (like leather or wood) or anchor lighter scents (like florals or citrus).
And, while musk can play a supporting role, a musk-centric scent just feels unique among the broader world of men’s colognes: primal, but—in the right hands (or noses)—still elegant. Below are ten of the best musk colognes on the market right now.
The Best Musk Colognes, According to GQ
Best Musk Cologne: Frédéric Malle Musc Ravageur EDP
Frédéric Malle
Musc Ravageur EDP
Musc Ravageur is the defintion of a musk scent: Intensely packed with sex appeal, yet subtle enough to not overwhelm your personality (and over-do it on your partner’s nostrils). Its sweet and sexy aroma follows you wherever you go, wafting through the halls letting everyone know where you were and having them hoping that you’ll come back soon.
Best Woody Musk: Montblanc Explorer Platinum Eau de Parfum
Montblanc
Explorer Platinum Eau de Parfum
Of all the colognes in Montblanc’s terrific Explorer line, Platinum is my favorite yet. Cypress, cedar, and musk make it smell fresh as the powder at the top of the Alps, while making sure it keeps its fancy hiking boots firmly planted on the ground.
Best Musk Cologne for the Office: Henry Rose Menace
Henry Rose
Menace Eau de Parfum
Menace will earn you compliments with its soothing impression. And it just might draw people subconsciously to your cubicle for some watercooler gossip. Don’t blame us when suddenly you’re everyone’s favorite coworker to hover around. This is olfactive catnip.
Best Musk Cologne for Summer and Fall: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Universalis Forte
Maison Francis Kurkdjian
Aqua Universalis Forte Eau de Parfum
Aqua Universalis is terrific for the warmer half of the calendar, especially late summer into fall. It has a citrusy start but ends up in the forest, with a musky-woody base that keeps it soft, like a pile of leaves.
Best Musk Cologne for Winter and Spring: Le Labo Tonka 25
Le Labo
Tonka 25 Eau de Parfum
While Tonka 25 is a terrific pick for an every-day scent, since it’s floral, crisp, and fresh, it’s still a bit heftier than the first half of the sentence might lead you to believe. Partly because the “Tonka” in the name is a red herring—the vanilla-forward tonka beans are secondary to the cologne’s powdery, musky notes and the weight they bring. We’d save this one for evenings and colder weather, and let it hibernate for summer.
Best Citrusy Musk: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Universalis
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Universalis
If you’re looking for a bright and uplifting scent, look no further than bergamot. It complements the Aqua Universalis’s musk note by offering something fresher and lighter, all without dampening the sex appeal of the musk.
Most Musky Cologne: Santa Maria Novella Muschio
Santa Maria Novella
Muschio EDC
Muschio is powdery musk perfection. And as musk-forward as the scent may be (and it is musk-forward, in a great way), th fact that it’s a low-concentration eau de cologne means it goes on light and fades in a couple hours. By necessity that makes it something of a scalpel in a line-up of blunter instruments, and great for moments where you want to make a first impression but not let a cologne carry the conversation all night.
Best Musk Cologne for Travel: Duke Cannon Bay Rum
Duke Cannon
Bay Rum Solid Cologne
Here’s a solid option for anyone who wants to travel without adding another liquid to their dopp kit. The Duke Cannon Bay Rum solid cologne offers a fresh spin on musk, bringing in layers of citrus and spice. It’s an affordable and convenient way to make sure you smell good all without worrying about spills in your bag.
More Musk Fragrances We Love
Common Fragrance Notes
Meaning “wood” in Arabic, oud smells exactly like you think it would: woodsy. It’s a commonly beloved fragrance note for men, but when paired with something sweeter or more floral, it helps to add a depth that’s great for all people.
What’s bitter in taste is actually quite sweet and delicious on the nose. Bergamot offers a fine citrus note that’s fresh on the nose, and when it’s paired with something like oud, there’s a wonderful dissonance that makes you think about your fragrance all day long.
Often considered a “manly” scent, vetiver has a distinct smoky aroma to it that’s often compared to incense or cigar smoke.
Why would you want to smell like leather? The same reason that “leather” is a positive attribute when describing wine. Think more vintage sofa than ratty old handbag though, and that’s what you’ll get when you douse yourself in this intoxicating scent.
Musk, which was once harvested from the glands of the musk deer, is now created artificially, and it’s often described as earthy and sweet.
Another citrusy scent, neroli offers more of a “green” tinge than bergamot, so it smells like freshly cut grass that might’ve seen an accident of spilled orange juice.
With a bit of a spicy-sweet aroma, patchouli is often associated with bad smells. But these days, patchouli-forward scents are a complex blend of wood, musk, and spice.
One of the more floral fragrance notes there is, orris has a sweet flower-like aroma that can be balanced out by some darker, heavier notes to cancel out any reminders of grandma’s old perfume.
We describe a lot of scents as sweet, but between florals and citruses, that can mean anything. When it comes to tonka bean, you’ll get something that leans more vanilla, with a hint of baked goods.
