Note families

Musk Notes

Leaves a clean, skin-like, soft trace. Most of today's musk impression is built with synthetic molecules.

Pale seeds, cotton bolls and soft off-white fabric

Notes in this family

5 notes

Natural portrait of an African civet in emerald and sapphire forest light

Civet scent: animal secretion or a civetone accord?Does a civet note imply animal secretion? Separate civetone, synthetic accords and source claims using original research.

An adult male Siberian musk deer with no antlers, long curved upper canine tusks and grey-brown fur, in a snowy mountain forest

What is musk?Musk is the secretion of the musk deer's gland and the soft, skin-like scent it evokes. Learn where the musk in today's perfumes really comes from.

Soft cashmere fabric beside warm wood and an amber perfume bottle

What is the cashmere wood note in perfume?Cashmere wood is a soft woody, musky scent idea. Learn how the accord differs from the Cashmeran molecule and how to recognise it in perfume.

Open ambrette seed pod, small dark seeds and an amber perfume bottle

What is the ambrette note in perfume?Ambrette is a soft musk-like scent linked to Abelmoschus moschatus seeds. Learn how seed oil, ambrettolide and white musk differ.

Soft folds of white fabric and an amber perfume bottle in warm gold light

What is the white musk note in perfume?White musk suggests clean fabric and soft skin. Learn why it is an accord rather than one required molecule, and how different musk materials work.