Alluring, sensual, enticing… Musk is well-known for its aphrodisiac powers. Perfumers play with a myriad of synthetic musks to fix, blend and mold ingredients in a number of intoxicating accords. These notes are clean and transparent—lending a velvety, skinny effect. Musk notes in perfume used to be processed from the actual musk glands of animals to impart a gamey, warm, and sensual texture. But this practice is illegal in modern times, and nowadays musk notes in fragrance are entirely synthetic. Musk’s tangy aroma can range from sheer, metallic and bright to very animalic and even as intimate as the scent of warm, damp, human skin. Musk adds a sultry, sensual feel to demure feminine scents, as well as making masculine notes like tobacco and leather vividly expressive in cologne. For perfume fans who enjoy the alluring scent of warm, clean, skin - musk is a must-have note in fragrance.

Coconut’s tropical sweetness conjures up visions of a perfect island paradise whenever it’s added to a fragrance. It works best with deep florals such as gardenia, jasmine, and rose, as well as any other sweet note you like. Coconut also highlights other tropical citrus notes such as pineapple, yuzu, litchee, and peach. If you love exotic AND sweet notes in your fragrances, coconut’s smooth, fresh, sweetness will soon be one of your favorites. Coconut scents are best for summer, and also make a fun alternative to heavier winter fragrances.

Cacao

A versatile note of many facets, ambrette seed is musky and animalic, slightly fruity pear and floral powdery, iris-like. It is considered the best natural/non-synthetic alternative to musk. However, this note comes with a rather lavish price tag—relegating its usage to fine perfumery.