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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 scents (like leather or wood) or anchor ligher scents (like florals or citrus). Because 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 for men.
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.
Oaire 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.
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.
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.
Henry Rose is one of the more exciting niche perfumers these days, and not just because Michelle Pfeiffer is at the helm. Menace is the brand's first "true masculine" scent. While we here at GQ don't believe in smells having genders, we're grateful for the new arrival: it's a sexy seaside scent that makes you feel like you're on the coast of northern California, getting whiffs of cypress and cedar. If it's menacing, it's only in a Pretty Little Liars kind of way.
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.
Neroli Pomodoro, from new-kid perfumer Bianco Profumo, leads with tomato leaf and basil (hence the "pomodoro"), but the musk base note brings an all-day aromatic buzz.The guy who wears this scent smells every bit as sophisticated as a buttoned-up businessman, but the twist is that he owns a creative agency—or maybe just a painting studio in his backyard.
Gallivant's scents pay homage to the world's best cities, and this one pays homage to its namesake borough not with whiffs of slice shops and idling cars but with musk and ozone. It feels like the calm after the storm, when the rain's washed away the day's sweat and left behind a city filled with life and brownstones and tree-lined streets.
Solid colognes don't usually make our "Best Of" roundups, but this one from Fulton & Roark perfectly pairs musk with wood and amber notes. Apply a swipe daily to your wrists and neck, and take the little metal container with you if you need a re-up in the evening.
Leather, cedar, saffron, pepper, and rose sing in harmony while musk owns the spotlight. It's not for the meek: Musc Noble is the most powerful scent of our musk-forward favorites, so start with a half-spritz and go from there.
