Musk colognes are popular fragrances for men, often described as warm, sweet, and woody. They are typically long-lasting and earthy, with a versatile range of scents that can be worn all year round.
The best musk colognes for men are complex, potent, and versatile. They can be crisp, fresh, and inviting, making them the perfect base for a wide variety of top notes.
- Versace Pour Homme Dylan Blue EDT
- The Body Shop White Musk EDT
- Chanel Allure Homme EDT
- Jimmy Choo Man EDT
- Narcisco Rodriguez for Him Bleu Noir EDT
- Maison Francis Kurkdjian Gentle Fluidity Gold EDP
- Creed Aventus EDP
- Burberry Touch for Men EDT
- Armaf Club De Nuit Intense Man EDT
- Tom Ford Ombré Leather Eau de Parfum
- Ralph Lauren Polo Blue Eau de Toilette
- Chanel Bleu De Chanel Eau de Parfum
- Kiehl's Musk Eau de Toilette Spray
What You'll Learn
Best Overall Musk Cologne
Musk colognes are known for their deep, sensual aromas that evoke the smell of skin, sweat, and the things we do to get sweaty. While the term "musk" originally referred to gland secretions from male musk deer, today, it describes a broad category of warm and woody scents with hints of florals or citrus.
Explorer Platinum Eau de Parfum by Montblanc
This cologne is described as having a woody-musky scent profile with key notes of cedarwood, musk, clary sage, cypress, and violet leaf. It is the favourite of the author in the list of ten best musk colognes for men. It is fresh and sophisticated, reminiscent of the powder at the top of the Alps.
Kiehl's Musk Eau de Toilette Spray
This cologne has stood the test of time, with a formula that is largely unchanged since it was first developed by Kiehl's Apothecary in the 1920s. It is a warm and captivating fragrance with notes of tonka nut, musk, white patchouli, and fresh florals and citruses. It is an iconic and affordable option, costing under $50.
Tom Ford Ombré Leather Eau de Parfum
This cologne is a modern take on classic masculine notes like leather, tobacco, and woods. It adds a dash of florals like violet and jasmine to create a lighter, uniquely wearable, and sexy cologne with a smooth, musky finish.
Chanel Bleu De Chanel
This cologne is described as the more sophisticated older brother to the original Bleu de Chanel. It has a fresh bite to it, but the amber and woody notes are dialled up, giving it a deep, musky dry-down perfect for impressing a date.
Frederic Malle Musc Ravageur
This cologne contains a double helping of musk in both the heart and base notes, making it one of the most iconic musk fragrances available. It has a fresh burst of bergamot, mandarin, and lavender in the top notes, which give way to an animalistic and deeply seductive musk fragrance.
Creed Aventus
Creed has been crafting fragrances since 1760, and Aventus, released in 2010, is one of its best-selling scents. It combines fresh citrus, warm woods, and earthy musk to project bold masculinity and confidence.
These colognes offer a range of options to enhance your scent and make you feel instantly sexier.
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Best Summer Musk Cologne
Musk colognes are known for their deep, sexy notes that can lighten up heavier scents like leather or wood, or ground lighter scents like florals or citrus. They are also said to have an "animalistic" quality, though today, most musks are synthetic.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Universalis Forte Eau de Parfum
This cologne is perfect for the warmer months, especially late summer into fall. It has a citrusy start but dries down to a soft, musky-woody base.
Musc Noble Eau de Parfum
A bold and powerful scent, this cologne is perhaps better suited for winter and spring. It has a rosy-musky profile with key notes of musk, rose, saffron, leather, and cedar.
Brooklyn Eau de Parfum
With key notes of musk, orange, lemon, resin, and amber, this cologne is a great choice for weekends. Its scent pays homage to the namesake borough of Brooklyn, evoking the calm after a storm, rather than the typical slice shops and idling cars.
Tiziana Terenzi Kirke
A personal favourite, Kirke is a versatile, all-season fragrance with excellent performance. It has a prominent flowery-fruity opening, with a backbone of heavy musk, patchouli, vanilla, and sandalwood.
Molton Brown Milk Musk
A combination of milk and earthy animalistic musks gives this cologne a unique point of difference. It has a comforting yet fruity combination of top notes, including elemi resin, peach, and pear, followed by a heart of musk, ambroxan, and vanilla.
Dior Homme Sport
Sharp, fresh, and spicy, this cologne is a great choice for summer. With a dominant note of lemon, it dries down to a woody backbone with hints of pepper and elemi.
Acqua di Parma Blu Mediterraneo – Fico di Amalfi
This cologne has an uplifting, fig-woody composition that is perfect for summer. It has a citrusy opening of bergamot and grapefruit, followed by a gorgeous, milky fig that lingers throughout its performance.
Armani Prive Musc Shamal
A modern and fresh take on musk, this cologne is part of Armani Prive's La Collection Des Mille Et Une Nuits, paying tribute to the splendours of the Orient. It has a citrus-tinged breezy effect, with key notes of musk, jasmine, rose, amber, vanilla, and cedarwood.
Guerlain Les Absolus d'Orient Musc Noble
A warm and powdery musk, this cologne is perfect for date night. It has a seductive and tempting scent, with key notes of rose, saffron, cedarwood, and musk.
Montblanc Explorer Eau de Parfum
A popular choice, this cologne smells similar to Aventus, a famous fragrance by the same brand. It has a fresh, spicy, and warm scent, with a leathery and woody dry-down.
Jo Malone London Rose & White Musk
Breaking the traditional rules of fragrance composition, this cologne has no top notes, making it a brave yet successful choice. It has a floral heart of rose, built on a foundation of amber, oud, and white musk.
Diptyque Fleur De Peau
A subtle and elegant fragrance, this cologne has a musky, floral profile inspired by the Greek mythological love story of Eros and Psyche. It has a bright, upbeat start with notes of mandarin, angelica, aldehyde, bergamot, and pink peppercorn, which become more floral over time.
Fulton & Roark Solid Cologne
Although solid colognes usually don't make the cut, this one is an exception. With key notes of musk, wood, and amber, it's a great choice for travel, as it comes in a small metal container that's easy to carry around.
Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Italian Love
A fresh, fruity, and ozonic fragrance, this cologne is a great choice for summer. It has a super citrusy opening of grapefruit and bergamot, followed by a seductive, ozonic scent with a very recognisable grapefruit note.
John Varvatos XX Artisan Teal
Inspired by music, style, fresh, and coastal vibes, this cologne is perfect for casual occasions. It has a light, blue/aquatic scent, with a dominant fresh note of lemon combined with sea salt.
Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio Eau De Parfum
A safe blind buy, this cologne has a marine, cold, fresh, and uplifting feel to it. It's a fantastic choice for
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Best Winter Musk Cologne
Musk colognes are renowned for their sensual, deep, and sexy aromas. They have been prized since ancient times and are often described as having an "animalistic" quality. While the original sources of musk were derived from certain animals, it is now illegal to use animal-derived musk, and modern musk colognes use synthetic alternatives.
Tonka 25 Eau de Parfum
This cologne by Henry Rose is the perfect choice for winter and spring. While it is a terrific pick for an everyday scent with its floral, crisp, and fresh notes, it is still a bit heavier than one might expect. The powdery and musky notes, along with the weight they bring, make it ideal for evenings and colder weather.
Bleu Noir Parfum by Narciso Rodriguez
This is a versatile and wearable option that works for all ages. With its cool iris balanced by cream, musk, and powder, it is perfect for casual get-togethers, the office, and dinner parties. While it is included in the list of winter fragrances, it is equally suitable for autumn and spring.
Explorer Platinum by Montblanc
This is a great value-for-money option that performed exceptionally well in testing. It has a creamy, woody, and sharp coconut opening that dries to near perfection. It is best suited for the warmer winter days towards the end of the season. It is versatile and can be worn every day and on most occasions.
Althaïr by Parfums de Marly
This cologne is a perfect blend of vanilla and wood, with just the right amount of spice and musk built into the base notes. It is an attractive option, reminiscent of the finest French oak barrel filled with bourbon whiskey. While it is one of the most expensive fragrances on the list, it may not perform as well as scents half its price.
Ralph Lauren Polo Blue
This is a mix of aquatic and fresh elements with deeper musky base notes. It is one of the most iconic men's fragrances available and is wearable for almost every occasion.
Frederic Malle Musc Ravageur
This cologne is an iconic and distinctive fragrance with a double helping of musk in its heart and base notes. The addition of amber, sandalwood, and vanilla creates a deep, rich, and sensual scent, making it one of the most distinctive musk colognes of all time.
Creed Aventus
Creed has been crafting fragrances since 1760, and Aventus, released in 2010, is one of its best-selling scents. It combines fresh citrus, warm woods, and earthy musk to project confidence and power.
Chanel Bleu De Chanel
This cologne is a sophisticated take on the original Bleu de Chanel, with amber and woody notes dialed up, giving it a deep, musky dry-down perfect for impressing a date.
Kiehl's Musk Eau de Toilette Spray
This iconic musk-forward fragrance has stood the test of time and is largely unchanged since it was first developed by Kiehl's Apothecary in the 1920s. It is a classic, warm, and captivating scent that is sweet around the edges.
These musk colognes offer a range of options to suit different tastes and preferences, providing an alluring and captivating fragrance experience for men during the winter season.
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Best Luxury Musk Cologne
Musk is an incredibly versatile scent, with its ability to lighten heavier scents and anchor lighter ones. It is a strong, sweet, and warm fragrance that blends perfectly with many other ingredients to create a sophisticated and intoxicating scent.
Frederic Malle Musc Ravageur
This cologne is described as one of the most iconic musk fragrances available. With a double helping of musk in the heart and base notes, it has a burst of freshness from bergamot, mandarin, and lavender in the top notes, which gradually gives way to an animalistic and deeply seductive musk fragrance. It is available at Neiman Marcus for $330.
Creed Aventus EDP
This cologne is inspired by the French emperor and military leader, Napoleon Bonaparte. It is a masculine, compelling, and elegant fragrance. It opens with apple, blackcurrant, pineapple, and bergamot, and transitions to a heart of rose, birch, patchouli, and jasmine, before settling into a musky, vanilla base. It is available at Amazon for $3.3 oz.
Parfums De Marly Haltane Eau de Parfum
This cologne is incredibly luxe and sophisticated, with notes of bergamot, lavender, saffron, cedarwood, vetiver, leather, and musk. It is available at Walmart for $410.
Chanel Bleu De Chanel
This cologne is described as the more sophisticated older brother to the original Bleu de Chanel. It has a bite of freshness, with amber and woody notes dialed up, giving it a deep, musky dry-down that's perfect for impressing a date. It is available at Sephora and Chanel for $112 and $157, respectively.
Tom Ford Ombré Leather Eau de Parfum
This cologne is a modern riff on classic masculine notes like leather, tobacco, and woods. It has a lighter vibe thanks to the addition of florals like violet and jasmine. The result is a uniquely wearable yet sexy cologne with a smooth, musky finish. It is available at Amazon, Nordstrom, and Ulta Beauty.
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Best Everyday Musk Cologne
Musk colognes are known to be sexy and primal, with an elegant touch. They have been prized since ancient times for their deep, sensual aromas. While "musk" used to come from deer groins, today it is synthetically made. Here are some of the best everyday musk colognes for men:
Kiehl's Musk Eau de Toilette Spray
This cologne has stood the test of time, with a fragrance that is largely unchanged since it was first developed by the Kiehl’s Apothecary as early as the 1920s. It is a warm, sweet, and captivating scent with notes of musk, tonka nut, white patchouli, orange blossom, bergamot, ylang-ylang, neroli, lily, rose, and patchouli.
Dossier Musky Oakmoss
A uniquely fresh musk, this cologne layers bergamot, rose, oakmoss, and patchouli for a deliciously clean scent. It is versatile for day and night wear and offers good value for money.
Chanel Bleu De Chanel
This cologne is described as the more sophisticated older brother to the original Bleu de Chanel. It has a bite of freshness, with amber and woody notes dialled up, giving it a deep, musky dry-down that’s perfect for impressing a date. Its key notes include grapefruit, bergamot, ginger, incense, patchouli, and amberwood.
Tom Ford Ombré Leather Eau de Parfum
This cologne is equally appropriate for day or night, with a modern riff on classic masculine notes like leather, tobacco, and woods. The addition of florals like violet and jasmine gives it a lighter vibe, resulting in a uniquely wearable yet sexy cologne with a smooth, musky finish.
Molton Brown Milk Musk
This subtle eau de toilette blends musk with warm vanilla, amber, and white cedar for an attention-grabbing, yet understated, scent. It is a less concentrated form of fragrance, making it ideal for those who prefer a more delicate aroma.
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Frequently asked questions
Kiehl's Musk Eau de Toilette Spray is a good option for an everyday musk cologne. It's a classic, warm fragrance with notes of musk, tonka nut, white patchouli, and fresh florals and citruses.
Cremo Spice & Black Vanilla Cologne is an affordable option for a musk cologne. It combines spice and black vanilla for a sweet and sophisticated scent.
Creed Aventus EDP is a luxury musk cologne with notes of pineapple, bergamot, blackcurrant, apple, birch, patchouli, rose, musk, oak moss, and ambergris. It's a masculine and elegant fragrance inspired by Napoleon Bonaparte.
Jimmy Choo Man EDT is a great choice for a summer musk cologne. It has fruity and tropical notes of pineapple leaf and melon, creating a boozy, tropical cocktail scent that's perfect for the warmer months.