Firstly when starting with Arabian oils, the most common ones are the Musks, Ambers, Sandalwoods and Oudhs. These are the base of most perfume oils or attars. They are blended with other ingredients such as rose, citrus, lavender, vanilla and many other floral notes.
Musk
So the first and perhaps the most famous of the oils is musk. It is widely used in both eastern and western perfumery. It’s florally, earthy, sweet and sensual smell is what keeps people coming back for more. Almost every brand has a musk line that’s their best seller.
So what is musk?
Musk is a class of aromatic substances traditionally obtained from the musk gland of the male musk deer (Moschus moschiferus), located beneath the abdomen. This secretion, when dried, forms a granular material known as "musk grain," which emits a strong, animalistic odor that becomes pleasant only when diluted. Other forms are more synthetic (lab grown) such as white-musk or plant-based alternatives such as ambrette seeds.
In the Arab world musk is widely used in attars or perfume oil. It has a deep root in Islamic history and is mentioned as being pure. It is regarded as the fragrance of paradise and used extensively home on not just clothes but also household items such as furniture and prayer rugs etc.
What does it smell like ?
Traditional Musk has a warm, animalic sweetness.
It’s like the natural, subtle sweetness of warm skin or the faintly sweet, earthy smell of hay or dried leaves. It’s a deep, almost primal sweetness that blends with leather and fur.White Musk has a clean, powdery sweetness.
It’s like the soft, gentle sweetness of baby powder, clean laundry, or a faint hint of vanilla in lotion. It’s a bright, innocent, and airy kind of sweet.
Where to buy Musk attars?
Many brands in the UAE and Saudi Arabia sell musk whether traditional or alternative based such Abdus Samad Qureshi, Arabian Oud, Ajmal Perfumes, Al Haramain, Rasasi and hundreds of boutique perfumeries who customize blends to your taste. It’s important to note that musk is often blende with other materials such as Rose, Amber, Florals and Citruses, Ambergris, Saffron, Jasmine and Sandalwood. Real musk can be very expensive and has a price point higher than gold usually sold in 1ml - 5ml quantities. The white musk options are much more affordable and are widely available in much larger quantities with many varieties. The Meena Perfumery House White Musk Attar option is often described as clean, soft with subtle sweetness that is long lasting and has mild comforting aroma. They can be found on their store which showcases their long history and expertise in perfumery.
The White Musk Attar Fragrance Profile is:
Top Notes: Clean, fresh, and slightly powdery
Middle Notes: Soft, floral and musky with a mild sweetness
Base Notes: Warm, earthy, and subtle with deep, comforting musk undertones
Blending Suggestions
White Musk Attar blends well with:
Floral Oils: Rose, Jasmine, or Ylang Ylang to enhance the sweetness and romantic undertones of White Musk.
Woodsy Oils: Sandalwood, Cedarwood, or Vetiver to add depth and grounding qualities.
Citrus Oils: Bergamot or Lemon to add a fresh and uplifting contrast to the softness of White Musk.
Spicy Oils: Clove, Cinnamon, or Nutmeg to bring warmth and sensuality to the blend.
More to come from the musk perfume oil range and many other perfumes ad well. See you soon!!!