Mainstream Monday – Sniffing a Popular Perfume
I’ve said it before that the AERIN line by Estee Lauder confuses me. I don’t get why they didn’t make it a separate line that has nothing to do with Estee Lauder. When I get past this, I still don’t really “get” the line, but that’s because the brand isn’t really for people like me. This aesthetic, like that of Jo Malone London, just doesn’t appeal to me. But, that doesn’t mean that I dislike the brand or anything like that. It just isn’t one that “speaks” to me.
Amber Musk opens with roses and a green coconut. And like so many of the other AERIN rose perfumes, this one has a bergamot/citrus component that gives it brightness. The rest of this perfume wears soft and sheer. It’s like a sweetened white musk with a vanilla steamed milk. Sometimes I pick up on a distant, sheer jasmine. It doesn’t come across as sweet as much as it does “foamed” or airy/soft. It wears like a thin, soft cardigan and provides a little warmth without making you sweat like so many wool sweaters (AKA big ambers and musks). It’s sheer but has enough “umph” to be worn in cooler weather.
I hate to say it, but Amber Musk reminds me of Coty Wild Musk but marketed as bougie. It has such a “youth in the early 80’s/late 70’s” wearing Jordache jeans thing going on AKA selling me the sex appeal of an era that I can’t remember. It’s actually quite funny to see this sort of perfume marketed in aspirational packaging and not something I see thrown on the drugstore endcap in blister packaging. Granted, the AERIN one smells slightly more expensive than Coty but that’s only because Coty has cheapened themselves so much throughout the years. Back in the day Wild Musk would smell expensive compared to a lot of designer perfumes of now! Anyway, I like Amber Musk because it’s easy-to-wear. I put it on and really don’t think about it. But, I don’t see myself ever buying a bottle of it (However, I must admit that if they made this in an oil format, I’d be tempted).
Notes listed include ambrox, coconut water, rose, benzoin and musk. Launched in 2013.
Give Amber Musk a try if you like floral musks. Or perfumes like Coty Wild Musk for Women, AERIN Tangier Vanille, Le Labo Jasmin 17, Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Rose Explosion and/or Parfums de Coeur Skin Musk. Don’t try Amber Musk if you are looking for an amber perfume. It’s just not really there and you’re going to be disappointed if you take its name seriously.
Projection and longevity are average.
Amber Musk comes in a few sizes with the 1.7 oz retailing for $125 at Sephora and Nordstrom. A travel size is also available.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Rose and vanilla-musk. I have oddly been having an urge to buy a bottle of Coty Wild Musk…
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*Sample obtained by me. Product pic from the brand. Cheryl Tiegs pic from fanpix.net. Post contains affiliate links. Thanks!
Your review makes me think I will just go on a hunt for the Coty – Target? Walgreens? I spent my perfume budget on a bottle of 31 Rue. Like you wrote a while ago, I’ve been wanting and wearing mostly Chanel. Crazy times have me wanting elegance.
This review is making me hunt down some Wild Musk. It usually shows up everywhere for the holidays. I remember seeing Coty gift sets with minis of the range of musks. That is what I want right now (do I need? Heck no but I want to know if they smell like I remember!).
Oh, that’s a good thing to spend your budget on. I love it, but I tend to wear a lot of Chanel. AND YES! 100% agree about the crazy times and elegance statement. I think that is a lot of why I keep wearing Chanel and Ormonde Jayne.
Yup, it’s a funny thing – I put on one of my favorites, a “complicated” scent and just was too overwhelmed. It’s hard enough work just staying level/even that I want my perfume to not make things any more complicated.
I completely understand.
Yay! You’re back!
One of my best friends loves the musk perfumes, but when I see musk in a name, it’s like a signal that the perfume just won’t work out for me.
🙂 It feels good to be back. It’s been a busy month for me. I started a new job and it’s exhausting me (in a good way). Family stuff going on, etc. (all fine BTW). I hate it because I have a lot of perfumes I want to talk about right now but don’t have the time!
Musk is tricky. I feel like it’s one of those things that will work for you or it won’t. There really doesn’t seem to be much of an in-between.
Anyway, this one is musky so if you don’t like that, then spend your precious time sniffing something else.
I have been sampling the new Le Labo Tonka 25, and there is musk there but it seems to work for me. Maybe it’s the sticky, dark resins that make musk ok for me?
Glad to hear about the new job! You’ve had a lot of changes in the last few months!
Like a “balsamic musk”? I tend to prefer those. I’m trying to think of the others like that that I like to wear…
Yeah, a lot of changes in the past few months. I’ll eventually get adjusted to it all but it’s been a busy month. I can’t believe October is almost over but at the same time I can’t believe it’s still October.