After years of wearing Malle Musc Ravageur, I took a sabbatical from this spicy musk. I moved on to other things. It’s been over two years since I’ve last wore it. With the cold weather and snowflakes in the air, I’ve started wearing Musc Ravageur again. Wearing it now, it’s a much sweeter and more gourmand fragrance than I remember. What I thought of as “sex kitten” fragrance now smells like Christmas and holiday confections.
Musc Ravaguer opens as a spicy blend of cinnamon and lavender. Musc Ravageur’s opening is like a really sexy pomander. It’s a dry clove, cinnamon and citrus. And with time it becomes a woodsy vanilla and benzoin, reminding me of fresh from the oven sugar cookies. And yes, there’s musk. Musc Ravageur is a fragrance based on a soft, cozy, cuddly musk. Musc Ravageur becomes powdery on me. Like ginger and pumpkin pie spice with baby powder (scent of baby powder is high in musk, in case you were wondering). There’s cocoa butter with a creamy tonka-sandalwood. It wears a soft, sweet, powdery musk on me for most of the wear. The musk gets more “ethereal” with time, more fruity, powdery and skin-like.
I completely understand why this fragrance has a cult following. It’s one of those “comfort” scents. It’s warm and cozy. Because of the sugar and spice notes, it may remind one of childhood or the winter holidays. Because of the hauntingly familiar musk and lavender, it may remind you of someone from the past – either a lover, a mother or an old friend. Musc Ravageur is modern yet at the same time it reminds me of a Guerlains and popular musk scents from the 1970’s. It doesn’t smell exactly like these perfumes but more how we would remember them if we haven’t sniffed them in 20 plus years.I feel that your memories will really affect this perfume.
Do I think of Musc Ravageur as sexy? Not really. It’s all sugar cookies and spicy pomander on me. I don’t have sexy associations with these items. I can see how this perfume has a “sexy” reputation. It’s that skin-hugging musk. And musk has that rep. Anyway, David says that this is a super sexy fragrance and I should just shut up and enjoy smelling like sugar cookies and musk.
Notes listed include lavender, bergamot, clove, cinnamon, Gaiac wood, cedar, sandalwood, vanilla, tonka bean, and musk. Launched 2000. PERFUMER – Maurice Roucel
Give Musc Ravageur a try if you like warm musk fragrances. Or if you like perfumes like Sonoma Scent Studio Sienna Musk, Ramon Monegal Agar Musk, Guerlain Shalimar (especially the limited edition “sur la route” ones), Mona di Orio les Nombres d’Or Musc, Serge Lutens Muscs Koublai Khan and/or Yves Saint Laurent Opium. Musc Ravageur is unisex.
It always surprises me when one uses “dirty” to describe this scent. It’s sooo not a dirty musk to me. How can vanilla and spices be dirty? If you want a dirty musk, try CB I Hate Perfume CBMusk or Serge Lutens Muscs Koublai Khan.
The EDP does wear rather close to the skin once the top notes burn off. Longevity is above average.
The 3.4 oz of Musc Ravageur retails for $270 at Nordstrom. A travel size is also available.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Spicy pomander, sugar cookies and cocoa butter with a lovely musk. I have a feeling that I perceive this perfume differently than most but I still enjoy it. I do think it’s a masterpiece and I should start wearing it again.
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Hey Victoria,
Thanks for the link. Has your juice turned dark after the two years? I am wondering if the scent, as well as your reading of it has changed.
Could it be 2 years away from its musks have meant that you have to relearn them? You know how wearing some musks they are invisible to you until your nose clocks them again after a couple of wears?
Portia xx
Portia recently posted..Most Reached For Fragrances 2013: Portia
There has been some color changes which I will blame on the sandalwood. My bottle is probably 5-6 years old, maybe 7.
Musks are tricky little things. I do smell the musk in this but I feel my skin amps up the sweetness of the vanilla/foody notes. I do really like this one, but I get more holiday baked goods from it than sex kitten. And there’s nothing wrong with smelling like a holiday baked good in my opinion 😉
Have you tested the oil version? How does it compare to the EDP?
Ron Slomowicz recently posted..Lush Scent Ponche Fragrance Review
At one time I used to think I wanted the oil. It’s softer and lacks the “harshness” of the opening. Now that I think about it, maybe I do want the oil….to use in my hair 😉
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