Best Covert Musk by What We Do Is Secret Alternatives & Similar Perfumes
Covert Musk by What We Do Is Secret is a floral woody musk composition centred on honey, ylang-ylang, and musk. The fragrance balances sweet, slightly creamy honey with the exotic floral sharpness of ylang-ylang, resting on a soft musky base that adds warmth and sensuality. Those drawn to its blend should focus on scents that combine these three elements for a similar floral, sweet, and musky experience.
Teint De Neige (Extrait) by Lorenzo Villoresi £375.00
- Key notes:
- jasmine
- musk
- powdery nuance
- rose
- tonka beans
- ylang-ylang
- Aromagroups:
- vintage/old school
- woody
The soft, gentle, enveloping fragrance of Teint de Neige in its most concentrated version. Recalling images and atmosphere of the belle-époque, with sweet and powdery notes of jasmine, rose, ylang-ylang on a base of musk, tonka beans and heliotrope.
Ylang Ylang Nosy Be Extrait by Perris Monte Carlo £250.00
- Key notes:
- musk
- ylang-ylang
- Aromagroups:
- floral
- vintage/old school
- woody
In the aromatic universe, ylang-ylang exists in the planes of dark juicy green, intense vanilla and intoxicating florals.
Perris is fascinated by nature’s fragrant treasures, and make perfume materials THE story of each of their perfume. So much so, that they experiment with the same perfume material in two different perfume architectures: eau de parfum and extait.
How does this work? In Ylang Ylang Nosy Be EdP, the ylang-ylang’s floral potential is encouraged with mint and jasmine. The EdP is a rich powdery white floral.
The extrait version of Ylang Ylang Nosy Be has more happening in the base. The perfumer added more dark musk and vanilla, and this way the perfume became darker, woodier, even boozier.
As always Perris uses the best natural extracts perfumers can obtain. Their ylang-ylang comes from the tiny Nosy Be island north of Madagascar.
971 by Maysson £140.00
- Key notes:
- cherry
- cinnamon
- honey
- Aromagroups:
- fruity
- woody
971 is the international phone code for the United Arab Emirates, a shorthand for the heritage and spirit of the UAE. The inspiration for 971 comes directly from traditions of the homeland: dates, a symbol of Emirati hospitality and abundance; honey, reflecting sweetness and generosity; and cinnamon, adding warmth and spice reminiscent of local flavors. Bold, yet comforting.
Bear by Wolf Brothers £120.00
- Key notes:
- cedarwood
- ginger
- honey
- propolis
- Aromagroups:
- green
- spicy
- woody
The bear prowls amongst resinous pine and fir foraging as he goes, his rich damp fur steams against his body heat. Iris and labdanum conjure a free and floral nature whilst fragrant cinnamon and ginger embody the dominating and ruthless presence. Edible honey and sweet vanilla add richness to this oriental, spicy and woody fragrance.
Bee by Zoologist £240.00
- Key notes:
- candied orange
- heliotrope
- honey
- labdanum
- orange blossom
- sandalwood
- tonka beans
- Aromagroups:
- edible
- leather
- woody
Perfumer: Cristiano Canali
A towering, skyscraper-sized beehive, dripping with honey. See the bee, be the bee. That’s you, waggling your cute black’n’yellow striped booty in a dance through a golden flow of labdanum and leathery orange blossom with powdery mini-explosions of mimosa, tonka and heliotrope. Buzz!
Chère Colette (Dear Colette) by Milleseve £115.00
- Key notes:
- apple
- fresh linens accord
- hay
- honey
- linden
- muesli
- Aromagroups:
- floral
- leather
An ode to the Normandy countryside. Linden blossoms, fresh apple, sweet almond, radiant jasmine. Soft musk and suede. A golden sap of dried hay and ripe wheat evokes the pastures. And outside the farmhouse, sun-dried linens flutter on the line. All is well.
El Caminante by Otzlab £240.00
- Key notes:
- black tea
- cardamom
- honey
- orris (iris root)
- plum
- tonka beans
- Aromagroups:
- leather
- woody
El Caminante, Spanish for “the wanderer”, is a nomadic fragrance that pays tribute to the flâneur’s stroll, the urban pilgrimage in search of self-knowledge. This extrait is an invitation to travel, to seek experiences, thanks to the propulsive cadence of Ceylon black tea and a lightly smoked suede. The experiences along the way include cardamom and saffron, with fruity nuances of dried plum, date and honey. Luxurious iris absolute adds depth, accompanied by vetiver, sandalwood, tonka bean and labdanum.
Perfumer: Mathilde Bijaoui
Honey & Lemon by J-Scent £122.00
- Key notes:
- honey
- lemon
- orange
- Aromagroups:
- citrusy
- spicy
A beautifully bittersweet dance between honey and fresh lemon. A surprising herbal nuance undercuts the syrupiness of the honey, with undertones of rose and jasmine adding gentle cushioning. Sandalwood and musk lend subtle structure.
Honey and Tar by Anna Zworykina £95.00
- Key notes:
- birch tar
- castoreum
- honey
- leather
- smoke
- vanilla
- Aromagroups:
- edible
- leather
- woody
A rich, smoky blend of honey, tar, vanilla and incense.
The perfumer leaves the perfume plot sketchy - to be completed by your imagination. Are you in your autumn apiary watching honey trickle into jars, smoke lingering in the air from bonfires of fallen leaves? Are you on the well-tarred deck of a merchant ship carrying huge barrels of honey? This beautiful, smoky fragrance will definitely take you somewhere.
Starring
(these fragrant materials reanacted the Honey and Tar story):
castoreum tinctura
benzoin absolute
birch tar essential oil
Himalayan cedarwood essential oil
sweet myrrh essential oil
vetiver essential oil
guayak wood
agarwood essential oil
Atlas cedarwood essential oil
jasmin sambac absolute
hops CO2
lavender absolute
patchouli essential oil
cardamom absolute
tonka bean absolute
vanilla CO2 extract
orris root CO2 extract
Vanuatu sandalwood essential oil
Royal Hawaiian sandalwood essential oil
Important notice:
Anna Zworykina’s blends are olfactive smellscapes (but neither aromatherapy, nor ‘spray-and-go’ perfumes). Her blends are sensory experiences, closer to works of art created in the scented plane (rather than, say, visual or audio).
Certain essential oils and absolutes that are used in her 100% natural perfumes may potentially cause allergies in some people. Please spray Anna Zworykina’s blends on fabric (on sleeves, scarves, etc.). This said, Anna Zworykina has acquired a huge fan base over many years and people interacted with her blends for quite a while now. We are not aware of any reports of any skin reactions so far.
However, Anna advises that those who are prone to allergic reactions, pregnant and nursing women, as well as people with chronic illnesses to be extra careful. Before trying natural blends, study the list of ingredients and consult with a doctor if you are not sure or a had a history of allergies. If you do decide to put these blends on your skin (unable to resist the temptation) always test the blend on the inside part of your elbow first and wait.
Do not spray these blends liberally as a cloud in the way you would spray a conventional perfume. Anna’s smellscapes need to be… carefully applied and experienced. Be mindful that some oils can also make your skin hyper-sensitive to UV.
Honey Like by Mabra £75.00
- Key notes:
- animalic notes
- honey
- labdanum
- myrrh
- Aromagroups:
- woody
A tribute to the oldest of perfume recipes: incense and resins. Gifted to queens, kings and pharaohs of ancient times, blends of frankincense, myrrh and labdanum conferred status and beauty. Honey Like continues this ritual with its hypnotic blur of muggy myrrh, rich labdanum, feral honey and aromatic incense. Be your own emperor with Honey Like.
About Covert Musk by What We Do Is Secret
- How does Covert Musk differ from these fragrances?
- Covert Musk uniquely blends honey, ylang-ylang, and musk to create a floral woody musk that balances sweetness and exotic floral notes. Many listed fragrances focus more heavily on either honey or musk individually or add different accords such as powdery, spicy, smoky, or animalic facets, resulting in distinct variations on the theme.
- What notes define Covert Musk's scent profile?
- Covert Musk is defined by the combination of honey, ylang-ylang, and musk. The honey adds a sweet warmth, ylang-ylang provides an exotic floral sharpness, and the musk offers a soft, sensual base.
- Are there fragrances here that focus more on honey than musk or ylang-ylang?
- Yes, several fragrances listed emphasise honey more prominently, such as Bee by Zoologist, Bear by Wolf Brothers, and Honey Like by Mabra, often pairing honey with additional notes like citrus, animalic accords, or smoky elements, which creates a different olfactory experience from Covert Musk’s balanced floral woody musk.









