Best Original Musk by Kiehl's Alternatives & Similar Perfumes
Original Musk by Kiehl's blends a floral woody musk composition with bright citrus and rich florals. Orange blossom, bergamot, and neroli provide a luminous opening, while ylang-ylang, rose, and lily contribute layered floral complexity. Musk and patchouli offer a warm, earthy foundation, complemented by the sweetness of tonka beans. Those drawn to a balanced mix of fresh florals and a musky base will find elements to explore in similar fragrances.
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.
001 Cologne Première by Bon Parfumeur £105.00
- Key notes:
- bergamot
- neroli
- orange blossom
- Aromagroups:
- aromatic
- citrusy
An aromatic cologne with a very classic feel: various fresh herbs, lavender and neroli.
Bon Parfumeur open olfactive dimensions and invite you to add your own story. Try 001 if you like colognes on the drier, more herbaceous side.
Perfumer for 001: Nathalie Koobus.
Bergamotto di Calabria by Perris Monte Carlo £160.00
- Key notes:
- bergamot
- neroli
- orange blossom
- vetiver
- Aromagroups:
- citrusy
- green
A fresh citrus perfume in which the bergamot aroma at the core is gently wrapped in soft, musky orange blossom and green neroli.
As always, Perris go for the best materials they can source from around the world. For Bergamotto Di Calabria they acquired special “sponge extraction” bergamot oil from Capua. In this region the traditional artisans still perform the extraction manually. Each fruit is sliced in half, the pulp removed, and the rind pressed on a natural sponge in a circular motion to collect the essence. The bergamot rind extract obtained with this method has the most delicate and complex aroma, with a hint of jasmine.
The blend also contains orange blossom absolute from the Italian Capua, Paraguaian petitgrain (the distillation of the twigs from the bitter orange tree), pepper from Timor Island, Moroccan neroli, and Haitian vetiver.
Alamut by Lorenzo Villoresi £140.00
- Key notes:
- amber
- musk
- orange blossom
- rose
- sandalwood
- Aromagroups:
- floral
- woody
Heaven on earth: Alamut.
If we were to believe Marco Polo’s story - Alamut was the fortress and headquarters of the order of assassins. In Alamut among other things, according to Marco, the new recruits could experience the demo version of heaven. An assassin to be would be inebriates by some potion (even though Marco never mention which drug it was, highly likely it was hashish). Then the recruit would be taken to a pleasure garden with drinks, food and beautiful maiden. Afterwards the head of the order would explain that absolute loyalty and fearless determination would guarantee an afterlife of this kind.
Lorenzo Villorezi’s Alamut is an intense sensual rose resting on a cloud of ambergris.
In principio V2 by Zanini £255.00
- Key notes:
- ambergris
- bigarade
- jasmine
- lily
- rosewood
- ylang-ylang
- Aromagroups:
- floral
According to ancient religious scriptures, Mary mother of Jesus was informed of her destiny by the Archangel Gabriel when she was about 13 years old. Artists over the centuries have been captivated by the idea of this scene, a startled schoolgirl recoiling in shock from the supernatural being. The lily, symbolizing purity and innocence, is not only a common element of these artworks, but is also the inspiration for this extrait. In principio, Latin for “in the beginning”, is a meditation on the creamy radiance of lily, supported by the down-low sensuality of ylang ylang. Mace, sweeter than nutmeg and softer than incense, lends clarity, while sweet/tart kumquat sharpens the focus.
Limited to 58 bottles, 48% extrait.
Blended with:
White lily absolute,
Kumquat essential oil,
Mace absolute,
Nutmeg tincture,
Bitter orange essential oil ,
Ylang Ylang essential oil,
Elemi essential oil,
Tuscan cypress essential oil,
Pompia essential oil,
Turkish rose absolute,
Rosewood essential oil,
Frankincense rivae,
Juhi jasmine absolute,
Cistus tincture,
Ambergris.
Important notice:
Zanini blends are living botanical compositions, crafted entirely from natural materials and free from synthetic fixatives or stabilizers. As with all things living, subtle variations are part of their nature: over time, you may notice a gentle evolution in colour, texture, or the appearance of natural sediment. These are not imperfections, but part of the character of the raw materials themselves.
These blends are olfactive smellscapes (but neither aromatherapy, nor ‘spray-and-go’ perfumes) and 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 Zanini’s 100% natural blends may potentially cause allergies in some people. Please spray Zanini’s blends on fabric (on sleeves, scarves, etc.).
Zanini advise 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. Zanini’s smellscapes need to be… carefully applied and experienced. Be mindful that some oils can also make your skin hyper-sensitive to UV.
002 Isola Neroli by Bon Parfumeur £55.00
- Key notes:
- bergamot
- lily-of-the-valley
- musk
- neroli
- Aromagroups:
- citrusy
- green
A contemporary orange blossom cologne.
Perfumer for 002: Karine Dubreuil – Sereni.
Quelque Fleur Extreme by Houbigant £175.00
- Key notes:
- civet
- jasmine
- orange blossom
- orris (iris root)
- sandalwood
- tuberose
- ylang-ylang
- Aromagroups:
- floral
- vintage/old school
An iconic classic in its own rite, Quelques Fleurs is a true ingenious scent of its time. The French perfumer, Robert Bienaimé, unveiled Quelques Fleurs the first true multi-floral blend ever created, in 1912.
Since then, his perfectly-balanced, refined bouquet has become modern perfumery’s peerless criterion for pure, meticulously-crafted, multi-floral accords. Prior to his bold invention, floral fragrances had been mainly singular flowers, or florals combined with various nuances of herbs and spices. Bienaimé’s singular triumph is remarkable for its secret, mythical formula. Upwards of 15,000 exemplary flowers and 250 prestigious raw materials are diligently-curated in the creation of a single ounce of perfume.
Ylang Ylang by Lorenzo Villoresi £135.00
- Key notes:
- jasmine
- lactonic nuance
- orange blossom
- ylang-ylang
- Aromagroups:
- edible
- floral
- leather
- vintage/old school
The intense scent of Ylang Ylang, the “flower of flowers” with its long, tapered leaves: sweet, powdery, floral, strong, radiant and unmistakable, surrounded by a chorus of Frangipani flowers, Jasmine, Orange blossoms and Tiarè.
Divina Flora by Aura Eximia £225.00
- Key notes:
- cloves
- jasmine
- juniper
- narcissus
- neroli
- passion fruit
- peony
- rose
- sage
- ylang-ylang
- Aromagroups:
- aromatic
- citrusy
- floral
- fruity
- vintage/old school
This “divine flower” is a luminous, untamed floral that captures the serenity of nature in motion. It starts bright and light: lemongrass and passion fruit, opening up to peony and lily of the valley. Watery, ethereal cyclamen drenches the richness of jasmine, ylang-ylang and narcissus like dew over a meadow. The drydown is green, a mingling of eucalyptus and sage with peppermint, juniper and pine, grounded by
Mysore sandalwood and a hint of vanilla bourbon.
Mathilde by Rance 1795 £110.00
- Key notes:
- jasmine
- lily-of-the-valley
- narcissus
- neroli
- orris (iris root)
- passion fruit
- rose
- sandalwood
- tangerine
- ylang-ylang
- Aromagroups:
- floral
- fruity
Matilde Bonaparte, niece of Napoleon I, was known for her breasts (“le plus beau décolleté”) and her talent as a painter. She also hosted a celebrated 19th-century Parisian salon attended by the greatest artists and writers of her time. This namesake perfume is an olfactory salon of provocative white florals (ylang-ylang, narcissus, jasmine) given tropical succulence with passion fruit and papaya. Mathilde’s heady brightness is softened by iris and sandalwood.
About Original Musk by Kiehl's
- What makes Original Musk by Kiehl's unique compared to other floral musk fragrances?
- Original Musk combines bright citrus florals like orange blossom and bergamot with a warming musky and woody base that includes patchouli and tonka beans. This balance of fresh, floral, and earthy notes creates a distinctive layered scent not commonly found in simpler floral musks.
- Are the perfumes listed here exact matches to Original Musk?
- None of these fragrances are exact matches; each shares some key notes with Original Musk but differs in composition and emphasis. This results in variations in freshness, powderiness, warmth, or complexity, allowing for personal preference in similar scent profiles.
- Which fragrances here have the most prominent musk notes similar to Original Musk?
- Teint De Neige, Alamut, 002 Isola Neroli, Baliflora, Bergamask, and Bo-Bo all feature musk prominently. However, their supporting notes create different characters ranging from powdery and fresh to warmer and sexier interpretations of musk.









