🇬🇧 UK Only 🇬🇧

Musk sounds bold, right? Heavy, maybe even old-fashioned, like your uncle’s cologne from the 90s that could knock out a horse. But musk, real musk... or at least how we use it in fragrance today... is way more interesting than that.

Originally, musk came from a gland in a type of deer. Yeah, gross. Thankfully, we don’t do that anymore. Modern musks are lab-made. Synthetic. Cleaner. Cruelty-free (❤️). And trust me, a lot more versatile.

You might be asking, dear reader, what does musk really smell like? 

At its core, musk is warm, skin-like, and a little fuzzy. It doesn’t smell like perfume. It smells like, errrrm... someone. Clean, soft, a bit sweet, with a trace of creamy, lingering warmth. Imagine the inside of a worn cashmere jumper, still holding the trace of whoever wore it last time.

Some musks are fresh and airy, almost soapy. Others lean animalistic (not sure if this is the right word) or powdery. Some feel velvety-like and romantic, whilst others come across as slightly sexy. It really depends on the blend and what it’s been paired with.

As you can see, what makes musk really interesting is how it behaves when blended. It doesn’t grab the spotlight. Instead, it smooths the edges, deepens the mood, and helps everything last longer. A touch of musk can turn a sharp floral into something dreamy. It can take a bright citrus and give it a slow fade instead of a sudden stop.

You’ll find it in Meadow Verse, where it adds body to the fresh, breezy floral. And in Witchwood Tales, it softens the wild berries and gives that forest-spell vibe a little more shadow and depth.

We like musk that whispers. The kind that makes someone lean in and ask what that smell is. Not because it’s loud, but because it lingers in the best way.

Next time you light a candle, breathe a little slower. Wait for the finish. If it feels warm, skin-like, and a bit dreamy, ta-da, that’s the musk.

Latest Stories

View all

We’re Obsessed Already: Gareth Brown’s The Society of Unknowable Objects

Some books don’t even need to try that hard to hook the readers. Secret societies. Magical artefacts. Bookshops with basements. You had us at "hello." We’re counting down the days until the release of The Society of Unknowable Objects by...

Read more

What Exactly Is Musk?

Musk isn’t showy or overpowering, but it’s one of the most essential notes in fragrance. Soft and warm, also skin-like, it brings balance and depth to everything it touches (or blends with). This post explores how modern musk smells, how it’s used in blends, and why it shows up in Wax & Words favourites like Meadow Verse and Witchwood Tales.

Read more

Reading by Candlelight: How to Pair Books and Scents for a More Immersive Experience

There is something magically comforting about the way a candle can shift the mood of a room by the soft release of its fragrance (it is part of the Danish hygge after all). The way everything seems to soften and...

Read more