When In Doubt, Reach For a Musky Cologne

A no-nonsense musk, this scent perfectly balances the light and the dark, with a floral fragrance that still manages to be masculine, thanks to notes of black leather and cedarwood alongside violet leaf.

A uniquely fresh musk, this one layers bergamot, rose, oakmoss, and patchouli for a deliciously clean scent.

Kiehl's keeps it classic with a musk that gets the job done for under $50. Warm tonka nut, musk, and white patchouli blend with fresh florals and citruses for a captivating fragrance that's sweet around the edges.

Spice and black vanilla—does that not sound delicious? Dip your toe in the world of musk with this affordable fragrance that won't cost a pretty penny.

Sophisticated and elegant, this is a very nuanced scent that has notes of bergamot, lavender, and pineapple leaves on top, with dry amber, oak moss, sandalwood, and tonka beans at the base.

If any perfumer knows how to do a regal scent, it's Penhaligon (the go-to brand of Princess Diana). This masculine fragrance, aside from it's insanely cool bottle, smells warm and sharp, with notes of lavender, rum, and tonka bean atop cedarwood, ambrox, and vetiver.

A cologne that draws on rhubarb, the musk in this is earthy and poignant. Lantana and musk merge with vegetal scents to create an exotic and bold scent.

Inspired by a slow, Texan lifestyle, this is the Southern cologne that's sweet as molasses and sharp as a cactus. Top notes of green coyote chola, desert pepper, and neroli balance out orange flower, incense, and water musk in the base.

Incredibly luxe and wildly sophisticated, Parfums De Marly draws on the tradition of musk cologne to make a fragrance packed with all the must-have ingredients, like bergamot, lavender, saffron, cedarwood, vetiver, leather, and musk.

Less inspired by the animal itself than the idea of a lion (you know, powerful, regal, proud), this warm spicy fragrance isn’t necessarily musk forward, but contains a healthy dose of the note in the base to give it an animalic quality. There’s also amber, patchouli, bergamot and sandalwood that give it a powerful, can’t-tear-your-nose-away presence.

No scent inspired by the sweaty, smokey cowboy bars of 1970’s era Sunset Strip would be complete without musk, which gives a skin-on-skin quality to this sexy cologne. The base note includes black musk, as well as amber, suede and cacao which gives it a grounded sensuality.

Not only does this new sustainable fragrance brand make all of their bottle refillable, but the fragrances themselves are vegan and eco-friendly. Think of this version as exactly what the name suggests: the smell of skin, but better. A blend of white musks and “secret” botanical extracts is subtle but serves to enhance your skin’s natural smell - in a good way.

There’s a double helping of musk in this ultra-sexy scent (it’s in the middle and base notes), but there’s more to it than just that. Combined with amber, sandalwood and vanilla, this deep, rich, very sensual fragrance is one of the most distinctive musk scents of all time.

Not all musky colognes have to be subtle. This bold fragrance (developed for royalty) announces itself in the best way with a strong punch of florals at the top that dries down to an elegant mix of myrrh, jasmine, sandalwood, ambergris and, of course, white musks. It’s the scent of power and best reserved for special occasions.