These 14 Musky Colognes Are Iconic for a Reason

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.

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.

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

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.

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 to give it a powerful, can’t-tear-your-nose-away presence.

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

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.

No scent inspired by the sweaty, smoky 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 give it a grounded sensuality.

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.

Not only does this new sustainable fragrance brand make all of its bottles 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 classically masculine edge to this bold, confident cologne that instantly puts a swagger in your step. While there isn’t a specific musk note, the combination of woods, orris, patchouli, and vetiver give it an earthy quality that brings out the natural musk of your skin—and makes it better. It’s a bold one but still subtle enough for the office while being sexy enough to wear once the sun goes down.