When I woke up this morning, it was raining and humid and I was feeling a bit ornery. I pulled out my untested samples and thought that Muscs Koublai Khan would be the right scent to match my mood as I wasn’t set for something light and airy. Of course, being one of those days I managed to spill most of the fragrance from the vial, but managed beforehand to dab myself with this interesting fragrance.
Muscs Koublai Khan went on quite sweet. The sweetness was surrounded by rubbery musk. I found it sexy and heavy. But after a time that heaviness leveled out and it turned into a familiar scent. I have been wracking my brain all day to figure out what scent it reminded me of. To this point I can’t answer that, but I do know that it goes way back. It reminds me of some powerhouse scent from the 80s. As the drydown continued, I also noticed that it has a bit of a barber shop smell to it, something similar to Brylcreem. In other words, it has a bit of a musky chemical smell.
I’m waffling on this fragrance, I have read comments where it has been compared to Frederic Malle’s Musc Ravageur, but Muscs Koublai Khan is much more subdued and doesn’t have ooomph, that Musc Ravageur hits you with. That’s not a bad thing, but it doesn’t make it quite as exciting for me. Maybe it’s just my mood… being ornery and writing a review doesn’t fair well for any fragrance!
Muscs Koublai Khan Notes:
Vegetal Musk, Roots of Costus, Labdanum Rockrose, Grey Amber, Vanilla, Patchouli, Ambrette Seeds, pure Moroccan Rose
- Bone Rating: 3.5 out of 5 possible bones
- Scent: Chypre – Musk
- Classification: Unisex
- Expense: $140 for 50ml EDP
The Scented Hound 
May 22, 2012 at 8:16 pm
You should always write “ornery” reviews. Then you can come back and update when you wear it happy.
Portia x
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May 22, 2012 at 8:26 pm
So true Portia! And the great thing about fragrance, is that its so malleable that it can make, fit or defy any mood 🙂
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May 23, 2012 at 2:09 am
This is one of the perfumes I never wanted to try. I can’t even explain why. I think I do not like the name. And your reviiew hasn’t changed that 🙂
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May 23, 2012 at 5:20 am
Yes, the review was less than inspiring. I don’t believe that it will ever find a place on my FB list.
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May 23, 2012 at 8:04 am
Commando fits my dirty musk slot. Your write up though is like reading about a different fragrance, your mood must have influenced indeed!! Please do go back to MKK, I always dismiss it until I retry it and remember how good it is.
It doesn’t deserve such huge praise, but it is good.
I don’t get the barershop vibe, its all animal musks and roses and powder to me, really soft and cuddly.
I don’t see how people can compare with MR though, completely different fragrances.
Nice to read you’ve tried it 🙂
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May 23, 2012 at 8:37 am
LOL. I was in a strange place yesterday. I will try again, but to be honest, I just didn’t feel the love for it…. and soft and cuddly?? Maybe it’s our body chemistry. I didn’t find it strong, but just oddly rubbery and chemical.
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May 23, 2012 at 1:42 pm
Could it remind you of Lagerferfeld Classic? Today on a rather humid 25 C day I reached for my bottle of MKK. I love this scent and I love exactly the fact that it becomes such a skinscent. It wears beautifully in heat.
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May 23, 2012 at 3:12 pm
Hmmmm, it’s been so many years since I have smelled Lagerfeld, possibly could be. Boy, all these loves for this scent. I will defininately have to give this another try when I’m in a better mood 🙂
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May 23, 2012 at 3:22 pm
When you are in an ornery mood always go for comfort scents. Otherwise you can be scarred for life 🙂
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