January 6, 2016

The Body Shop Black Musk Review

I purchased this item and I receive a small commission if you shop using the links in this post.

The Body Shop Black Musk

I decided to purchase the Body Shop Black Musk Eau de Parfum for myself during a recent after Christmas sale haul. As a lover of The Body Shop’s Red Musk I was really hoping for a unique, complex blend from Black Musk.

Here’s what I thought!

The Black Shop Black Musk comes a perfume, toilette, or perfume oil formula. Since I have little success with The Body Shop’s toilette formula (my skin swallows it up and the sillage is very poor on my body chemistry) I decided to spend the extra money and indulge in the perfume.

This comes housed in a very elegant black understated bottle with a simple purple label. The box for Red Musk was a little more elegant but both fragrances have a very nice presentation.

I’d love to tell you this was as unique as Red Musk but it isn’t. I have many, many fragrances and I can’t quite put my finger on what this smells like. It’s a very generic fragrance, pretty, but generic in the fact it has been done somewhere, somehow before. Perhaps in some celebrity fragrance I’ve tried in the past or currently own?

I think fragrances like w.musingsofamuse.com/2015/01/feeling-quite-curious-smoky-poppy.html” target=”_blank”>Smoky Poppy and Red Musk put The Body Shop in more of a niche element. Black Musk has a certain complexity but it’s also a fragrance that might give you a moment of deja vu. My taste in fragrance is as eclectic as my taste in music or even in my fandoms. It varies and it is broad and filled with many diverse perfumes that I love. This means I might just love all over Calgon Hawaiian Ginger but also have a very, very special collection of all the Guerlain Elixir fragrances. I’m explaining this to you because I feel like Black Musk is my Hawaiian Ginger. It’s lovely, it’s pretty, but it isn’t unique nor special.

On that note, let’s get down to how this smells.

Don’t let the name full you, this isn’t so very dark, it’s actually quite fruity and quite sweet. First spritz envelopes you in an overwhelmingly syrupy sweetness. I can’t honestly smell any one note here but I just get a heavy sweet syrup. Still wet on my skin it every so slowly releases a tart pear note and as it dries and sets further pink pepper plays a very prominent role in this act. I think within 30 minutes the fragrance full sets and a very gorgeous black vanilla envelopes the fragrance with hints of musk combining with the sweetness to add touches of warmth. It still remains very, very, very sweet on my skin but I think the vanilla and musks give it a more sensual feel. If you close your eyes you can smell just the lightest touch of licorice in the background. I had a brief flash of it smelling like Royal Apothic Noble Carnation but the thought was fleeting.

Edit: After writing this post it came to me what Black Musk reminds me of! It’s almost identical to Love by Sofia Vergara! Black Musk wears way longer though. Sofia’s done two fragrances the first one which is named after her was incredible but it had really short wear and the second one, Love, which I never felt was as unique the original, wore just as short a time. So if you liked Love, you should try Black Musk as it does smell very, very much the same and has a longer wear!

The throw and linger is very good on this formula. I wouldn’t say it lasted me all day but I did get a good six hours in before it showed signs fading. For the Body Shop that’s pretty good as typically their fragrances tend to get sucked up by my body chemistry!

If you like fragrances like Flower Bomb I think that The Body Shop Black Musk will be something you enjoy. It’s very sweet but it also has a sophisticated sexy feel to it. I don’t think it is as special as Red Musk or Smoky Poppy but don’t let that stop you from sniffing or even purchasing it as it is quite delightful!

The Body Shop Black Musk is available now in stores and online at www.thebodyshop-usa.com.

Smelled it?

Do share your thoughts!

I purchased this item and I receive a small commission if you shop using the links in this post.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Lupita Vásquez Favela

    I don’t expect unique aromas from The Body Shop, but I still purchase their products because they are always really high-quality. Great to know it smells like Sofia Vergara’s Love but better quality!

  • janis

    I have check The Body Shop here in Oahu. They don’t know about it . I checked another day and they said they didn’t have it yet?! So i got the Red Musk set for $25 instead of $42. Thank you so much, love the Red Musk. Looking for a new perfume that is cruelty free. Had lady million . but need to get another perfume. I will be using Red musk from now on. Thank you again for what you do. happy new year !!!! aloha janis

    • Isabella Muse

      It could be releasing later for you janis! Not sure how soon you get things in Hawaii! I believe it launched here December but don’t quote me 🙂 Yeah! So happy you like that one! It really is a lovely fragrance 🙂 Aw my pleasure and happy new year! Aloha Awakea! 🙂 xoxo!

  • Jo

    Hi Isabella.
    This perfume smells very similar to Body Shop’s Madagascan Vanilla one, which I cannot see it anymore in the shop or online. Must have been discontinued – I wonder why.

  • Amber Jane Hayes

    Thank you for your great review, now I am curious about the black musk! I want to try the black & absolutely love the red musk; unfortunately they have discontinued the red; why Idk, this is a big mistake considering its a gorgeous warm and subtle fragrance, I was gonna buy the whole line.

    • Isabella Muse

      You’re most welcome 🙂 I enjoed the red as well 🙁 so sad they diced it! It’s a shame really as they have so many scents I loved that are gone!

  • Hannah

    Hi …. My hay day was the ’70s and I’d like to find a musk that smells as close to mystic RH which was the real organic civet oil musk can you suggest something for me?

    Thanks! Hannah

    • Isabella Muse

      Sorry Hannah I have no idea what mystic RH smells like 🙁