Reviews of Musc Nomade by Annick Goutal
Musc Nomade is at first deceptively diaphanous, a discreet complement to the skin, a personal enhancement.
I had nearly forgotten that I was wearing it just an hour or two in on the first day. Then, after a walk in the summer rain, opening returning home and relaxing after the work day, there were these wafts, lactonic, animalic, but also slightly herbal and sweet, hints of angelica root and tonka. Mind you, they are wafts, but they are just so hauntingly beautiful. Subtle transmutations can be detected within these facets, and the somehow, the delineation between me and my bed seemed to disappear, is this my own skin, my body odor (it never smelled this great!), my bed sheets, is there something else in the air? What puzzlement! I think this might be Musc Nomade, its alchemy, both sensual and comforting.
As I nuzzle into my skin eight hours into the wear, there's the tell-tale aroma of ambrette seeds. There it is! Just like the essential oil and absolute I have in my possession. But then there's also dark woods that weren't noticed up until now. The ambient impression, away from the skin, is so different, a different 'vibration', for fear of sounding a bit too cosmic.
I really look forward to experiencing this in different environments, different temperatures and times of the year, because I can tell its fascinatingly mercurial. Mind you, I have a bottle with the older classic Annick Goutal label as pictured that should have never been updated, perhaps from around 2012.
.
Musc Nomade is groovy, man...
I had nearly forgotten that I was wearing it just an hour or two in on the first day. Then, after a walk in the summer rain, opening returning home and relaxing after the work day, there were these wafts, lactonic, animalic, but also slightly herbal and sweet, hints of angelica root and tonka. Mind you, they are wafts, but they are just so hauntingly beautiful. Subtle transmutations can be detected within these facets, and the somehow, the delineation between me and my bed seemed to disappear, is this my own skin, my body odor (it never smelled this great!), my bed sheets, is there something else in the air? What puzzlement! I think this might be Musc Nomade, its alchemy, both sensual and comforting.
As I nuzzle into my skin eight hours into the wear, there's the tell-tale aroma of ambrette seeds. There it is! Just like the essential oil and absolute I have in my possession. But then there's also dark woods that weren't noticed up until now. The ambient impression, away from the skin, is so different, a different 'vibration', for fear of sounding a bit too cosmic.
I really look forward to experiencing this in different environments, different temperatures and times of the year, because I can tell its fascinatingly mercurial. Mind you, I have a bottle with the older classic Annick Goutal label as pictured that should have never been updated, perhaps from around 2012.
.
Musc Nomade is groovy, man...
A light woody scent with tonka, faint almond notes and some dusty musk. Mostly I get wood. It reminds me a bit of Jaisalmer in a wood-incense way (not being burnt, the packed bricks of wood chips you get in import shops or the Albuquerque airport.) Rather nice and light, but not distinct other than 'kinda woody.' This is a review of the older formulation.
ADVERTISEMENT
Musc Nomade - Annick Goutal
A suprising sour dry anisic-herbal note opens a warm round powdery musk that associates with fresh cotton and a bitter-animalic tone, like castoreum. It gets an indolic baby-foodburp note, a musty paper/old book one that reminds of cinnamon and a certain airyness. It grows a little stronger, picks up a more powdery-balsamic tone and a little sweetness. From its heart this perfume radiates a beautiful persistant warm note of warm horse-fur with a little saltyness to it, like fresh sweat. The dryout brings more weight and fluffyness at the same time: a light creamy/salve tone with hints of fresh peppermint, candysweet, cozy vanilla and an almost incensewood-like spicyness, plus a natural bitter waxy-musk tone of ambrette seed with a hint of clean soap.
Most musk perfumes I found to be too sweet and lacking structure, but this one speaks a language and tells a story of its own. Very decent stuff- potent and skilfully executed.
A suprising sour dry anisic-herbal note opens a warm round powdery musk that associates with fresh cotton and a bitter-animalic tone, like castoreum. It gets an indolic baby-foodburp note, a musty paper/old book one that reminds of cinnamon and a certain airyness. It grows a little stronger, picks up a more powdery-balsamic tone and a little sweetness. From its heart this perfume radiates a beautiful persistant warm note of warm horse-fur with a little saltyness to it, like fresh sweat. The dryout brings more weight and fluffyness at the same time: a light creamy/salve tone with hints of fresh peppermint, candysweet, cozy vanilla and an almost incensewood-like spicyness, plus a natural bitter waxy-musk tone of ambrette seed with a hint of clean soap.
Most musk perfumes I found to be too sweet and lacking structure, but this one speaks a language and tells a story of its own. Very decent stuff- potent and skilfully executed.
Light, airy fresh. Not what I was expecting. Faint flowers. Papery-wood accord. Clear musk. The flowers, don't seem to increase in "size". They remain distant. This plays out as a skin scent for me. I wanted more...
This has been reformulated and much to its detriment. I used to enjoy its slightly vegetal muskiness. It was a berry-sweet, barely there puff of musky ambrette. A very pretty and enchanting mid-point between clean white musks and a bit dirtier ones.
Now however, it is nothing at all. Or it is a nothing created synthetically with only a faint resemblance to its original self--which was already faint enough to begin with. This is kind of sad, since it filled a much-needed and right-in-the-middle spot on the musk spectrum.
Don't bother unless you can find an older bottle. (Even then, you, like some, may be anosmic to its particular type of musk notes.)
Now however, it is nothing at all. Or it is a nothing created synthetically with only a faint resemblance to its original self--which was already faint enough to begin with. This is kind of sad, since it filled a much-needed and right-in-the-middle spot on the musk spectrum.
Don't bother unless you can find an older bottle. (Even then, you, like some, may be anosmic to its particular type of musk notes.)
Grassy Patchouli
I was hoping Musc Nomade would be a truly Oriental musk reminiscent of Arabie, the steppes of Central Asia, or the Western Lands of the Silk Road.
The opening is a boozy citrus. The heart and base emerge quickly and dominate. The whole fragrance is overpowered by grassy patchouli and vetiver. Whatever musk there is is mute and largely undetectable.
Sadly, Musc Nomade is little more than a grassy patchouli "head shop" type fragrance that might have been popular in the 1960s. At this price, I would recommend the much more affordable Molinard Musc, which is nearly identical and 1/4 the price.
I was hoping Musc Nomade would be a truly Oriental musk reminiscent of Arabie, the steppes of Central Asia, or the Western Lands of the Silk Road.
The opening is a boozy citrus. The heart and base emerge quickly and dominate. The whole fragrance is overpowered by grassy patchouli and vetiver. Whatever musk there is is mute and largely undetectable.
Sadly, Musc Nomade is little more than a grassy patchouli "head shop" type fragrance that might have been popular in the 1960s. At this price, I would recommend the much more affordable Molinard Musc, which is nearly identical and 1/4 the price.
As a semi-sweet booze and currant scent with Ribena aspirations, Musc Nomade starts big and almost gourmand before settling into low-level powdery hum of a musk that desiccates over time. Once it's calmed down, a cushion-like effect takes over and the scent feels like the olfactory equivalent of an alpaca blanket. It's soft and quite powdery but with enough berry leaf remaining to anchor it as interesting. But as a musk fragrance, it's PG-rated – disappointingly so.
A completely perplexing juice. When I first smelt it, it did nothing for me, I persisted, loved it briefly and then couldn't smell a thing, I tried again and adored it, next time it was gone again. I bought a bottle going cheaply on eBay and cursed myself for wasting money, then wore it again and rejoiced. Musc Nomade is a fickle friend.
I agree with other reviewers that the chemistry of it doesn't lend itself to the musk asnomics out there - my boyfriend (who seems not to be able to smell any synthetics at all) thought I was joking when I asked him to smell my wrist as he couldn't detect anything at all.
On the days it works, it really works: soft, warm, snuggly and a beautifully put together formulation; rosey, fuzzy and woody, sophisticated and gentle - that old "cashmere wrap" trope.
On the days it doesn't...Well, it just doesn't.
I hesitate to say this, but Khiel's Musk Oil does the job far more efficiently.
Update: Ok. I've completely changed my mind on this one. It's turned out to be a new favourite and an easy go-to office frag for days when I need comfort without having to "say" anything with my choice of perfume. It's so cosy. I apologise Musc Nomade, I judged you to early, you're lovely.
I agree with other reviewers that the chemistry of it doesn't lend itself to the musk asnomics out there - my boyfriend (who seems not to be able to smell any synthetics at all) thought I was joking when I asked him to smell my wrist as he couldn't detect anything at all.
On the days it works, it really works: soft, warm, snuggly and a beautifully put together formulation; rosey, fuzzy and woody, sophisticated and gentle - that old "cashmere wrap" trope.
On the days it doesn't...Well, it just doesn't.
I hesitate to say this, but Khiel's Musk Oil does the job far more efficiently.
Update: Ok. I've completely changed my mind on this one. It's turned out to be a new favourite and an easy go-to office frag for days when I need comfort without having to "say" anything with my choice of perfume. It's so cosy. I apologise Musc Nomade, I judged you to early, you're lovely.
This is a sad, sad day. After a long day at work, I arrived at home to find a delivered package containing Musc Nomade and Ambre Fetiche. With a wagging tail I tore open the package and eagerly applied Musc Nomade to my wrist and started huffing away. Snort. Snort. WTF? Snort. Oh no. I am not able to smell parts of this composition. The musc note is incredibly faint and I think I'm detecting ambrette, but otherwise only pale amber with a touch of chicken soup fades in and out. As such, I will refrain from rating Musc Nomade because, sob, I just can't smell it! Take my advice: do not blind buy Musc Nomade!!!!
Next day edit: OK, this is completely perplexing, but now I think I can smell the composition. The musc is almost a texture, not a discernable note. I'm finding the MN experience very subtle and almost spooky. It's like the ghost of someone's flesh lingers in the air, but it is difficult to really describe what that flesh smells like; it's sort of like a faded memory that keeps snuggling with you. This is hands down the creepiest review I've written and I'm going to stop typing now.
Two days later: Yes, I can definately smell blackberry-musc accord, but the problem is that I need to dump half the bottle on my head to detect the whole composition.
Final verdict: MN is a unique, comforting musc with an almost haunting beauty. It is, however, wimpy beyond belief.
Next day edit: OK, this is completely perplexing, but now I think I can smell the composition. The musc is almost a texture, not a discernable note. I'm finding the MN experience very subtle and almost spooky. It's like the ghost of someone's flesh lingers in the air, but it is difficult to really describe what that flesh smells like; it's sort of like a faded memory that keeps snuggling with you. This is hands down the creepiest review I've written and I'm going to stop typing now.
Two days later: Yes, I can definately smell blackberry-musc accord, but the problem is that I need to dump half the bottle on my head to detect the whole composition.
Final verdict: MN is a unique, comforting musc with an almost haunting beauty. It is, however, wimpy beyond belief.
My lack of connection with this one doesn't have to do with price or indifference. It's a conflict with one of the notes. I react to many of the Goutals in the same way, so assume it is a signature chemical note or accord used by this house.
It turned sour and slightly gassy on me within a few minutes, making it altogether un-lovely.
As usual, I attribute it to a synthetic allergy on my part. It may be a lovely fragrance, well-done, etc. but I have no way of knowing. It's a decided thumbs-down for me.
It turned sour and slightly gassy on me within a few minutes, making it altogether un-lovely.
As usual, I attribute it to a synthetic allergy on my part. It may be a lovely fragrance, well-done, etc. but I have no way of knowing. It's a decided thumbs-down for me.
This is lovely. But I confess, I cannot always smell it. It hovers just inside then outside my perceptual field and on some days...is vanished. It reminds me a bit of pastry, dog paws and cat fur. A milky translucent slightly sweet spiced animalic dimension gives this "white" musk its character. A skin scent. A bit haunting, but maybe only to those of us who are not detecting the whole composition.
Musk is a note that I am unfortunately anosmic to. Every now and then I capture wafts of it, but as soon as it appears, it's gone again.
Musc Nomade, from what I have managed to smell, is a nice blend of musky woods and milk. It's more soothing than anything else. I would probably wear Musc Nomade as a bed-time scent, as it is something that would keep me feeling snuggly and warm.
This fragrance isn't as spicy or as oriental as I expected it to be. Musc Nomade is the tamest of the four in the Les Orientalistes series, yet no less superior.
Clean and pretty, there's a sense of sensuous silkiness that pleases me greatly. For those that hold Narciso Rodriguez in such high esteem, should experience musk at its very best as it is represented in this fragrance.
I want to say animalic musk, however I refrain from doing so, because while it is sexy, it doesn't seem like the perfect remedy to rouse up the beast inside of us. For that fact alone, Musc Nomade is categorised by me as being a clean, white musk with a touch of woods.
However you perceive this fragrance, you are sure to agree that this is a wonderful interpretation of musk, having a wonderful versatility to be worn by both men and women alike.
Musc Nomade, from what I have managed to smell, is a nice blend of musky woods and milk. It's more soothing than anything else. I would probably wear Musc Nomade as a bed-time scent, as it is something that would keep me feeling snuggly and warm.
This fragrance isn't as spicy or as oriental as I expected it to be. Musc Nomade is the tamest of the four in the Les Orientalistes series, yet no less superior.
Clean and pretty, there's a sense of sensuous silkiness that pleases me greatly. For those that hold Narciso Rodriguez in such high esteem, should experience musk at its very best as it is represented in this fragrance.
I want to say animalic musk, however I refrain from doing so, because while it is sexy, it doesn't seem like the perfect remedy to rouse up the beast inside of us. For that fact alone, Musc Nomade is categorised by me as being a clean, white musk with a touch of woods.
However you perceive this fragrance, you are sure to agree that this is a wonderful interpretation of musk, having a wonderful versatility to be worn by both men and women alike.
I always wonder about this one. It's made with a large serving of muscone, a musk with high molecular weight. Apparently the musks to which people are anosmic are these large ones. What does this smell like to them? To me it's lovely.
My take on MN is that it has the softness and rounded fruity sweetness of the non-threatening wing of musk fragrances, white musks, but also the complexity over time that the beastier musks have. This is more baby skin than rank armpit. There is a little of the waxy quality common to some musks, but the note that really fixes itself to the sweetness is the booziness. Booze and baby-skin. If that's not enough complexity, consider therapy.
Once into the basenotes, MN wears close to the skin but also loses some sweetness, becoming a bit woody. MN's drydown has a long trajectory and traces of woody berry sweetness drift up to your nose 12 hours after applying it. I love that this has the happy-happy angles of the clean musks, but the complexity-without-skank of the heavier musks. I keep wedging MN between the two ends of the musk spectrum that I'm positing, and I shouldn't. If anything, the center area that MN seems to occupy shows that moderation can be a smart and definitive choice and not just a compromise.
A great scent for SoCal dry summer nights.
My take on MN is that it has the softness and rounded fruity sweetness of the non-threatening wing of musk fragrances, white musks, but also the complexity over time that the beastier musks have. This is more baby skin than rank armpit. There is a little of the waxy quality common to some musks, but the note that really fixes itself to the sweetness is the booziness. Booze and baby-skin. If that's not enough complexity, consider therapy.
Once into the basenotes, MN wears close to the skin but also loses some sweetness, becoming a bit woody. MN's drydown has a long trajectory and traces of woody berry sweetness drift up to your nose 12 hours after applying it. I love that this has the happy-happy angles of the clean musks, but the complexity-without-skank of the heavier musks. I keep wedging MN between the two ends of the musk spectrum that I'm positing, and I shouldn't. If anything, the center area that MN seems to occupy shows that moderation can be a smart and definitive choice and not just a compromise.
A great scent for SoCal dry summer nights.
Absolutely love this composition. This is rather light and breezy compared to the other 3 from the Les Orientalistes releases. There is a very pleasant woody, floral and resinous undertone that has been put together exceptionally well to compliment the clean musk. Nothing dirty about this one at all, the civet is pretty tame, but still noticeable in a transparent-like manner.
Yummy! A skanky, dirty, musty, dry and sharply powdery musk with a hint of woods and resins, like the love child of Muscs Koublai Khan and L'air de rien!
The angelica rises off the skin immediately… I have a love / dislike relationship with angelica, and here, it would be love, but this lovely version of it just doesn't last long enough for me. The angelica disappears and the accord is immediately taken over by the musks, the rose, and the woods of the middle. I find the middle accord pretty at first but very quickly it becomes uninspired. It is also short lived and moves to the base too quickly. To my nose the tonka bean dominates the drydown and it is too sweet for my tastes. I get the white musks that are there, but I don't get the labdanum, so, again, I am not impressed. On my skin Musc Nomade neither projects nor lasts. Confession: Musks are not my favorites. Of the Les Orientalistes line I thoroughly enjoyed Encens Flamboyant and I purchased Myrrhe Ardente. To my tastes they are excellent scents that are true to their mission. Musc Nomade may very well be true to its mission, but I don't find it very special, and its longevity is not at all good on my skin.
Despite the slightly "granny's dressing table" bottle, this is a must have for me. Maybe this is one of those fragrances which is in harmony with my skin, but every time I come back to this one, it astonishes me. Always warm, slightly sweet, heavy lidded and half asleep, like a baby's contented milky breath. Addictive and seductive, whenever I wear this, you can see passers by being lifted by the nose, slapped, kissed and left wondering why they didnt have the courage to ask me what I'm wearing. If it works this well for you, I guess its worth the cost.
Annick Goutal Musc NomadeMusc Nomade is one of four scents in the Les Orientalistes line created in 2008 by Isabelle Doyen and Camille Goutal. The inspiration for these scents was said to be the smells of the harem. Up until now while enjoying the other Les Oriantalistes I haven't been whisked away to my mental seraglio. Musc Nomade achieves the stated goal admirably. Musc is one of my favorite notes to see interpreteted by different perfumers and in Musc Nomade MMes. Doyen and Goutal choose to go for the less earthy musc and instead use a combination of three white muscs to add a layer of brightness to this. At the top, the first of the white muscs comes out and it is paired with the nutty note of almond. The almond adds a little sweetness to the airiness of the musc and gets this off to a sparkling start. The heart undergoes a shift as the musc changes and gains a little more depth along with a new partner, tonka, Once again it is a little sweet mixed with the musc and creating a nice accord. The base is also a mix of musc and sweet in the presence of Bombay wood which is the sweetness of papyrus. As this progresses the musc gets a little more pronounced and a little more power until the mix at the end feels very sensual. This is a beautiful light musc which feels light on my skin but yet has a subtle intensity that I enjoy all during its development. No musc is ever going to be completely clean but Musc Nomade has the quality of feeling exotic and a little erotic which fits a scent trying to evoke a harem.
A musk scent that is not animalic at all, not in a slightest bit. In fact more than a musk fragrance, I think of this as a powdery (musk) woody fragrance with resinous, slightly incense-like undertones.Opening has a beautiful flowery feel and from the first sniff it is very clear for the one that this is technically speaking a great scent: Balance is there right from the start and it feels very niche with trust for high quality ingredient use in the blend.This is a pretty contemporary soft oriental fragrance that is completely equally suitable for both sexes. There is something very Bertrand Duchafour-like in this scent, although I think its not exactly as rich as most of that mans resembling creations.This is a nice fragrance but I couldn't possibly imagine that I paid 95 euros for a bottle of this. Not even close.In fact considering that exclusive price, I can't resist give negative rating for this.