Reviews of White Musk for Men by Jōvan

It seems this fragrance was a late answer or flanker to the original Jovan Musk oil launched in 1972 as the current white musk was launched in 1992. The white musk I really like is very fresh white musky if I could use the word and I don't think he gets enough recognition especially from the young crowd but I guess I wouldn't expect it from them anyway. Javon White Musk in the square bottle but not a square scent as it smells really good. I don't think it smells cheap. I don't think it smells dated. I just think it's an overall decent to good scent for not a lot of money and that's always comforting thumbs up.

7/10

This is the fragrance I wanted the Jovan womens' white musk to be. On me it's briefly fresh in a quiet, slightly green-sharp sort of way - I can detect a little of the mind and I think also the apple - then dries down into a lovely sweet powdery musk aura with an occasional moment of mint still shining through. Not much sillage but also not so much as a whisper of the awful plastic-synthetic-musk note that I made myself sick of by overspraying Jovan Musk Oil and Kiehls Original Musk.

I would call it unisex - it certainly doesn't come across as a traditional masculine. There's just enough sharpness to prevent it sinking into sickly, and the sweeter side of it is fresh sweetness rather than the usual "slightly sad bought them at the petrol station flowers" combo used in budget white musks. It actually reminds me a little of Alaia Blanche in its later stages - enough musk to be unmistakably sensual, but not by any means a "dirty" feel. I've definitely found myself a wardrobe staple here and I'm annoyed I left it so long before I tried this one.

Horrid chemical stench, similar to the products used to clean cheap hotel rooms. Cheap industrial cleaner, with hairspray top notes.

Maybe the inexpensive bottle I bought blind is a bad reformulation. Hope so. Glad it was only $10 or so online.

I like Jovan Musk For Men. Jovan Sex Appeal is very good stuff. White Musk For Men – can't recommend it. Currently listed as discontinued, buy it only if you're compelled to round out your Jovan collection. Otherwise, pass. Not a hidden cheapie gem, IMO.

White Musk for Men by Jovan (1992) was the last fragrance made under the supervision of original Jovan founder Barry Shipp, and the male counterpart to Jovan White Musk (1990) from two years prior. As those familiar with Jovan products may guess, there isn't a ton of difference between his and hers musk fragrances from the brand, and likewise the separation between his and hers White Musk scents is not very wide. What's most important here, and way more important than anything gender-specific, is what Jovan tried to accomplish here with the White Musk DNA, perhaps 30 years too late when one thinks about it. You see, white musks were actually the most common type of synthetic musks used by Western perfumers in the industry, and the original mainstream synthetic musk oil that hippies adopted with abandon in the 1960's was based on a white musk molecule, perhaps some old nitromusk originally. That scent was Alyssa Ashley Musk (1969), and the direct result of Barry Shipp seeing hippies in head shops across Chicago and NYC where he traveled as a Revlon salesman, combined with the more-expensive natural deer-based Egyptian musk oils the deeper-pockets counterculture members were buying, is what inspired him to develop the virile classic Jovan Musk Oil/Jovan Musk (1972), which later was flanked by Jovan Musk Oil/Jovan Musk for Men (1973). The reason Jovan trounced Alyssa Ashley in the 70's was Murray Moscono, a flavorist enlisted as would-be perfumer for Jovan, used a synthetic reconstruction of deer musk (tonkin) called tonquitone, which leaned into the overtly sex-driven market copy. By the 90's, anything containing the fatty, woolen smell of tonkin or tonquitone would seem incredibly crass and dated, so a "new" sexy was needed.

Jovan White Musk for Men was the answer to a need for a more-conventional synthetic musk that was cleaner and more-versatile than what Jovan's original pub-crawling monster was in the 70's. but could still perpetuate the allure of a come-hither scent. It couldn't be identical to Alyssa Ashley's creation, nor like any number of other white musk scents lurking about in drugstores, so the better-late-than-never entry to Jovan's canon merged simple white musks with rather contemporary fruity and soapy notes. In effect, the ozonic fruity and clean business making the rounds in late 80's/early 90's fresh fougères and aquatics was spliced on top this basic white musk accord, making a slapdash solution from a technical standpoint, but at least not without a modicum of elegance when worn. The opening is going to be tart green apple and sheer honeydew melon notes provided by a bit of watermelon ketone, merged with cooling mint and thyme to take the sweetness down. Geranium and tangerine oil mix with clove in the heart, but the real star of the show here is the unlisted mishmash of acetates, salycylates and ionones to create a compressed modern soapiness that accounts for part of the fruity, dry, floral nature of the opening beyond just the shiny apple melon notes. This synthetic stew sounds abominable to artisanal purists, but why would you be reading a review on a Jovan perfume if you were one? The base is likewise a cocktail of white musks that are cheaper than chips, modern polycyclics and not the old nitromusk goodies in OG Alyssa Ashley to be sure, but the effect is the similar: sheer clean sexy warmth. If you want a fresh out-of-shower feeling that actually lasts, well Jovan Musk for Men might just be your ticket, and honestly this is gender-neutral enough to share too.

The usual "eww it smells cheap" or "eww it's too commercial" quips are really going to come from people who don't understand or appreciate the period of perfumery from which Jovan White Musk for Men hails, and honestly that's okay. the fact rich, opulent, mossy, animalic, or densely-packed aromatic wrecking balls that were 80's and late 70's perfumes found themselves completely upended by back-to-basics simple, fresh, and clean smells is really just a repeat of what happened in the late 60's when the original Jovan Musk Oil caught fire. Youth of the day didn't want their parent's more sophisticated fragrances, and just wanted something they didn't have to think about, which smelled sexy according to their tastes, and was inexpensive. Back in the counterculture years, exotic oriental-themed musks and sandalwood oils were that answer because they carried an aesthetic of a happier, slower-paced life free from the social constraints of Western austerity, while the bright futurism of the late 80's or early 90's ushered in more tech-savvy alternatives that carried the same simple satisfaction but with a sheen of "we are the future" and "less is more" after seeing the hedonistic excess of the prior decades. Those same Gen-X kids would grow in time to love their dad's old powerhouses (and now post about them on Basenotes), in the same way their boomer parents put down the patchouli oils and began wearing their parent's Guerlains and Chanels. I personally do like Jovan White Musk for Men much more than the original if only because it is just comfort food for a tired nose out of the shower after coming home from work, but that's a personal reason which has no bearing on how I rate the scent. For everyone else, this is just another beige freshie from the 90's with an air of cut-rate synthetic luster, but that's fine. Thumbs up

Too feminine for me. Smells wonderful on a woman. If you like and prefer masculine scents, this is not for you. But at $10 it's a no brainer blind buy for a lady or more metrosexual kind of guy.

Bought this after reading a post in the forums. This isn't really much of a special fragrance, very mediocre, but well done for its price point. Reminds me of a better version of Paul Sebastian Casual, it doesn't have that dirty musk, rather a fresh clean white musk. I don't get the apple or melon, but there has to be some floral notes in here, musk of course, citrus up top, and a little bit of spice, something like cloves. This is a good cheapy to have, to spray the room with, or my bedding.

Funny story - the event that kickstarted my perfume hobby was my work with an American businessman in 1992, who wore an AMAZING cologne at that time. I was, like, enthralled every time I met him during the meetings. He was in his mid-50s typical lawyer kind of guy, and I was wondering silently WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WEAR MAN for couple of weeks. Then he left, but the memory about the scent stayed. The fragrance was kind of silver in association, a bit musky, effervescent, fruity but dry, a bit sweet, sensual but professional, comforting, simple and easy - perfect in every way.

My stupidity of not asking him what cologne did he use resulted in a quest that has lasted for 20+ years. I was searching high and low, reading carefully the pyramids of the notes, trying samples, buying left and right the fragrances that seemed to fit the description - Image, Gendarme, you name it. Then I got a mini of Jovan Musk and thought wait a minute, is that it? Not quite, but what if... Jovan WHITE Musk? The 1992 release?

Ordered and received it today - gentlemen, this gestalt of mine is closed at last. It was fun ride, and I'm glad my search is over. If I lived in the USA, I would have found this scent much sooner, but it's better late than never. I hope you all understand the emotions behind my rant, not happens every day.

Jovan White Musk, who would have thought.

Musky, floral, fresh. Sweetish melon and some green herbs. Ok sillage and longevity for a cologne (if the word indicates concentration, I don't know). This is a pleasant and happy fragrance mainly for spring and summer, quite good especially for the price.

A briliant story - White Musk Glory From opening to end white musk is everpresent, but with a number of nuances throughout the life of the scent. In the top notes a touch of apple-citrus, mint and some thyme are added, and in the middle a nice melon influx changes it again a bit. A whilf of a flowery aroma is transiantly perceivable, and at the end a tiny bit of nut aroma is there. In the final hour I get a smidgeon of non-powdery soapiness. Not too synthetic, rich but not overly intrusive, and with a mild, nigh herbal sweetness on my skin. This is a clean,bright white musk fragrance. Silage - excellent, projection marvellous. Longevity - just splendid, over ten hours. One of the top white musks I know.

A glorious manly musk ever green since years. Intoxicating, spicy and aromatic with some appealing fruitiness in the blend. The first inebrious blast is made of citric notes, some aromatic herbs as thyme, mint and lavender, may be some peaches, cloves and a touch of soapiness. In this phase the juice is a dusty cloud full of jumbled elements. The time places the notes in the right place. The following evolution pushes indeed the button over a more defined musk/vetiver prominent woodsiness plus a touch of patchouli, faint amber and may be incense. A solid classic worthy a try by the lovers of the musky juices.

A much fresher and fruitier version of Jovan's Original Musk for Men.
I enjoy this and I do get the fruity 'Peach' type note others have mentioned.
Although others around me think it smells a bit feminine I would definitely classify this as a unisex fragrance.
Jovan White Musk for Men is well made with decent longevity at an incredibly affordable price. Very Nice!

Some avant-garde niche house should knock this off and charge $600 a bottle for it, not because it's good but because it's almost not there at all. The faintest ghost of a fruity, sweet smell, like an empty Starburst wrapper or an ancient, dry bottle of Herbal Essences shampoo. Unlikely to offend because it's unlikely to be noticed. If you want a cheerful inexpensive musk spring for Royall's superb Royall Muske, which has all the barbershop insouciance that this pallid offering lacks.

My dad wore this in the early nineties. I remember he kept a bottle of it in the car, and I would get it out and use a tiny bit of it (slash type bottle) on the days he picked me up from school. It is definitely a "calm" fragrance, unlike it's older brother Jovan Musk. Though the bottle I own is nineties vintage, the frag itself is no longer discontinued, as I saw it recently in the fragrance department at a local K-Mart for not too much fundage.

A refreshingly honest fragrance that smells like it sounds when reading the notes;
Green Apple, Melon, Geranium, Clove, Peppermint, Thyme (I'll bet there's musk in there somewhere, too...). For warm, calm days. Sometimes you don't want to have to raise your voice.

stevolution is right - this has a peach-like aroma to it, or like peaches and berries. I suppose that's the apple and melon interacting. It certainly is fruity, but that's what I smell. Otherwise a very clean, fresh, soapy musk. Good for warmer weather and day wear, longevity is below average for me, though - Jovan White Musk for Men stays close to the skin. Imparts a pleasant aroma nonetheless.

Tough to find nowadays, but I have seen it at some drugstores. Cheap if you can find it.

I wore it in 90's. I bought it again last year. Very clean and somewhat "peach-like" upon application. This is what LeMale should have been, as it actually reminds of the "Clasique" version, but only vaguely. According to Jovan, this scent is NOT discontinued.

Inexpensive but a class act. Dimensionality in a "white musk" that makes the drydowns of so-called more evolving colognes (even a lot of the "fresh" ones) seem like meltdowms. Not that centerless vapory effect one associates with white musk/unisex scents but a very balanced go to men's fragrance whatever your age, whatever the occasion.

1992 was a good year for fragrances. Jovan White Musk was launched, as was Creed's Erolfa: two very fine creations.I remember smelling the women's version of JWM and liking it a lot. For some reason I thought the men's version would be similar, but with a bit less sweetness. I was wrong. It's got a *little* musk in it, but other elements which soften and add complexity. It's a lovely scent. My only gripe (and it is small) is that it doesn't last long on me. But it's lovely, and my girl friends all like it. This is not a formal fragrance, though I suppose it could be. It's perfect for a party or a casual date.

Sigh. My ex husband used to wear this when we first met. It smelled wonderful and distinctive on him. He hated strong scents- they gave him a headache- but this one worked well for him. It was not really musky at all- a fresh, light, almost floral scent that still manages to be masculine is how I would describe it.

Used to wear this all the time when I was a frquent visitor to the States about 10 yrs ago.Had the urge to smell it again and had to buy it on the web plus post to the U.K.Must say it still smells great on my skin for a bargain fragrance and never has the sickliness of other musk fragrances.Fairly long lasting and had a few comments already as it is the perfect summer daytime scent for me.I can still smell it after 4hours and it has an apple like sweetness,,almost edible.Come on Coty there is a market here for it as well as the other 2 Jovan Fragrances that are readily available.Also how about re making Grass Oil,I have fond memories of that too!!

Light, clean and lovely to smell. So sorry it's been discontinued. Will buy as long as I can find it. Not as harsh as Jovan's regular musk.

This is one the reasons I keep smelling drugstore fragrances. Every now and then I will find a nice surprise clean, easy to wear, very unisex and very skin-like, though a bit synthetic.

Pleasant and clean and remarkably affordable. If you like Gendarme, CK1 and/or Issey Miyake, you'll likely flip for this little puppy (especially once you see the VERY modest cost). Decent longevity and good sillage -- a damn good bang for very little coin.

It's called “White Musk” and it is appropriately named, but is also has a lot more going on with it than white musk. It opens a lot fruity and a little herbaceous: citrus, apple, melon, and mint. It's balanced, it's sweet, it's fresh, it's musky, it's light, and it's synthetic. In spite of its synthetic nature, I find it enjoyable. The other herb besides mint that is used in the fragrance – thyme – provides a drier, more solemn note among all that sweetness and freshness. There's also spice in there – clove – just enough to get a touch of sparkle in the mixture. Clove, mint, and thyme are all capable of delivering an aromatic effect, and I think that that is one of the pleasant little nuances of this fragrance: A part of its charm is that non-obvious touch of aromatics added to the fruitiness and green / spice. I wore Jōvan White Musk for Men a bit several years ago and enjoyed it because it is so easy to wear, so economical, and so trustworthy. I seldom wear it because I've moved on, but I still have good memories of it. A decent value for its price.