AREEJ LE DORE
MUSK LAVE

2020

PERFUMER
Russian Adam

Vintage Bergamot (1920)
Vintage Lavender (1920)

Vintage Lavender Absolute (1915-1920)
Osmanthus
Mysore Sandalwood
Wild Siberian Deer Musk

Iris
Oakmoss
Labdanum

Musk Lave is tied with Santal Galore for my second favorite of Areej’ 6th collection behind Agar de Noir and here’s why:

On paper it doesn’t seem too complex, but on skin it’s a different thing. The main components are musk, lavender, bergamot and sandalwood to me, although oakmoss comes through as well. The thing is, these are vintage ingredients. What does that translate to in my wearing experience?

Bergamot steals the show in the opening minutes and I really love the way it comes across. The vintage bergamot barely has any acidity (you get a similar effect with the lemon in Grandenia), so it smells more like an overripe citrus and it’s rather unique.

The musk and lavender threw me off at first; I found the opening to be a bit messy and conflicting smelling. You get a bit of a fougere accord and a very dry texture, with the lavender being tamed by its age; it’s more like a diluted lavender and it doesn’t have the sparkling sharpness of many aftershaves.

Now as far as the musk and the woodiness go: here is where I prefer Musk Lave over Santal Galore. The base has a bit of sweetness and overall, it wears really smoothly, whereas the sandalwood (although aged), reminds me more of the conventional sandalwood that I’m used to. Ironically, I found Santal Galore more musky on my skin.

I’d say Musk Lave’s opening is something I haven’t really wrapped my head around yet during my testing, but a couple of hours in and it’s probably the best and most accessible scent in this 6th Areej Le Dore collection.