Musc Panache

Maurice Roucel wanted Musc Panache to be the antidote to the pungency of natural musk, or even the sultry thickness of his Musc Ravageur (for Frederic Malle). And wow, has he succeeded! Musc Panache is fresh and sparkling from top to toe, with a glass-like shine that almost seems to refract light. The musk here, though clearly musk, is unusually transparent.

All the other notes bolster the brightness of the ‘freshly-pressed linen’ whiteness of the musk without adding any weight or volume. The topnotes of bitter orange, Italian mandarin, and Haitian vetiver add citrusy and grassy nuances to the musk but no opacity. Tonka bean contributes a delicate almond pastry facet but zero weight, allowing the scent to fly high like a bird. Even the famous De Laire amber 83, a famous amber base accord known for its complex warmth, doesn’t disturb its sheerness. Musc Panache, fading out on the salty brightness of sea air (Ambroxide), is aptly named – men and women can wear this strictly unisex musk scent in the muggiest of heat and feel like they are the most elegant (and cleanest) people in the world.