Wild Musk (1973)
by Coty

This is the perfect perfume for nervous teenagers (and adrenalized adults.) When it mixes with sweat, it undergoes a chemical reaction and turns into this piquant, voluptuous nectar which makes people want to stick their noses to your neck. Seriously.
But if you want something a bit more pronounced, Jovan Musk is the next step up.

Coty Wild Musk and Marc Jacobs Amber Splash Comparison

On the right arm: Coty Wild Musk Oil
On the left arm: Marc Jacobs Amber Splash EDT

On first application:

They both had very similar sweet ambery vanilla top notes, with the CWM being slightly more sweet but with a penetrating chemical or "hairspray" smell peeking through. I noticed this quality in excess when I sprayed the CWM EDT, and have been wondering if the oil was any different. Turns out--no, it is not, however, at the start, this note is greatly diminished as compared to the CWM spray.

The MJA was a tiny bit more dry, and for lack of a better way to say it, sort of baseless. It definitely didn't have the same chemical undertones as the CWM, but likewise did not seem to have anything anchoring it either.

Development:

Both scents developed very quickly, but the MJA lost its top notes a bit faster than the CWM oil. However, as the two developed, that chemical scent from the CWM became more apparent. By this time, I was wondering if this the the Musk part of the CWM. Further, I was wondering if perhaps the CWM I wore as a young adult had the dreaded NITRILE musks. If so, it would make sense that the newer one smells different to me. Also, since both the CWM spray and the oil have it, clearly it was an intentional part of the composition. The MJA started to literally disappear--it either burns through the entire composition very quickly, or the base notes are almost non-existant.

Complete dry down:

Now, almost 9 hours later, I can't really smell anything from the MJA arm. On the CWM arm, there is very little sweetness left, but the chemical musk smell is still present, though not very strong anymore. On the whole, the CWM oil also seemed to last longer than the CWM edt, based on a previous wearing of the spray.

Prices:

The MJA, is $65 retail for 10 ounces--which makes it $6.50 per ounce (could be less if found at a discounter). Due to its short longevity, it would need to be refreshed about every 4 hours, probably 1-2 sprays per wrist at least.

The CWM oil I saw for varying prices, but typically is around $15 ($11 plus shipping) for 0.5 ounce. So, $30 per ounce, but only a dab is needed and it lasts all day.

The CWM edt was around $10 at Target for 1.5 oz., so $6.67 per ounce (surprise--it is MORE than MJA). Longevity as I remember from my last wearing was more along the lines of MJA.

I think if you are a CWM lover, the MJA is actually not a bad deal, and has some of the same sweet character as CWM. However it does not have the oily chemical musk base, and fades to nearly nothing. The fading could be desirable for people who like to switch fragrances from morning to evening. Also, the low concentration of the MJA makes it a refreshing splash-type application.

Not as nice as Jovan Musk or my signature scent, Jovan White Musk, but it was nice and playful. A bit different. I like musks, so this was worth a try.

Do you guys know this has been rebranded as Exclamation Wild Musk? In a VERY nasty orange and black tiger-print bottle!! I haven't smelled it before this rebranding, can anyone comment on whether the scent is in fact the same? I find it to be the first slightly offensive musk I've encountered, and I LOVE musk! But could be lovely on someone else.

This was one of my first "bad girl" fragrances, and my grandmother wore it, too! I wore the oil (stunk up the whole house!) and my GM wore the EDT (nice and powdery, musky, and sweet). I could feel comfortable in this scent anywhere, as I do in many of my sassy granny's frags (Shalimar, Cinnibar, Chantilly). It reminds me of first discovering that I had sex appeal. It can be overt, like if I wear a lot of the oil, making me feel bawdy and flirtatious; or it can be soft and sensual, which is easier to accomplish with the EDT. I'm buying another bottle tomorrow!

Why oh why is this no longer available in Australia? This is a lovely warm, slightly dirty smelling musk that lasts much longer on me than Jovan Musk. There seems to be an animal fixative in it, at least on my skin, and even after it has nearly worn off, I keep getting wafts of it all day (or night) long.