Royal Copenhagen Musk (1976)
by Royal Copenhagen

I knew there was no way a flanker could stack up to the original RC, a reigning champ in my rotation, but I really am pleased with this. (Top notes are lavender, basil and sage; middle notes are jasmine, neroli and lily-of-the-valley; base notes are nutmeg, patchouli, amber, musk, oakmoss and cloves.)
For me it boils down to a pleasantly bitter-sweet vanilla lavender scent, but it has motion to it. The musky-sweet top that smells like the color of the juice itself would suggest is both garden-herbal green and fizzy and grape-like, the latter aspect reminiscent of Escada's Magnetism for Men. In fact, RC Musk now seems to me a bit like a cross between Magnetism and the original RC. For the first ten or twenty minutes I was a little off-put and self-conscious about the strange, old timey herbal potency of the opening. This is just a flash in the pan though, and Musk turns down the volume considerably thereafter and stays close, warming as it does as the ambery clove base with a smoothing, almost creamy nutmeg begins to rise. Sweet, soapy, a touch green, and in the end a very pleasant wear for me. Perhaps a little dated, but unlike anything else I wear.

23rd March, 2011.

I remember wearing this as a winter fragrance back in the late 80's (that's when I discovered it). As i recall, the original version was a viril, yet sensous musk with great longevity and warmth. The five star fragrance company has since taken over and pretty much ruined the scent. I purchased it recently without trying it first and, suffice it to say, was deeply disappointed with the results. This now smells like an outdated drug store musk with a funky, murky quality that resembles rotten fruit. From now on, when purchasing an older scent I'm going to insist on trying it on my skin first. Five Star fragrances??
Are you kidding me?!!!

thumbs up for the original version.
Thumbs way down for the remake!

29th September, 2009.

This used to be my ALL-TIME favorite, but not anymore. Over the years, fragrance companies have watered down their fragrances and this appears to be one of them. I remember it being a rich, long-lasting GREAT musk. That was then, but this is now and all I can say is, IT'S CHEAP. Its staying power is pathetic, maybe 5 minutes. It is nothing like what I remember. The older version lasted all day. This obviously "new formula" smells mostly like the original RC Musk, but is really, really pathetic. I leave the top off so that hopefully the alcohol will evaporate and leave it a little more concentrated, but that didn't even help. I suppose if this ever came out in an eau de parfum version, then I'd consider buying it. It's truly sad that companies cut back on the essential oils to cut corners. It's just another example of pulling the wool over our eyes thinking we won't notice. Well, we do, and I suppose I'll have to find another alternative. The Kiehl's musk is really nice, as well as Dana's Monsieur Musk. This really used to be my favorite musk, and now I'm sad :(

13rd March, 2009.

Sweet, strong, synthetic Seventies sex sap. A must have for fans of Kiehl's and Jovan. This "Disco Stu" juice may take a lot of flak, but, hey, it's sexy enough to have gotten millions of men laid all around the world.

Buy it -- it's cheap. If you don't like it, you can always pack it up as a little gift for your next Basenotes swap.

9th February, 2009.

One of the first fragrances I ever purchased and still evokes many memories for me as well. I would actually wear it again.

4th May, 2008.

Perhaps initially pleasant, but then it becomes altogether too much, sweet, overblown, sickly, lush and gross. In his mistress's powdery boudoir, the pale, flabby posterior of the soft, fat Duke reflects itself in the mirror.

17th October, 2007.