Reviews of Musc Ravageur (2000)
by Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle

Review coming soon.................................

I don't know what to say about this fragrance that hasn't been said already. It's simply stunning. Very potent (I hardly ever put on more than a single spray), good sillage, astounding longevity (put it on after I shower in the morning and I can still smell the drydown quite clearly when I hop into the shower 24 hours later), very intoxicating and addicting.

Starts out somewhat spicy then goes to a gorgeous vanilla drydown that lasts seemingly indefinitely. Honestly, I don't apply this anywhere other then my neck/chest anymore; any other place and I'll just wind up smelling my [insert body part here] every 30 seconds. It's just that good. And it's not just me: I might only have been wearing this for a week now, mostly around family and such, but everyone else loves it too and keeps asking me what it is. And that's NOT something I regularly get, let alone in such short order.

Really, just buy this stuff. It's gold. Yes, I might cost just as much, but the beauty, power and longevity of this scent make it worth every last penny and then some. And actually, since it's so potent and you only need to apply a fraction of what you would another fragrance, it's actually "cheaper" then you'd think since you get so many more applications out of the same size bottle.

Bottom line: BUY THIS!!! Or don't... because then it won't so so exclusive anymore... and I'll hate you. :-P

But really... heavenly.

Like bottled sex. I don't know how that association happened, for me, particularly when I look at the pyramid of notes. Many of them are favorites, but nothing in the list would suggest to me a scent to make one blush. It smells like sweaty genitals covered, minimally, with flowers and a dusting of powder. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I wouldn't wear this to work!.

This is newly becoming one of my favorites. I finally bought a bottle after months of living on samples, and having a lot of it around is very comforting.
It's incredible as many have already said so I second all of those comments. I get adamant compliments and I'm pretty much addicted to the smell. I had some on the back of my hand the other day and stayed glued to it all day.
One of the best. Maurice, you do good.

I tried Musc Ravageur along with Muscs Koublai Khan. This one is clearly better for women. (We're used to sweet, vanillic scents. Some men think it is too sweet, so they should head straight for the MKK.) I prefer this one. It starts out with a sweet, candy, cardamom note that is absolutely delicious. The fragrance becomes quite powdery and soft, very warm and significantly ambery. Ever since my old Coty Wild Musc was made thin and weak, I've been looking for a good replacement. This is not the same, it is spicier while the other was vanillic, but it is a good candidate and a nice musk for women.

This review is under revision.

Musc Ravageur is far from the titanic scent that many tout it to be.

Nonetheless, it is a remarkable scent with very likable qualities. With the name "Musc Ravageur" one might expect animalic musks to dominate, but this is a tidy and relatively linear composition where creamy tonka, fragrant woods, soft lavender and warm spices prevail. There is something mildly synthetic about this scent - when I first experienced it, I recognized the perfume of old colored erasers that I once collected in primary school... soft and aromatic. But the combination of fragrant spice and precious woods suggest a warm amber-like feel here which prickles at the back of the nose.
One can sense the use of quality ingredients, and a remarkable sensitivity in their application, but Musc Ravageur is not the roaring lion that many expect. It does however boast impressive sillage and great longevity to boot, but it is a scent that I'd consider a well-made middle-of-the-road niche release. To me, its appeal is in its lack of complexity, and the striking warmth it radiates.

I've tried some scents with enormous reputations (Jicky, Tea For Two, Amouage Gold, and Santal Noble come to mind,) and been terribly disappointed in how they smelled on me. Not Musc Ravageur.<br><br>I have to agree with every jot of hyperbolic praise that's been heaped upon this scent. Starts out sweet, but not cloying, and dries down through phases of complex spice, wood, animalic notes, and vanilla-musk. Almost tangible in its sensuality -- you just want to reach out and stroke it. A bit over the top? Maybe, but impossible for me to resist. Good sillage and moderate lasting power. Most certainly a "desert island" scent for me. Kmfdm10392 once wrote that "Jicky is the only unisex fragrance that matters." Well, move over Jicky, 'cause you've got company.

A walking olfactory work of art! However, I love the stuff. It's flamboyant, sexy and sticks to you like glue. Somehow when I wear MR I just fell confident. Could potentially turn off some guys as it does have a thick, sweetness to it especially at first spray.You'll have to be the type of guy that can pull it off cause The dry down is mellower and that's when the "dirty" feelings come in. I loved the stuff so much I purchased the oil version. Much more linear that the spray. The EDT is the bomb! I wear this for the ladies, but definitely for that special "lady" that you want to impress and have her remember your smell long after your gone. I swear I’ve sprayed it on like at 8pm and by the following mid-day the stuff is still on you. My Fav cologne!!

Hmmm...to give this a thumbs up or a neutral?

Well, this certainly isn't something I'd wear. I can see how this would be labeled unisex, some guys could pull it off, I can't. I would label this more towards the feminine side of the unisex frags.

The other reviews have pretty much covered the scent, not much else that I can say other than it's something I'd buy for a girlfriend, but not for myself. The vanilla-musk is very sexy and entoxicating.

A romantic scent that doesn't keep its raw intentions hidden at all. Musc Ravageur is a very flirtatious muse. I could not wear it at first - too carnal! and too flowery! Too bold, I thought. But the impression it left could not be forgotten easily so I came back. Surprise - no rose nor musk at all in this sexual drag queen of a frag!

The in-your-face deep floral kiss is actually a vanilla/gaiac wood blend dressed up as a rich rose oud. The sexy musk is a mix of earthy cumin oil plus equally smoky tonka which combine for a raw sexy musk powder. Both the faux flower and faux musk notes join nicely for a deep and lusty affect. This is a scent that makes me blush when I apply it - but I wear it anyway in the right situation.

Musc Ravageur-I love this on others, on me it was less than good. I am happy to read that so many people love this, it means I may smell it more often on the bus, in the grocery store, present in my life without wearing it myself.

A wonderful scent - fresh and medicinal at first. The dry down is mellow, remotely sweet and very sexy. Although the spicy notes remain present thoughout the fragrances' duration, their subtle manipulation with the lavender and vanilla is most astonishing. A fantastic "unisex" fragrance - clean/spicy/sweet.

I spent 4 weeks researching on perfume and its response in order to find my holy grail. Along the way, I found Musc Ravageur.
This perfume has quite a twist on my experience. After reading some review and description on the catalog, I believed that this was the one.
Then, when I went to the shop and try it, it didn't smell anything like what I expected.
I expected it to be quite old-fashioned, strong, seductive, sensual, sweet, intense for that 'naughty' effect. However, it is quite light even though it surely deep and dark. At the beginning, I think this is not sweet enough for me. It's like lady in sin city who kill her husband with a gun while what I am looking for is a lady who kill her husband with a dagger, poison ivy, a honey trap.
Then I went to Amouage at Harrods and been exposed to Gold. Then I discovered that Musk is truly associated with the 'naugty' effect I am yearning for.
Then it made me turn back to my sample pack of Musc Ravageur again. Oh my, this is it. Strangely when I looked at the ingredients, there is no musk there at all.
However, I haven't bought it yet as I would like to compare it with Musc Kloubai Kahn from Serge Lutens. Lets see who will win my heart for this 'naughty'ness effect I am yearning for.

I love this stuff. The first time I sprayed it on, I thought "Shalimar!" - and indeed, they are very similar to me. But Musc Ravageur is like a streamlined, modernized Shalimar. The thin middle of the wearker modern reformulations of Jacques Guerlain's masterpiece have been removed, the edges rounded out and filed down, and the whole composition pulled together into a seamless and definitively sexy scent. Maurice Roucel shines here, and for that, I can (almost) forgive him for creating L'Instant. Provisionally.

On my skin, Musc Ravageur is magnificent vanilla, anchored by sandalwood and gaiac wood, with fleeting hints of bergamot dancing about. I don't get anything particular animalic in any overt way, it's more a feeling of musk than an in-my-face *musk*. Which made me sad until the fragrance worked its way into my heart. Now it is all love.

I recommend the EDT of Musc Ravageur over the oil form - the oil form doesn't let the fragrance fly like it truly needs to to shine.

This is by far the best fragrance I have bought! A classic superb smell, dark, luxurios and unique, but at a cost!

This smells like a mink coat. Great for winter. As others mentioned, this is for a confident woman who is over 40.

Great scent !

I sprayed some on this morning, smelled amazing...10 hours later, still smells amazing and only slightly wore off. I can't help but smell wherever I sprayed it, i'd probly be doing the same thing if a girlfriend was wearing it too. Definetly worth a try !

I bought this at Barney's in Manhattan a little over a year ago on a whim and I am so glad that I did. Some call this "sex in a bottle" but I feel it's sensuality in a bottle...a great lover, not a tawdry trick. Although not for everyone (what fragrance is?) I feel it absolutely matches someone with a kind of self-awareness and confidence that exudes attraction.

Possibly the greatest unisex fragrance ever made -- absolutely WONDERFUL stuff. I don't get the "disco" and "moose on the loose" vibes with MR at all -- on the contrary, it's very sensual and powdery and rich on me, and I get TONS of compliments from both genders alike. I don't find it feminine, either -- just very intricate and (again) sensual and altogether intoxicating. (I find myself sniffing my arm all day long after applying this stuff, much like Acier Aluminium, JHL, Leonard Pour Homme and Havana Reserva.)

It's true that I shudder at the thought of having to plop down another $110.00 (plus tax) at Barney's every time I use up a bottle, but I'll do it again and again as needed -- because this glorious stuff is indisputably worth every red cent.

This is sooo sexy spraying it on makes me want to sleep with myself. So find someone else to spray it on you, cause they will want to sleep with you then.
On a serious note: while this is sex in a bottle, it's not really dirty, but who say s plain vanilla can't be fun, too? In fact I was at first slightly let down by the dry down, but only because Ravageur comes on so incredibly and delectably powerful in the top and the middle. Meanwhile I've concluded that it's simply a brilliant concoction, and who cares about top middle or bottom as long as you're having fun, right? Not just thumbs up on this one.

this is a new experience for me. at first it was extreme, too musky, overt and in your face. this was in a store, i was told to let it warm up on my skin. by the time i got to the office, in the mid afternoon, it changed, it mellowed, got deeper (i don't know the vocabulary of the nose) the change in the vanilla, clove and lavender was great. you must be judicious. It's not ladylike and it's not for girls. this is a truly adult fragrance.

Yum yum. I was hoping for something similar to Muscs Koublai Khan, and in the sillage, it definitely is. Skanky, foody, bodily musk. Still, there's more to Musc Ravageur. The skin scent is more sharp and dry and spicy, almost vintage-like, from the cinnamon. At first I thought almost too much so, but then it mellows into a wonderfully spicy and warm and cosy scent, sweetened by musk and vanilla. It has a dry, powdery aura from the amber note as well, and I love amber. It is a more pleasant scent than MKK, I don't deny that, still I prefer MKK for the totally unapologetic dirtiness of it.

I don 't really see this worn by a man! I agree it starts gender neutral with a subtle masculine touch but it rapidly gets powdery and feminine throughout the vanillic french 'nougatine' drydown. This musk is sexual, any hot confident girl should own this modern sensual oriental.

I didn't really like this particularly at first, as I found the opening too balsamic. However, this gradually grew on me, and I find it to be the perfect musk scent. MKK is absolutely gorgeous, but I find few situations where it would be appropriate to wear it, this is more versatile. It has a slightly gourmand quality with a faint hint of Coca Cola, but don't let that put you off. Sublime!!

this stuff is almost toxically musky I felt I should be carrying a gun to protect myself from lonely mooses on the looses.

trying it a few times I felt maybe I was putting on too much, but even one spray is like. . . being instantly transported to and trapped in a late 70s pre obsession sex club / disco "last chance for romance tonight..."

will try a spritz the air and walk past next time, and probably layer something else on top!

this is one, if you're crazy about it, be sure to check with someone honest will let you know whether or not you simply stink to high heaven

still you can't help liking this stuff for being so extreme and for the sense memory.

Very nice. Romantic, sexy, like a rolling swinging samba for the nose. Add a little charm and sweat. We're on! reserved for special occasions.

My nose must be developing. The first few times I smelled Musc Ravageur, I was wowed by what I thought was a rather straightforward, yet high quality, musk, vanilla, and cinnamon scent. Wow, was I missing the show! The topnotes are hard to place - sharp, bitter, and ever-so-slightly animalic at the same time. As the bitter top fades, the cinnamon and clove become more apparent, as does the musk. I love this musk! This is not the average "white" musk, but a somewhat stinky, animal musk that is like a toned down civet. In my previous testings I had also relegated this one to the colder months...what a fool was I. As I sit here now, in hot, humid weather, I tell you that this scent's sweetness is just right - not cloying in the least. I did use a light dusting of the fragrance, but still, no problem wearing this for me. As it dries further, the vanilla comes more to the fore, but this is not the typical boring sweet vanilla of many designer frags, you know the one that reminds one of cheap vanilla ice cream. Rather this vanilla is more like pure vanilla extract - naturally sweet and almost herbal in feel. MR deserves its place in my wishlist for sure!

The opening citrus and the musk-amber form intriguing counterpoints that make Musc Ravageur so interesting and sexy. Musky-ambery citrus, I love that citrus top note in the opening, in fact, MR is just plain enticing in its simplicity and in its delivery: No apparent florals; musk and amber form the core of the scent; bergamot and mandarin for the high register; cinnamon for the base; and vanilla for the proper touch of sweetness. Every once in a while there’s a whiff of animal notes, and (I may be imagining it) there’s the slightest hint of chocolate in the background. Now here’s where I may run into trouble with other lovers of this musky beauty: I can’t avoid thinking of Gucci Envy when I’m sniffing it. MR doesn’t carry the Envy notes as far as Envy does, but there is a prelude to Envy accords here. Of course MR is superior in refinement, and much more sensual and more potent in impact.
Musc Ravageur is a lush and incredibly sensual fragrance through every stage of its long life span. It has quickly become a paradigm for luxurious sensuality. If you love musk, you’ve got to love this one.

I love this smell! It would be great on a woman, although the only girl who's opinion I asked said it smelled like bug spray... If you are a man, stay away. Why this is a unisex frag, I will never know. 24, Ca, USA.

I admit to being a musk lover but this has to be one of the most well done musks going. It's both a soft and a slightly spicy oriental blended into the sexiest fragrance I've found. I find people of both sexes and all ages sidling up and asking me what I'm wearing. I prefer the Oil and hope never to be without a bottle

I wish there was something more than thumbs up for this one. It's fabulous. Cinnamon and musk combine to make a sexy and sweet scent that never fails to take me on a ride with each wearing. It has gotten big compliments and is one that does something different, and each time wonderful, with each application. It's scents like this that make Malle so highly regarded. A must try for musk lovers.

Hypnotic - knock you over sexy - unbelievably gorgeous - rich - warm - addictive...An oustanding musky-vanilla-sandalwood-spice dream.

It's great for having an intense love affair with...whoever is nearby. And for that alone I give it a thumbs up. But I simply cannot imagine wearing this on anything close to a regular basis. It's one of the richest scents i've experienced. I smell a peppered up Pi mixed with the drydown of Burberry Touch. You can almost feel it entering your nose like syrup. Makes me feel like a porn star!

Hands down, THE sexiest scent I've ever had the pleasure to wear. Spray this on your clothes when you want them to ripped off, but make sure to get some on your body too so the effect still lingers after the clothes are gone. :)~

I love this one. It's my favorite Musk scent so far. Starts out heavy but subsides into a wonderful mixture of lavander, bergamot and vanilla. I sprayed it on before I went to sleep and put a smile on my face. A must for musk lovers!!

My brother asked me if I just finished baking swedish cinnamon rolls when I wore this today. That has to be seen as a huge compliment!
I don't really like the harsh intro, but the drydown is absolutely wonderful!

Fits in all occations, not too much sillage!

It starts out like a powerhouse, lots and lots of lavender. After a few hours however, the opening act leaves, and out comes the headliner: the cinnamon, vanilla drydown. A delight!

I wouldn't consider myself a fan of Oriental fragrances, but this one knocks my socks off! It's unexpected and exudes sex appeal like nothing I've experienced from a bottle.

By far my favorite musk scent - spicy and oriental and ambery. There are some harsh balsamic topnotes that can really bother me if I overapply. Sometimes this feels like the perfect scent - extremely sensual. This is also one of those cold-weather scents that I find myself wearing in the summertime.

One of the best musc-perfumes , around in my humble opinion , though there is no musc listed. Maurice Roucel knows his job , that's for sure.
Very potent , although it ultimately becomes a skin-scent , so sparing use of it will serve you well. Just a drop is enough. Other than that it is curiously spicy , animalic , very soft in a sweetish way that reminds me of tonka and very warm with a background of amber. Cuddly for winter nights and would surely elicit compliments if worn by the right individual. Prim and austere or girly-bubbly types need not apply

Musc Ravageur is an awesome blend that takes you to a lemon tree in a lavender field on its topnotes. The citrusy-fresh accords transition seamlessly into a creamy vanilla yet retaining their zest. Hints of phantom chocolate titilate you like Maurice Roucel's moustache. Dries down to exotic, sensual, creamy woods

MR is one of the most well made fragrances I own. That’s the case with almost every Frederic Malle fragrance, but this is a standout star. This is a warm Oriental made with total balance and precision in mind. Vanilla, Musk, Cinnamon. This is what you would get if you took Shalimar and had a brilliant perfumer give it a modern and abstract touch – all minus the citrus of course. It’s simply brilliant. It’s a work of art in the world of perfumery.

Musc Ravaguer is a staple in my collection-- I must admit it took some time to grow on me, though. At first spray, the smell is strange and very pungent to me-- a funny metallic, medicinal, synthetic, bleach note permeates the scent. I do not get the citrus, lavender, or spices others do. Wow, it hurts my nose-- but within 30 minutes Musc totally changes. It becomes so rich and dark, a bit sweet-- like A*MEN smells on the skin the NEXT day but not so gourmand, more sexy. The initial pungent note lay in the background hinting at perhaps sweaty skin, dirty sheets, and hmmmm? I wear Musc Ravageur out for evenings when boyfriend and I need to re-ignite.

Musc Ravageur is my favorite Malle fragrance, that I've tested so far. I like sweet orientals, and this is one of the best I've tried. I smell vanilla at first, with only a small amount of bergamot and citrus, then the cinnamon comes out, blending nicely with the amber. I don't sense a lot of musk in this, but it's there (not dominant). Almost perfect, but it does turn a bit too sweet for my tastes on the drydown. Love it though, and think everyone who likes sweeter orientals, should give it a try.

a gnetle kiss, a medicinal coldness to keep you to the ground, an animalic note to tempt

I didn't know quite what to make of this fragrance when I got my first whiff, but I knew that I was in the presence of a great work of art. A very forward fragrance that is pronounced, but also warm. The soothing vanilla and the lush amber seem to dance with more piquant and provacative spices. This should be worn with confidence. Very sexy! Can't wait to try the body lotion.

Musc Ravageur leaps from the bottle, a stealthy tiger whose opening roar of citrus and cinammon alerts you to its presence. Passing soon into the camoflauged background of ambery musks with faint whiffs of chocolate, the scent beckons you in closer. It wears comfortably close to the skin, as if the epidermis were magically made of silk. People will notice it, but not from a great distance. A minimalist composition with maximum effect. This is the reason I see perfumers as artists of the highest order.

Aptly named, except for the fact that it is more amber than musk! this is ravishing, bold, sensual with woods and spices galore. Very full-bodied, cozy, sexy, stirs the imagination.