Tonkin Musk – Running Low

$999

At a time when any genuine deer musk is a contraband luxury to be used by a perfumer, the one kind that…

Spray Bottle

I’ve been fortunate to handle lots of musk in my career. As a result, I have my fair share of prejudice against the marketing around musk… all the white musks, blue musks, red musks… even pink musk!

Then there’s ‘black musk’.

As easy as all the fake musks are to dismiss, you can’t help but wonder if there was some distant reality that gave birth to the claims backing ‘black’ musk because in academic literature black is the only color associated to musk (referring to moschus fuscus).

It wasn’t until I opened a stash of musk that belonged to the don of fragrance collectors and perfumery’s most legendary patron, that my disbelief set in.

Amidst the ancient Tibetan and Mongolian pods, there was a bag that was… different.

When you open that bag, the potency of the aroma that blasts out is unmatched by anything you’ve smelled before. When you hold these pods and study them up close, you’re sure they could be centuries old. It was like black tar, like a proper paste of black ink, as if the pods had been fermenting for a hundred years.

The potency, the ferocity of this musk, and its animalic beauty – a savage grandeur – is incredible. And everything that it touches, it transmutes into gold… as it did with the rare Vietnamese oud we previously infused with it.

My most lavish perfumes contain Tonkin musk: Notes From Underground, Chypre Sultan, and Private Blend. And the one thing they share is… transcendence. A shimmering debonaire quality permeates the notes as if breathing class into all of the ingredients it comes into contact with.

To compose a perfume around Tonkin musk and name it after this legendary aromatic was a different challenge altogether.

TOP NOTES
Ginger
Yuzu
Peach
Lavender

HEART NOTES
Violet
Mimosa
Japanese Rose
Roman Camomile
Lily of the Valley
Tuberose

BASE NOTES
Royal Tonkin Musk
Wild Papuan Oud
Vintage Filaria Oud
Vintage Timor Sandalwood
Oakmoss
Orris

Many scent pyramids you see are pretty complete – they just don’t show the ratios. But the above are only some of the aromatics that went into composing this thickly layered fragrance and only give you a hint of what to expect – because all these ingredients are filtered through the magical prism of what I believe to be the true origin of black musk.

Imagine bitter yuzu with that musky Tonkin bite enhanced by the soulful citrus hue of Cambodian oud laced with the rich creamy floral tone of tuberose and daffodil. This fusion alone would make for a regal perfume, but in Tonkin Musk it’s only one layer to relish…

The red tone of Indian jasmine and Lily of the Valley comes out in the heart, as the baklava sweetness of tonka bean sautéed with the stirred butter aroma of vintage Timor sandalwood gets covered in iris root powder diffused through rose essence. All jacked up with the ever-present power of raw dark tar ink black Tonkin musk tincture that carries the perfume.

At a time when any genuine deer musk is a contraband luxury to be used by a perfumer, the one kind that all the books throughout the centuries have praised as the best kind – Tonkin Musk – is one perfumers today can only dream about. Yet, here it is, loud and luscious, for you to indulge in.

As you’ll read in the reviews below, “this fragrance is an oxymoron. It somehow captures a rainbow of florals, plants, and woods while trapping them in a dark Musk prism” — that, as much as the musk, it’s the floral dimension of Tonkin Musk that hooked many who didn’t expect that a musk perfume can smell so beautiful…

This edition hones in on this floral facet to make it even more refined and elaborate (featuring new florals), while even funkier musk core. Rather than contrast, the enhanced musk beautifies and exalts the florals in a way no other aromatic could.

In addition to the enhanced florals and musk, there’s now also a thread of vintage Filarian oud that pulsates through the brew. The scent of Tonkin musk pairs especially well with Filaria’s rich earthy tone, which together work wonders with the creamy white florals.

This means you’ll bliss out to everything that makes Tonkin Musk so “gorgeous! I loooooooooove it. The florals are out of this world”… and then some!

Featured Testimonials…

Tonkin Musk by Ensar Oud – Sensuous Aroma

Musk often gets overlooked, but natural musk is one of those aromas that seeps deep into your senses. It’s incredibly sensuous, sexy, and animalic all at once – you can’t help but fall for it. Tonkin Musk starts off with a juicy yuzu and spicy ginger combo that’s surprisingly decent for a musk-heavy fragrance.

The floral notes – almost fresh like a flower bouquet where narcissus and my beloved jasmine stands out amongst many others – add an enigmatic touch without overpowering the musky vibe. Instead, the florals enhance the fragrance’s complexity which adds a nice touch to overall composition of the fragrance.

In the dry down, the ever gorgeous musk, sandalwood, and oud come together, kicking some energy to the scent. This fragrance showcases why natural musk is so prized – the difference between it and synthetic musk accords is night and day. Tonkin Musk lasts beautifully on the skin, with decent sillage and a noticeable scent bubble.

—Sunny C / USA

Loving the new Tonkin musk. It starts a little bright and effervescent from the yuzu and ginger. The peach to me is more peach skin rather than biting into a juicy peach but it really rounds out the opening. The florals add a grace, beauty and give volume without ever becoming obviously floral. Obviously, the real star of the show here is the Tonkin musk. It’s velvety, warm, fuzzy and sensual. Ensar Oud does musks so well! Ecstatic to have this one in my collection. Edit: wow, this dry down is lovely. The ouds are coming out more and have a fruity undertone. It becomes softer with a powdery edge. This may have just become my favorite musk.

—Erick F / USA

💚🦌 My fav musk! MashAllah!

—Miskbrother S

Reviews of the Previous Edition…

This scent beautifully blends rich, animalic notes of musk with creamy, earthy undertones, creating an intimate and sensual aura. The Tonkin musk in the composition is deep and refined, while the addition of sweet, resinous elements offers a smooth balance. I had to revisit the little I had left once I saw the new iteration of Tonkin Musk come out (gorgeous caps!)

This fragrance is perfect for those who are searching for a full bodied musk fragrance with flower nuances that don’t veer into extreme animalic territory.

—Sam G / USA

Wearing Tonkin musk right now and wow this is magical

—Oliver W

A sweet, gentle floral, some what spicy composition, with a wonderful undertone of Musk. This is not a very animalic musk, rather it is soft and more of a “skin” note. Really enjoyable and easy to wear.

—Mackenzie L / Canada

One of the amazing scents by Ensar Oud. Very well rounded, non-animalic musk-based fragrance. Prominently peach, floral, lavender, Tonkin musk and sandalwood creaminess. Rose with the oud reflecting but not dominating and overall wearable on all occasions.

UPDATE:

EO presents a captivating fragrance characterized by a harmonious, non-animalic musk foundation. This exquisite scent boasts distinct notes of peach, floral tones, lavender, Tonkin musk, and the creamy allure of sandalwood. The interplay between rose and oud is balanced, creating an overall versatile fragrance suitable for every occasion.

—Syed S / Pakistan

Uplifting fruity peach/jasmine, creamy florals, warm cozy musk drydown. Very pleasant and easy to wear!

—Florent F / USA

I’ve had my eye on a bottle of TM for about a year after trying a sample. They usually would always instantly disappear anytime they came up in the wild – but thankfully (shout out Adrian) I was able to score a 30 ml recently – and it smells identical to my sample. Thrilled

Heavenly opening, subtle ginger on peach with the breezy lavender. And while the lavender levitates, I still see this a thick fragrance. Thick in its layers, ribbons of scent one can fall through – musk, cream, florals but all singing in unison. The blend on this one is insane, where you catch one ingredient transitioning to the next and overlapping in DNA somehow. Luxury in a bottle, it’s a stunning composition – in my top 5 and speaks to me with regalness and class about timeless beauty and exalting of the spirit – but also with a sensual side. Maybe a date at the Louvre in front of the Venus de Milo but you also end up spending a lot of time in the room with all the Rubens and with paintings of King Louis in furs.

The musky bed mixed with the oud and sandalwood are the stars of the show – though I love the opening and heart too and wish it lasted longer in those phases. Overall, it’s deep and rich with zero offensiveness. It’s animalic and potent while still being as silky smooth as Cristal champagne with an addictive slightly bitter edge. Dry down really showcases this while traces of the other elements keep it as complex as ever. True fun for the nose.

On me, TM lasts forever. Projects fairly well, and never disappoints when I go for a sniff. It also helped me understand what Ensar was doing with notes of underground better (my all time fave), and makes me realize that I need to get my nose on Chypre Sultan.

The kind of stuff that makes you fall in love with perfumery. It’s Tonkin for goodness sakes.

—Chano V / UK

Tonkin Musk is one of the rare gem that blends untamed opulence with refined elegance. It captures the raw, untamed power of genuine Tonkin musk and transforming it into something breathtakingly elegant. Bold and enigmatic, its layers unfold with an opulent interplay of oud, florals, and creamy sandalwood. This is a timeless luxury, leaving a trail of mystery and sophistication that lingers long after it’s worn.

—Syed S / Pakistan

A few simple words: Wow wow wow wow!!!!

—Furqan F. / Canada

I cannot put into words how great this perfume smells! Dare I say…This one might be better than Tibetan Musk. I look forward to spending more time with this one.

—T. Jackson / USA

It’s so fresh on the opening. Wow. That’s not what I was anticipating. I love it. This is definitely a complex fragrance. It definitely smells, as a whole, better than the sum of its parts… (watch video for full review)

—Ryan S. / USA

EO Tonkin Musk – the chocolatey musk with minimum spicy touch. Very wearable non-animalic musk based fragrance. Start of a bit bright and effervescent then come the warm, fuzzy and sensual touch of Tonkin Musk. Obviously there is Oud in the base which provide harmonious creammy to the whole composition.

—Jack N / USA

It’s fantastic; it really truly is. This is top five… on the way to top three of all time!!!

—Ryan L. / Canada

Ensar Oud Tonkin Musk is a well-rounded, non-animalic, wearable musk-oriented fragrance. The prominent notes I smell are ginger, lavender, Tonkin musk and sandalwood. The floral heart is very well-blended as I cannot distinctively smell many kinds of florals Ensar used. The Oud in the base is also non-offensive and provides a supporting role to the whole composition. Overall, this is a very nicely blended and versatile floral musk fragrance. Big thumbs up to @ensar.oud.

Eli G. • USA

Tonkin Musk is gorgeous! I loooooooooove it. The florals are out of this world. Even my hubby just admitted that it is beautiful. Bravo, my friend!

Update: I cannot get enough of it, really! Just re-sprayed a few minutes ago to get a hit of those florals.

—Sveltana / Russia

That first initial spray is crazy bight … After two minutes something just opens up and all these notes come out to play. It’s just beautiful … (watch video for full review)

—Ryan W. / USA

Tonkin Musk just arrived. I have not worn it out just yet, but after one spray on the back of my hand and an hour later, it is just too glorious for words. I have never smelled Kinam level Agarwood, but I would bet the house that it smells something similar to Tonkin Musk. Outstanding!

—Steven C. / USA

This is my new love.

—C.F. / China

A true prism of a fragrance. After a very small sample, I had to order the biggest bottle possible. I won’t try to do this fragrance justice with my muddled words. Ryan posted an excellent video today for people to have a look at, and others have shared their thoughts as well. I love this one. Like, “Love”, love it. Thank you for this .

—Brad M. / USA

This stuff blew my mind. Just hope 35ml (30ml bottle + 5ml decant) is enough to last a lifetime!! How many sprays is that.

—Freddy Q. / USA

The hype is real! I got my 30 ml bottle a few days ago, and placed an order for a 50 ml back up yesterday. The composition is absolutely gorgeous. At first, I thought the projection was very weak, but then realized that it was my nose going anosmic to the scent within 5 minutes and the projection was actually powerful! Now, after a few wears , I am able to appreciate it much more and deem it another masterpiece by Ensar. The florals are out of this world, amped by this great musk and smoothed out by creamy sandalwood.

—Moon B. / USA

“Tonkin Musk PP continues to impress, one spray is all I need to get a full wearing, 30ml of this will go a long way for me.

Very musky in the opening, a cocktail and rainbow of notes, wild, dense, creamy, and beautiful sandalwood in the background, even getting a hint of incense smokiness today, absolutely beastly projection from such a stunning composition.

This is my 5th wearing, and it has the potential to dethrone my favorite Musk Yusuf in the foreseeable future. I’m getting a lot of enjoyment out of this amazing release for sure.

Very luscious and luxurious, and the floral accord it stunning, you’ll see when you get your nose on it.”

Benjamin W. • USA

Wow. This is amazing! This is an indescribable amazing fragrance. Tiny hints of jasmine along with a white floral creaminess. It’s lucious. There is a rose in the opening that is very spicy but in a small amount. There is a sandalwood creaminess to it. There is a peachy-pear fruitiness in the opening which I really enjoy. There is a gingery-citrusy zing to it. In all honesty, this is blended so well that it feels like one scent, but as I move around it feels like I get a little bit of this and a little bit of that… This is amazing! It’s an experience in and of itself…
(watch video for full review)

—Sohail D. / New Zealand

A Note from a Customer

This review took me a while to write, because everytime I would wear this fragrance, I would discover something new about it. To capture all of the colourful rays of this prismatic scent seemed more arduous than I expected. With some time though, I’ve been able to distill my thoughts on this masterpiece: Tonkin Musk.

Within the first second, you catch lashings of zingy ginger submerged in a light citrus iced tea. There is also an unmistakable piquant red rose which goes well with the sharp opening—Ruh Gulab. The second following that however, the Tonkin Musk breaks through the glass and shoots straight up your nose. It is primal without the funk, dark without being burnt, and boisterous with its mystique. If Tibetan Musk is to Siberian Musk what Blackmore Wagyu is to Black Angus, then Tonkin Musk is a 45 day dry aged A5 Kobe Wagyu steak. It feels so rich and decadent that even the smallest amounts of it can overwhelm you. It’s better to spray this on your wrist and unintentionally catch light wafts of it than to hold it up to your nose constantly as if you were trying to consume your arm.

Further along the road, the fragrance evolves into a wider array of florals. There is a crackling, creamy, and sugary whiteness to it that I can only imagine is the Tuberose. It’s almost like a white floral sherbet, which I wouldn’t be surprised is amped by Lily of the Valley. It definitely overshadows the animalic Jasmine, but I would say that these two florals blend with the Sandalwood to give an unmatched creamy feel. What surprised me though was the Orris. I didn’t think it would pair well with these white florals, but the dark buttery smoothness of it is seamlessly blended—so much so that you very rarely catch it isolated. There is also a slight woody peachy feel which reminds me heavily of Cambodian Oud. If your nose has gone blind to the power of the Tonkin Musk, then you might be able to pick up the herbaceous Chamomile and hints of pepper.

Towards the end of the fragrance, the Musk and Lavender give a similar masculine feel that Tibetan Musk Pure Parfum gives off in its drydown. There is however an added butterscotch almond coating thanks to the Tonka Bean. The Orris melts away while the buttered tobacco nature of Papuan Oud becomes more visible. The greenness of the Vetiver can be felt without the feeling that it’s lighting the tobacco on fire.

Personally, this fragrance is an oxymoron. It somehow captures a rainbow of florals, plants, and woods while trapping them in a a dark Musk prism. It’s a lot more versatile than I expected it to be. In cooler climates, it is a one note scent that can be described as opaque yet addicting. Heat however causes this prism to refract and shine rays of some of the most opulent colours. It projects and lasts to a point where you go noseblind to it at some stage, but is quite crowd pleasing, so rest assured that others around you will enjoy it when your nose stops you from doing so. This fragrance lives up to its name and the hype around it.

A Note from a Customer

Original Post

Since the notorious Tonkin Musk has made a reappearance I’ve decided to pick this one as my scent of the day.

In my opinion the Tonkin musk is a very easy to wear scent. For me it’s more like a slightly powdery cocktail of fruity floral notes with a nice touch of non animalic musk and a nice touch of oud.

For all the people who have asked me if this is similar to Mongolian musk I can assure that it isn’t. Tonkin musk is sweet, elegant , heavy on florals and the musk is not as dominant as it is in the Mongolian.

Performance is good, the sillage and longevity is decent as well