Serge Lutens Muscs Koublaï Khän

[Obsessed]

Do yourself a favor and read the reviews on luckyscent.com.

[The Chandos]

Here's a link for those who want to check it out: http://www.luckyscent.com/shop/section/1/item/36136/brand/Serge_Lutens/_Muscs_Koublai_Khan.html#reviewbegin

It smells like sweet loins and a little powder. It's beautiful and nasty.
Someone who smelled it on a tissue said it smelled like poo.
smelled like Bigfoot's penis
This is like sex with James Bond

and there's more

For the record, I still think it's the best musk out there. I don't find it repulsive at all. Yes, it is funky, dirty, and smells like two Huns under the furs, but in all honesty, it smells absolutely delicious. AND no one in the office has ever complained. In fact, one colleague says she really likes it...

[StylinLA]

It has a nasty ass opening for about 10 minutes, and I swear that's what scares the crap out of most people and inspires those remarks. First spray conjured standing next to a horse in a barnyard to me. If you test on a strip in a store for 10 Minutes, you'll think anyone who buys it is frakin NUTS.

I was horrified. But then a friend at work loaned me his bottle for a regular daily wearing. After surviving the opening, it's really a smooth, creamy musk scent, a bit on the sweet side...with an occasional glimpse back at the unbathed animal in a cage.

I wouldn't push anybody to run out and sample it. But it has a sexy aspect to it no doubt. As any fragrance aficionado knows, many scents thrive on a lil bit 'o nasty. Certain triggers get pushed by smelling some of things that remind of us things not discussed. Civet, musk, cumin, castoreum.

Bu the way, whenever he wears it, women ask my friend about it. In some ways, it's sort of the modern version of Kouros IMO.

A bit dicey for work wear depending on what you do I'd say. I'd say it's a very sexual scent.

I sound like I'm selling it, but I don't own it myself (though I'm writing myself into a decant). I don't think it's for everybody, or is some sort of magic "gonna get some tonight" juice. But I'm sure some guys rock the hell out of it. Though the Lutens are mostly unisex, not really sure if many women wear this.

If you like Kouros, this might be a must try. Anyone who can survive the Kouros open can deal with this. Having been into scents awhile, and learning some patience, I have come to champion some of the scents with brutal openings since I perceive many "reviewers" make snap judgements on the first opening blast of a scent.

Except for Oud 27, which has an opening that smells like something most men have gone through at least once. That one scared me too much. I won't speak up for that one.

[StylinLA]

In fact, one colleague says she really likes it...

Uh-huh. Like a lot of scents, it will rub some the wrong way, but the ones that like it...

[The Chandos]

I don't think it's for everybody, or is some sort of magic "gonna get some tonight" juice.

No, this isn't the kind of juice you wear if you're looking to meet someone. This is the kind of juice you might wear for that regular somebody, partner, X-buddy, etc. This fragrance assumes all those initial (in)formalities have already been checked-off and you're comfortable going "there." That said, I've worn it to the office a few times, even to a few parties, but MKK always makes me think I'm strolling in to home plate to a team of cheerleaders...and they aren't exactly giving me high-fives, if you know what I mean.

[Aaron01]

I like MKK, but I'm weird and I like Sécrétions Magnifiques. This was part of something I wrote on SM, but it applies to MKK.

"For a better representation of sex, Serge Lutens' Musk Koublai Khan does it better (no pun inteded), because it's more novel like and doesn't intend to be a pornographic representation. Powdery feminine floral musks mixing with animalic masculine musks; think Conan the Barbarian coming home to his beauty queen wife in some grocery store romance novel..."

Note, I'm referencing the real Conan, not this remake garbage

I've worn both scents a good number of times, in public as well, and I've never gotten any negative glares, remarks or comments. IMO, animalic scents really depend on one's body chemestry, they work really well for me, but seemingly not so well with others. That's probably why the reactions seem so binary, you either love them or hate them...not much middle ground.

[jakespoppy]

The "wild" opening of MKK didn't seem so wild on my skin, and the drydown was a very nice, smooth musk scent, one that I really enjoyed. I thought the wildness was over-rated, but as some have said, it may be stronger on others. I'd say it was just my weeker sense of smell not picking it up as much, but my wife didn't say anything either, and she is very quick to comment on scents of this type.

[tehtimmeh]

Looks like I need to try this...

[Dennard]

The "wild" opening was pretty strong on me. I prefer the cleaner musks but I do like MKK.

[justinp]

How does this compare to Kiehl's Original Musk?

[Aaron01]

How does this compare to Kiehl's Original Musk?

Different notes, Kiehl's is much softer, more of a skin musk. The castoreum and civet are noticeable in MKK and give it something of an edge.

[rickboone1]

This is a must try....who's got decants of this one? PC/ Lucky Scent?

[StylinLA]

Looks like I need to try this...

Oh yeah. Get a sample. Can't wait to hear how this one hits SWMBO...

[StylinLA]

This is a must try....who's got decants of this one? PC/ Lucky Scent?

Probably both. Good luck.

[The Nid Hog]

Hmm...sounds worth a try. My frag collection is weak on things musky and I should probably do something about that. I do keep a bottle of English Leather Musk and another of Speidel Bravura Musk (last seen in Anchorman!) hidden away so that no one will judge me.

[tehtimmeh]

Oh yeah. Get a sample. Can't wait to hear how this one hits SWMBO...

Oh it won't be pretty, that's for certain. But, that's never stopped me before! I think 7-8 of my top 10 are banned.... :)

[The Chandos]

Just in case the SWMBO doesn't like this but you do, there's always Malle's Musc Ravageur or another one of my favorites, Annick Goutal's Musc Nomade. They are not as potent but still a little funky.

But if the SWMBO does like MKK, the next step is l'Air de Rien! It's almost sinful.

[Aaron01]

Just in case the SWMBO doesn't like this but you do, there's always Malle's Musc Ravageur

I don't think MKK and MR are that close.

[StylinLA]

I don't think MKK and MR are that close.

I can't say, because I could barely smell the musk notes in MR. But the openings could not be further apart. MKK starts like a barnyard, MR starts like you're standing in shopping mall Cinnabon.

[jakespoppy]

I can't say, because I could barely smell the musk notes in MR. But the openings could not be further apart. MKK starts like a barnyard, MR starts like you're standing in shopping mall Cinnabon.

Great analogy! :thumbup1:

[Obsessed]

Decant of MKK on the way. This is the first fragrance I've sampled that I'm absolutely sure I won't wear for the first time on a workday.

[Indaco]

I was thinking of picking up a decant of this a few days ago, but passed it over. It sounds interesting though, so maybe next time.

As far as disliking openings go... Nicolai New York smells a bit like a urinal cake on me before the drydown, which gets much better.

[Obsessed]

So, I tied MKK yesterday. Pretty nice. Honestly, it's not nearly as shocking as I was hoping/fearing. It's just a strong musky scent. I certainly didn't get any fecal or other unpleasant bodily odors from it (which is just fine with me)., and I didn't find it to be nasty or carnal. Maybe I just haven't smelled as many things as the reviewers on basenotes and luckyscent . . .

[jakespoppy]

So, I tied MKK yesterday. Pretty nice. Honestly, it's not nearly as shocking as I was hoping/fearing. It's just a strong musky scent. I certainly didn't get any fecal or other unpleasant bodily odors from it (which is just fine with me)., and I didn't find it to be nasty or carnal. Maybe I just haven't smelled as many things as the reviewers on basenotes and luckyscent . . .

That was my impression as well. I didn't think the opening was nearly as outrageous as generally described, and I thought the drydown was very pleasant.