The Rising Phoenix Perfumery Man Musk Attar Review (J.K. DeLapp) + Mossy Chypre Draw

The Rising Phoenix Man Musk Sample in Garden Moss

 The Rising Phoenix Perfumery Man Musk sample Photo © 2020  Gail Gross

For almost twenty years J.K. DeLapp, founder, with his brother Kyle DeLapp, of The Rising Phoenix Group, has been using his knowledge of plant materials, talent for olfactory art and professional background in traditional Chinese medicine to create a stunning line of natural/botanical perfumes, attars, oils and incense. A couple of months ago I received a very generous sampling of his work and was entranced by the beauty, quality and longevity of scent. J.K. DeLapp’s understanding of the psychological and physiological properties of fragrance was evident in each beautiful attar and perfume that I tried. As I attempted to choose only one to review, I found that I kept returning to a bold, invigorating and at once relaxing fragrance that offered an immediate healing vibration for body, mind and spirit-  The Rising Phoenix Perfumery Man Musk.

 

all natural Fougeres

Fern Photo courtesy Rising Phoenix Perfumery © 

Rising Phoenix Perfumery Man Musk is not so much a traditional musk fragrance as it is as an old school Chypre with a uniquely modern twist, blessed with an abundance of sandalwood. Opening with a bracing green and woody wake-up call of sage, Indian vetiver, African Rock Tannin Bush (Osyris lanceolata/Red Sandalwood) and bergamot, the first breath of Man Musk is a clear, crisp eye-opener, a fragrance that the perfumer characterizes as having “a little bit of a barbershop appeal”.

 

modern chypres that use oakmoss

Sea Oakmoss by The Rising Phoenix Photo courtesy The Rising Phoenix Perfumery ©

This focused, tight green bud of a perfume pops open and blossoms into a soothing, relaxing, sultry blend of genuine, buttery Mysore sandalwood (produced in house), oak-casked patchouli, residual rooty vetiver and the soft, creamy, woody qualities of another East African shrubby “sandalwood” known as Muhuhu (Brachylaena hutchinssii).  The comforting woody, warm heart of Man Musk continues to develop and change as it dries down, revealing an olfactory treasure trove of fine aged Cambodian oud infused with the soul of Chypre – genuine oakmoss. The initial sillage is relatively powerful, quickly becoming intimate, wrapping the skin in a golden green aura.  Longevity is epic for any fragrance, botanical or otherwise; the  vetiver, Mysore sandalwood, oud and oakmoss lingering for hours. One precious drop on each wrist, then touched to my earlobes, is more than enough to last from early afternoon to the following morning,

Rising Phoenix Man Musk Attar review

Autumn. Photo © 2020 Gail Gross.

 The Rising Phoenix Man Musk, while a powerful, masculine fragrance, is not just for men. It smells as fabulous on me as it does on my husband – maybe even more so!  Man Musk is a wonderful perfume to share and compare and to snuggle up to on a brisk, blustery, late autumn evening.

Notes:  Mysore sandalwood, vintage oak-aged Patchouli, Muhuhu, Osyris, Cambodian Oud, Indian Vetiver, sage, green herbs, oakmoss and bergamot.

Disclaimer:  I would like to thank J.K. DeLapp and The Rising Phoenix Perfumery for my fast disappearing sample of Man Musk.  My opinions are my own.

Gail Gross – Senior Editor

 

The Rising Phoenix Man Musk attar review

 The Rising Phoenix Perfumery Man Musk 

Thanks to the generosity of J.K. DeLapp of The Rising Phoenix Perfumery we have two 1 gram ($59)  bottles of Man Musk for two registered readers in the USA (you can register here). Please leave a comment with what you enjoyed about Gail’s review of The Rising Phoenix Perfumery Musk Man and if you like green chypres. Draw closes 10/28/2020

This attar is all-natural

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29 comments

  • jundaasian says:

    I really enjoyed the imagery of the sea moss on the shore and the all the smells that would be associated with such a scene. That was definitely my favorite bit from the review. I do occasionally enjoy notes of chypres in my fragrances so hopefully this will be one that I will enjoy as well. Florida, US.

  • ramsesii says:

    Oakmoss/oud/patchouli and sandalwood! Sign me up. Those my favorite notes and in a masculine fragrance those would be amazing! I am not a fan of the traditional chypre but I love modern chypre which this one could be. USA

  • dongding says:

    Awesome to see JKs work highlighted – I’ve tried many of his sandalwoods and attars, some similar to this and I agree that they are well thought out and more importantly, vision executed that equals more than the sum of their parts!

  • drjedi says:

    Reading this review of Man musk by Gail, and the various notes in it, I was hoping that it will be awesome if oud shows up in the base – and it did!!! Seems to be a beautiful attar with notes of Mysore sandalwood, vintage oak-aged Patchouli, Muhuhu, Osyris, Cambodian Oud, Indian Vetiver, sage, green herbs, oakmoss and bergamot (not familiar with Muhuhu and Osyris). Love chypres and this one seems so earthy and green, along with a refreshing quality. Thanks for the draw and the review. I am in the USA.

  • ll grhm says:

    I love green chypres and oakmoss, how wonderful that J.K. DeLapp uses real oakmoss. Gail’s review was very descriptive.

  • ThatMulattoDude says:

    Appreciate Gail’s review and the opportunity for the giveaway. Enjoyed how she highlighted that, while the fragrance is classified a musk, it’s more a modern chypre. I’ve never smelled a chypre so definitely interested in this offering. Best from Virginia, USA!

  • gianluca says:

    The title “man musk attar” sounds to me uninspiring. But the great use of images of this blog is captivating as always. When I read about the healing vibration and backgrounds in Chinese medicines, I knew you successfully intrigued me again! I don’t remember a green chypre I like particularly; surely this could be it.

  • impromptu1992 says:

    Bold, invigorating, golden and green. It sounds beautiful. If love to try some of these myself! I’m new to attar style perfume but the more I learn the more I love it. I think green chypres are lovely. Fall’s the perfect season, isn’t it?
    From Texas with love
    Xoxo

  • Shamrock1313 says:

    Chypre and oakmoss – win, win.
    Great review and love the details of what went into the fragrance.
    Pennsylvania USA

  • Honeydew Crenshaw says:

    US reader

    This sounds like one of those scents that hits all my buttons; I am always looking for vintage cypre and fougere styles

  • BostonScentGuy says:

    Love the idea of a brisk green top rounded out with a sumptuous, woody, foresty, earthy backdrop. I love green chypres, so this sounds like a must try! Thanks for the draw–I’m in the US.

  • Princess Anna says:

    Sandalwood my love! The way those fragrances are described made me feel the smell of old perfumed fans, that we could find everywhere during summer. I instantly felt drawn into a busy market, with people all around, with music and all sorts of smell, from flowers, tea and pastries. CA, US

  • Steve A. says:

    I like some green chypres, but love oakmoss. Would love to win and try this modern musky chypre. US

  • xoe says:

    Gail hooked me with, “immediate healing vibration.” I always want to like green chypres, but only a few really strike my fancy. I am in the USA.

  • Charles says:

    Very informative review. One of my favorite houae of attars. And quite possibly my favorite attar of all time is rose musk. Alao city oud is ranked amongst the very best in the industry.
    A wonderful review from Gail of im sure another hit by RP. Very Intetating notes explained in this one.
    Thank you for entering ne in this draw.

  • chrisdf says:

    I enjoyed hearing about the notes and accords, particularly the use of real oak moss! I find JK’s background in TCM and how he brings that to his work very interesting and am need of a healing fragrance. Michigan, USA

  • maroch says:

    Love the description oak moss plus sandalwood chypre. Love chypre fragrances and oak moss is sadly about to disappear the world of perfumes… 🙁

  • patrick_348 says:

    I liked the specificity of the review, that is, not just saying, sandalwood or oud, but giving the specific kinds involved. And I was intrigued by the mention of unfamiliar African materials like Rock Tannin Bush or Muhuhu. I would love to try this, especially given the longevity. In the US, in NC.

  • vickalicious says:

    I first learned of Rising Phoenix Perfumery from a post that Cafleurebon did on Instagram, regarding Oud Fest. I appreciate the background on JK DeLapp and his company! I’ve not yet tried any of his offerings. This one sounds very intriguing…and I’m glad that Gail pointed out that Man Musk is not just for men! The chypre description sounds wonderful, along with the prominent sandalwood. I’m curious about the phenomenal longevity. Thanks for the post and giveaway. Located in the US.

  • Brian says:

    I definitely want to try this fragrance. I definitely want to become familiar with all of the chypre family fragrances. I like Givenchy’s “Xeryus” and CK “One” but I’m not familiar enough with the rest of them, and that means green chypres too; I’m sure that I could enjoy any of them. I’m thinking that the oak moss in “Man Musk” might be more powerful than what’s in the original formulation of “Drakkar Noir,” but I wouldn’t know since I’ve never smelled “Man Musk.” According to this article, it seems that “Man Musk” has excellent overall performance and it seems like it could make one feel good when wearing it. Gail’s article caused me to be very interested in trying any of the fragrances that T.R.P.P. would release. If I had a romantic partner then I imagine that this fragrance is definitely good enough that I might like for her to wear it also. I need a good attar. I also want to smell the vintage oak-aged patchouli. I live in MD., U.S.A.

  • INYA says:

    As a gardener, I love earthy, mossy, green scents. I enjoy unisex fragrances and like that Gail wears Man Musk. Thanks for another fabulous draw! Mich USA

  • wallygator88 says:

    Thank you for the excellent review. I loved reading about how this attar is Unisex, activates your energy (in the way that all good fragrances boost confidence and heal) and about the attention and love given to each of the notes.

    I do enjoy chypres a lot. I don’t know if I’ve smelt a green chypre and this would be a fantastic opportunity.

    Cheers!

  • Ken D says:

    I think this sounds amazing! Old school Chypre fragrances are a new interest for me and I hate how new fragrances lack real oakmoss

  • DavidRose says:

    I need to stop reading reviews as each one is so enticing, I have to buy the product. I enjoy that the reviewer notes that this is a fragrance worth sharing, “Man Musk is a wonderful perfume to share and compare and to snuggle up to on a brisk, blustery, late autumn evening.”

  • NiceVULady says:

    This sounds like something that can be share. ” It smells as fabulous on me as it does on my husband – maybe even more so! Vetiver and patchouli with sandalwood…oh my. Many thanks for a great review from Gail and many thanks to The Rising Phoenix Perfumery for making this draw possible. I”m in the USA..

  • doveskylark says:

    I love anything with vetiver, so Man Musk sounds really good to me. I also like anything filled with herbs, anything with oud, anything earthy. And of course, oak moss. I love that the brothers have a background in Chinese medicine. This sounds like an all-around love.
    I live in the USA.

  • Michael Prince says:

    Gail, I loved your review of Rising Phoenix Perfumery Musk Man. I love Chypre fragrances, especially when they have their or unique interpretation or modern twist to it. It sounds like the Delapp brothers experience and training has created something truly special. I am from Ohio, USA.

  • The Perfumed Dahlia says:

    I heard about the Rising Phoenix Perfumery on Katie Puckrik’s channel and have been meaning to check them out! I like how Gail described this as a “golden green aura” and am always interested in masculine fragrances that smell great on women too. Thanks