There will always be those Body Shop fragrances that will forever transport you to a time and place - Dewberry, Ananya or even White Musk! In recent weeks, The Body Shop has not only relaunched the iconic scent that is White Musk, which by the way is also 40 years old, but it has also been given a makeover, it is now vegan and it is also more sustainable!
If you follow me on Instagram, you will have seen this incredible box appear on my stories when it arrived and it is just amazing, not only the 80's stickers but a QR code which takes you to some absolute tunes and I haven't stopped listening, it is the playlist of dreams and nostalgia!
Developed back in 1981, someone somewhere in the world is buying a product from the White Musk range every 6 seconds! So, having had a bit of a reboot, not only has it been Cruelty free for its entire life span, it is now vegan certified by The Vegan Society and comes in a 100% recyclable bottle, which is made of 42% recycled glass and has a removable pump (for recycling ease) and there is no outer box packaging. To add to the reboot, The Body Shop is introducing its first fragrance toppers too.
As you can see, sitting alongside the original White Musk are three fragrance toppers - Free, Lover and Radical and they have been specially created to be layered with White Musk to re-experience the iconic fragrance in a brand-new way whilst at the same time giving you the choice to create your unique Musk signature.
White Musk is described as being Fresh and Floral with a bit of sweetness,there are notes of aldehydes, jasmine and musk, all as you would expect to find. I am glad the fragrance hasn't been tinkered with to change it, because it is just as I remember it, the difference being the change in bottle - which is obviously for the good.
Then we have the fragrance toppers which come packaged in 15ml bottles and once again the bottle and the cap are both recyclable and they priced at just £10 each.- White Musk Free - with notes of resin, daisy and sandalwood, a few spritzes alongside White Musk gives you a toned down, almost cool scent
- White Musk Lover - with notes of Pink pepper, Orris and Ambrette it gives you an added warm but spicy scent
- White Musk Radical - with notes of basil, petitgrain, Vetiver and musk, this being my favourite of the three toppers gives a very much earthy yet citrus tone to the White Musk and is the one I have paired with the most.
Layering fragrances is one of my favourite things to do, the ability to create your own signature scent with perhaps two or sometimes three of your favourite fragrances is a fun discovery.
Layering your fragrance
Fragrances can be split into four main groups – fresh, floral, warm and woody and from there you can break them down further to your Oriental, Chypre and Aromatics to name a few. Finding something you like and that works well with your skin can change as quickly as the weather, what smells nice on your sister, best friend or even your Mam, might not smell amazing on you, but that is all part of the fun.
Fragrance layer is also not just about spraying two perfumes on top of one another. It could be that your shower gel or body lotion matches your fragrance, your fragrance and body mist or a body lotion and body spray pairing or it could be that you spray one fragrance on your neck and another on your wrist to compliment one another.
I like to mix a Floral with an Oud, or depending on my mood a Floral with a Citrus or even a Fruity Mix, for me it is all about the notes and the rule to remember is to not apply more of one fragrance than the other and the heavier scent should ideally be the first one to be sprayed if using two fragrances, but whatever the combination, that scent will be unique to you and that is what makes it fun.
You can find the White Musk Collection with The Body Shop on sale now* alongside the toppers.