Tahara musk as a cream, alcohol-free roll-on oil or body mist from El Nabil, Ajmal or Al Haramain. A soft, clean white musk for everyday wear.
Tahara musk is a white musk with a soft, clean scent, close to soap and fresh linen. The word “tahara” means “purity” in Arabic. Its name comes from tradition: many Muslim women apply it after the ritual bath, called ghusl. It is also worn every day, by all those who like light scents.
In the past, musk was taken from a gland of the musk deer, a small animal of the mountains of Asia that is now protected. The musks sold today are based on synthetic molecules. This choice spares animals and gives the same scent from one bottle to the next. It is recognised by a soft, powdery scent, with no animal note.
It comes in three forms. The thick white cream, sold in a small jar, melts on contact with the skin. The roll-on oil slips into a bag and goes on in two strokes. The body mist is sprayed all over the body after the shower. The cream leaves a soft, slightly powdery finish; the oil sinks in quickly; the mist dries in a few seconds.
White musk is a unisex note: nothing stops a man wearing it, on its own or under a woody perfume. Its light scent does not bother those around you, at the office or at home. Many people also use it to scent linen, by placing a drop of oil on a piece of cotton slipped into the wardrobe.
First choose the form according to how you will use it. For a discreet application, the cream or the roll-on can be dosed with a fingertip and fit in a make-up bag. To scent the body and clothes, the alcohol-free mist covers a larger surface without leaving a greasy trace. The roll-on is the easiest form to dose for a first time.
Check for the words alcohol-free on the label: it matters a great deal to many customers, for religious reasons or because of sensitive skin. Perfume oils, sometimes called attar, stay on the skin longer than a classic eau de toilette. They are noticed up close, within an arm’s length. Their scent stays for several hours on the skin and revives with body warmth.
The brands El Nabil, Ajmal, Al Haramain and Ayat Perfumes each offer their own white musk. Some versions add a touch of rose, vanilla or fruit: read the description to find out the notes. A pure tahara musk remains the choice closest to tradition. The scented versions appeal to those who find pure musk too discreet.
If you are discovering this fragrance, start with a small size of a few millilitres. A roll-on lasts several weeks with one or two applications a day. The large mist bottles suit daily use by the whole family.
Apply the musk to clean, dry skin, just after the shower. A small nut-sized amount of cream or two passes of the roll-on is enough. Apply it to the skin, on the outside, and never on mucous membranes, which are more delicate. For hair, one spray of mist on the brush scents it without making it greasy. The cream is warmed between two fingers before being spread.
Do a test on your arm before the first use and wait 24 hours. If redness or itching occurs, stop using the product. Spray the mist from 20 centimetres away from the skin for a light layer. Also avoid applying it to skin shaved or waxed less than a day ago, which stings more easily.
Store the bottle away from light and heat, with the cap closed. The bathroom, humid and warm, spoils the scent faster than a bedroom drawer. A scent that turns sour shows that the product is too old. For travel, small roll-ons of less than 100 ml can go in cabin baggage.
To complete your routine, discover the richer scents of the oriental perfume section or the black soap from the hammam care products. The whole selection can be found in our oriental beauty care world.
