Velvet Oriental Musk

Velvet Oriental Musk, inspired by Dolce & Gabbana Velvet Oriental Musk (2019)

The opening is spicy and a little savoury: cumin gives a noticeable, warm-skin tone, while saffron and cardamom add a leathery and aromatic glow. Rose comes through underneath, joined by cypriol, an earthy, smoky root also called nagarmotha. As the spices settle, musk and ambroxan, a modern amber note with a mineral, salty warmth, take the lead. Sandalwood, tonka and cedar make the base dense and velvety.

About the original

Velvet Oriental Musk was released in 2019 as part of Dolce & Gabbana's Velvet Collection, the house's high-end exclusive line, and was available at Harrods in the UK by May of that year. It came in 50 and 150 ml as an Eau de Parfum. In 2023 the brand launched Velvet Blue Musk with an almost identical list of notes, and fragrance press noted that it appears to replace Oriental Musk and may be the same fragrance under a new name. Dolce & Gabbana has not confirmed either point, and a retailer still lists Velvet Oriental Musk.

Our version

Ours is an independent eau de parfum made to evoke the same character. It is not Dolce & Gabbana stock, not an official relaunch and not the original formula.

Who it suits

It is usually placed in autumn and winter, often for evening. The cumin is the dividing line: people who like spicy, intimate musks tend to enjoy it, while anyone sensitive to that sweaty-spice note may find the first stage too much.

Related scents

• Dolce & Gabbana Velvet Bergamot
• Attar Collection Musk Kashmir
• Jo Malone Velvet Rose & Oud

Notes of the original fragrance, as listed in fragrance references.

Top notes: Cumin, Saffron, Cardamom

Heart notes: Rose, Cypriol Oil (nagarmotha)

Base notes: Musk, Ambroxan, Tonka Bean, Sandalwood, Cedar

Cumin, saffron and cardamom open it, spicy and slightly savoury.

Rose and cypriol form the heart, the rose kept dark and earthy by the root note.

The drydown is musk with ambroxan, sandalwood, tonka bean and cedar, smooth and enveloping.

Is Velvet Oriental Musk the same as Velvet Blue Musk?

Velvet Blue Musk (2023) shares its note list, and fragrance press has suggested it may be the same scent renamed. Dolce & Gabbana has not confirmed this, so our reference remains the 2019 Velvet Oriental Musk.

Is Velvet Oriental Musk still sold?

It appears to have been replaced in the range by Velvet Blue Musk. The brand has made no announcement, and some retailers still sell it.

How strong is the cumin?

It is noticeable at the start, giving a warm, skin-like spice, then recedes as the musk and woods come forward.

Inside the EU, delivery is free on orders of €49 or more. Below that it is a flat €4.99. Outside the EU, delivery is a flat €4.99 on every order. We send every order in 1 to 2 working days. It arrives in 3 to 7 days across the EU and in 7 to 14 days outside the EU. You have 14 days to return an unopened bottle.

Dolce & Gabbana and Velvet Oriental Musk are trademarks of their respective owners, and all rights remain with them. Parfumour is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to Dolce & Gabbana in any way, and no business relationship of any kind is implied. Our product is an original interpretation created to evoke a similar scent profile, and the trademark names are used purely for honest, descriptive comparison, so that you can quickly identify the style and fragrance family you are looking for. We make no claim to sell the original product, and we do not use the same ingredients or formula. Any similarity lies in the overall impression of the scent as interpreted by our own perfumers, not in the source materials.