Musky Musk

Not A Perfume is one of the more iconic fragrances from the niche French perfume brand, Juliette Has A Gun. Launched in 2010, this extraordinary eau de parfum captures all the unconventional elements of extreme, irreverence, and conceptual expression present in our modern minimalist culture.

Slap on a label, and into a bottle they all go.

Juliette Has A Gun’s iconic fragrance is called Not A Perfume simply because, well, it’s not a perfume. The name says it all. The formula contains only one ingredient — Cetalox (also known as ambroxan), a synthetic form of ambergris.

Cetalox is most commonly used as the base note in modern fragrances and is typically layered in with other notes. But here in Not A Perfume, there are no other notes — at least not in the traditional sense.

There is no top note. Or the ever-enriching middle note. There is only ever — Cetalox.

But that’s not to say that it lacks in the scent department. Rather, Cetalox (or ambroxan) as a base scent is intoxicating. It’s a deep woody scent with hints of sweetness and animalistic notes that give an intriguing edge to Not A Perfume.

And for a perfume that isn’t a perfume, this sure smells like one. It smells incredible, too. Initially, the scents are clean and rather bright, similar to the smell of freshly washed clothes drying in the sun. However, soon the bright opening mellows out into a deep, musky scent with hints of wood. It leaves behind a woody, warm, soft scent without any spice to it, and just ever so slightly powdery.

Not A Perfume doesn’t evolve; it’s not a composition, but rather a fragrance that changes and adapts based on the wearer’s skin. Overall, this is a very androgynous but sweet scent that remains very fresh with its minimalist approach. And for something with only one ingredient, we have to admit it certainly smells sophisticated enough. Bonus points also for its insane longevity.

Shopping for a special someone? Juliette Has A Gun’s Not A Perfume comes in a lovely gift set that is sure to please. The Not perfume also comes in a travel-sized spray, perfect for carrying with you everywhere. And if you can’t get enough of the original (or just really, really love the scent of ambroxan), you may also enjoy its woodier and muskier cousin, Juliette Has A Gun’s Not A Perfume Superdose.

For a similar aromatic experience, check out our own Juliette Has A Gun’s Not A Perfume dupe, only at Dossier.co. Musky Musk offers a fresh approach to perfumery with a scent accentuated by the wearer’s own. But be warned: Cetalox is a base note. So you can expect a soft, subtle beginning when you wear our Juliette Has A Gun’s Not A Perfume replica. The aroma of the fragrance develops slowly over time, revealing its full potential only after a few hours.