Animalic is the carnal undertow — civet, castoreum, the notes that admit the body has a body. These are the most uncomfortable accords in perfumery, the ones that closely mimic the smell of an actual mammal: skin, sweat, sex, hair. In tiny doses they are magnetic, suggesting intimacy without explicit invitation. In larger doses they are alarming on purpose. Most modern animalic notes are synthetic — the great civet and ambergris of the old days are now mostly preserved as molecules. Wear animalic when you want a fragrance that doesn't pretend the wearer is bodiless, that admits to having appetites.
The notes that build this accord
Ingredients that perfumers reach for when composing Animalic.
Musk
Musk
Musk
Spicy
Woody
Gourmand
Woody
Musk
Musk
Fragrances that wear this accord
From the most prominent to the most subtle.
Closely related
Other accords in the Musk family.