ABDUL KAREEM ESSENTIAL OILS MEDIA
The original brand scents are coveted and revered. Genuine Abdul Kareem Egyptian Musk Oil™ grew significantly in popularity in 2019 following an article in New York Magazine and a mention by Skinny Confidential. Cherished worldwide as the widely reported favorite fragrance of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, wife of JFK, Jr., Abdul Kareem Egyptian Musk Oil skyrocketed in notoriety again in 2026 after the release of the miniseries Love Story on Hulu. We’re honored to continue the legacy. More to come.
PRESS
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NY MAG | THE STRATEGIST, 2019
My Perfume Was Supposedly a Favorite of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy
“This incarnation of Egyptian musk has the soft comfort and familiar ease of a favorite white T-shirt, which is perhaps what once endeared it to Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, for whom it was, supposedly, a signature scent.”—Fiorella Valdesolo
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TATLER, 2019
Tatler Takes 5: Lauren Santo Domingo Of Moda Operandi
As a teenager growing up in Greenwich, Connecticut, I was aware all the cool older girls, like Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, wore Egyptian musk. We would buy it from a street vendor in New York City. I recently heard through a childhood friend that the same street vendor, Abdul Kareem, still produces the fragrance, which is sold online at Charlotte Vale-Allen. It smells of teen spirit.
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BUZZFEED
Carolyn Besette-Kennedy’s Hard-to-Find Fragrance is Going Viral
“I really enjoyed the scent; it felt both subtle and strong…I don't have a signature scent because most modern fragrances give me a headache within 10 minutes. This scent did not have that effect. It smelled real, not synthetic, and was easy to apply. Overall, would I wear this scent again? Absolutely yes — 5 stars!”—Buzzfeed editorial staff
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TOWN & COUNTRY
Here’s What Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy Actually Smelled Like
"As it turns out, Bessette’s signature fragrance was rumored to be Egyptian Musk Oil by Abdul Kareem, a small brand from the ‘80s sold by an NYC street vendor. The scent—best described as crisp and clean, like a fresh laundered clothes, with subtle soapy notes—was reportedly her go-to for many years."—Sophie Dweck, Town & Country Magazine
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YAHOO, 2026
Everyone is trying to smell like Carolyn Bessette Kennedy
“Long before the minimalist aesthetic (that we now call quiet luxury), Bessette Kennedy was devoted to Abdul Kareem Egyptian Musk Oil, a simple, skin-close fragrance that epitomized everything she stood for: nothing loud, nothing showy, just an intimate, barely-there scent that made people lean in rather than step back.”—Amber Katz, All Things Lifestyle
So after trying many musk oils, AK is the one I kept coming back to and is now my absolute fave. I adore Abdul Kareem Egyptian Musk…I dab it on my pulse points and the nape of my neck and the delicate scent wafts for hours. I have been known to layer it under simpler perfumes to add a soft clean floral note but my favourite way to wear it is alone. If you like musks, you must have this one in your collection. It’s the soft preppy perfume for someone who doesn’t want to smell perfumey. Perfect! I feel like I’m on my way to Hyannis Port already…
There is only one official seller of this musk online, Charlotte Vale, and anyone else that claims to be selling Abdul Kareem New York musk is selling something else. Don’t waste your money. The seller is a lovely person who is quite professional. She sells from her site and ebay.
“As a teenager growing up in Greenwich, Connecticut, I was aware all the cool older girls, like Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, wore Egyptian musk. We would buy it from a street vendor in New York City. I recently heard through a childhood friend that the same street vendor, Abdul Kareem, still produces the fragrance, which is sold online at Charlotte Vale-Allen. It smells of teen spirit.”—Lauren Santo Domingo, Moda Operandi for Tatler Magazine
