'musk-scented' is a compound of 'musk' and 'scented'. 'musk' originates from Sanskrit, specifically the word 'mušká', and passed into Greek as 'moskhos' and Latin as 'muscus' before entering Old French as 'musc'. 'scented' derives from 'scent', which ultimately comes from Latin 'sentire' meaning 'to smell'.

'musk' changed from Sanskrit 'mušká' → Greek 'moskhos' → Latin 'muscus' → Old French 'musc' and then into Middle English as 'musk'. 'scented' developed from Old French/Latin roots for smelling (via Middle English 'scent' + past participle suffix '-ed').

Initially, 'musk' referred specifically to the glandular substance (and by extension its odor); over time it came to denote the characteristic animalic fragrance itself. 'musk-scented' thus evolved to mean 'bearing the smell of musk'.