Method of identifying musk compounds

Provided herein are polypeptides that bind to Musk compounds. Also provided are nucleic acid sequences that encode for the polypeptides. Further provided herein is a method for identifying a compound that activates, mimics, blocks, inhibits, modulates, and/or enhances the activity of an olfactory receptor that is activated by a polycyclic Musk or a nitro Musk wherein the receptor is a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence that is at least 75% identical to Olfr96 or OR11A1, wherein the method includes a) contacting the receptor, or a chimera or fragment thereof with a compound and b) determining whether the compound has an effect on the activity of the receptor.