Anisha Riggs
Civet, also known as civet musk, civet oil, or civetone, is a popular ingredient in perfumery. It is a soft, yellowish, almost liquid material with a strong odour that is secreted by the African civet, large Indian civet, and small Indian civet. Due to ethical concerns about how civet is obtained, with civets being kept in cages and stressed to produce the secretion, most perfumes now use a synthetic version. However, some small perfumers still use natural civet, which is highly sought after for its raw sexiness and distinctive aroma. So, while not all perfumes contain civet, it is a prevalent ingredient that has been used for centuries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Other names | Civet musk, civet oil, zibeth, zibet, zibetum, civetone |
| Source | Secretion from the perineal glands of Viverridae species including the African civet, large Indian civet, and small Indian civet |
| Appearance | Soft, almost liquid, pale yellow when fresh, darkens over time, becomes salve-like |
| Odor | Strong, putrid when pure, sweet and aromatic when diluted |
| Chemical composition | Civetone (2.5-3.4%), cyclopentadecanone, cyclohexadecanone, cycloheptadecanone, 6-cis-cycloheptadecenone |
| Historical use | Pioneered by 10th-century Arabic perfumers, used to scent gloves in Shakespeare's time |
| Ethical concerns | Animal stress and caging, synthetic alternatives now common |
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What You'll Learn
- Civet is a glandular secretion produced by both sexes of the Viverridae species
- It is a soft, almost liquid material with a strong odour
- Civets are kept in cages on farms, predominantly in Ethiopia
- Civet was first used in the 10th century by Arabic perfumers
- Due to ethical concerns, most perfumes now use a synthetic version of civet
Civet is a glandular secretion produced by both sexes of the Viverridae species
Civet, also known as civet musk, civet oil, or civetone, is a glandular secretion produced by both sexes of the Viverridae species. This secretion is produced in the perineal glands of several viverrid species, including the African civet (Civettictis civetta), the large Indian civet (Viverra zibetha), and the small Indian civet (Viverricula indica). The African civet, as the name suggests, is native to Africa, with a habitat spanning Ethiopia through to South Africa. The Indian civet, on the other hand, is native to Nepal, Bangladesh, and Vietnam.
Civet has been used in perfumery for centuries, with its use being pioneered by 10th-century Arabic perfumers. It became highly desirable as a perfume ingredient due to its unique and pleasant aroma when diluted. In its pure form, civet has a strong and putrid odour, but when diluted, it becomes sweetly aromatic. This transformation makes it a sought-after ingredient in the perfume industry, adding a "raw sexiness" to fragrances.
The natural civet secretion is described as soft, almost liquid, yellowish, paste-like substance. It is produced in small quantities, with African civets generating around three to four grams of civet per week. Due to the low yield and the ethical concerns associated with keeping civets in captivity, most perfumes now opt for synthetic alternatives. In the year 2000, natural civet sold for about five hundred dollars per kilogram, further emphasising the value and rarity of this animal secretion.
The process of preparing civet for perfumery involves solvent extraction to yield different concentrations of tinctures, absolutes, or resinoids. The key chemical compound responsible for civet's distinctive odour is civetone, which has a concentration range of 2.5 to 3.4%. Other ketones present in civet oil include cyclopentadecanone, cyclohexadecanone, cycloheptadecanone, and 6-cis-cycloheptadecenone. These compounds contribute to the complex aroma profile of civet, making it a versatile and intriguing ingredient in the world of perfumery.
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It is a soft, almost liquid material with a strong odour
Civet, also known as civet musk, civet oil, or civetone, is a soft, almost liquid material with a strong odour. It is a glandular secretion produced by both sexes of the Viverridae species. The African civet, large Indian civet, and small Indian civet are among the viverrid species that secrete civet oil in their perineal glands. Civets are not cats, despite their resemblance to them.
The secretion is a pale yellow, paste-like substance when fresh, but it darkens in colour and becomes salve-like in consistency over time. Its odour is strong and putrid in its pure form, but once diluted, it becomes pleasantly and sweetly aromatic. Civet has been used in perfumery for centuries, with its use being pioneered by 10th-century Arabic perfumers. It was highly desirable and used to scent gloves during Shakespeare's time.
The natural form of civet has an overpowering, almost nauseating faecal smell. To make it suitable for perfumery, it undergoes solvent extraction to yield a tincture, absolute, or resinoid. The chemical in civet oil that gives it its distinctive odour is civetone, which has a concentration of between 2.5 and 3.4%.
Most civet is produced on African farms, where civets are kept in cages. However, due to ethical concerns, the majority of perfumes now use synthetic civet. Civet cats are stressed in captivity, and it is much easier to recreate the scent synthetically.
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Civets are kept in cages on farms, predominantly in Ethiopia
Civet, also known as civet musk and civet oil, is a secretion produced by both sexes of the Viverridae species. Several thousand civets are kept on farms in Ethiopia and other parts of Africa, although exact numbers are not known. In Ethiopia, civet farming is concentrated in the western regions, particularly in the historic town of Enfranz in Gondar, the former capital, and the Jimma zone. Ethiopia and most civet farmers keep 10-15 civets in individual wooden cages. The civets are housed separately, with each cage containing metal rods 2-4 cm in diameter, which the civets rub their anal glands against to deposit musk.
The Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Organisation provides export licences, while regional governments monitor farms. Captive civets are kept in dark rooms with high temperatures maintained by a smouldering fire, which farmers believe increases musk production. However, ventilation is poor, and the atmosphere is thick with smoke. Civets are nocturnal, and no bedding is provided, leading to hypothermia as a common cause of death. Maize, ox meat, butter, eggs, and meat are fed to the civets to replenish and boost production.
The civet industry in Ethiopia is facing threats due to the increasing use of synthetic fixatives, poor husbandry practices, and the decline in the wild population. Animal welfare concerns have been raised, with reports of mistreatment and stress in captive civets. Some organisations have urged a boycott of products containing natural civet musk.
While most civet used in perfumery today is synthetically recreated, some small perfumers still secretly source natural civet. Civet has been highly valued in perfumery for centuries, with a strong, sweetly aromatic odour when diluted.
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Civet was first used in the 10th century by Arabic perfumers
Civet, also known as civet musk and civet oil, is the glandular secretion produced by both sexes of the Viverridae species. The African civet, large Indian civet, and small Indian civet are among the viverrid species that secrete civet oil in their perineal glands. In its pure form, civet has a strong, putrid odour. However, once diluted, it takes on a pleasantly sweet and aromatic fragrance.
Civet was first utilised in perfumery by Arabic perfumers in the 10th century. The Arabic term for civet, "zabād" or "sinnawr al-zabād", is derived from the Old Italian "zibetto" and Middle French "civette". It was mentioned by the Arab historian al-Masudi in his book Murū as a spice. Civets were also kept in captivity in various places, including Britain, to ensure a steady supply of this sought-after perfume ingredient.
The use of civet in perfumery has a long history, with its unique aroma making it a desirable ingredient. Civet is prepared for perfumery through solvent extraction, yielding a tincture, absolute, or resinoid. The chemical compound civetone is primarily responsible for its distinct odour, with concentrations ranging from 2.5 to 3.4%. Other ketones present in civet oil include cyclopentadecanone, cyclohexadecanone, cycloheptadecanone, and 6-cis-cycloheptadecenone.
Today, most civet used in perfumery is synthetically recreated due to ethical concerns regarding the caging and stress endured by civet cats in captivity. Synthetic civet ensures a consistent supply of this aromatic ingredient while prioritising animal welfare. However, it is rumoured that some small perfumers still covertly source authentic civet, despite widespread disapproval of this practice.
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Due to ethical concerns, most perfumes now use a synthetic version of civet
Civet, also known as civet musk, civet oil, or civetone, is a glandular secretion produced by both sexes of the Viverridae species. The African civet, large Indian civet, and small Indian civet are examples of species that secrete civet oil. Civet has been used in perfumery for centuries, with its origin traced back to 10th-century Arabic perfumers. It became highly desirable as a perfume ingredient due to its unique, pleasant aroma when diluted. However, in its natural form, civet has an overpowering and almost nauseating faecal odour.
The traditional method of obtaining civet involved caging and stressing civet-producing animals, primarily in African farms, to collect their secretions. This practice raised ethical concerns, leading to a shift in the perfume industry. As a result, most perfumes now rely on a synthetic version of civet to create their fragrances. This change ensures that the welfare of civet-producing animals is no longer compromised while still allowing perfumers to incorporate the sought-after animalic notes that civet provides.
The synthetic recreation of civet offers a solution that balances ethical considerations with the demand for this distinctive fragrance note. By using synthetic civet, perfumers can continue to craft scents with the sought-after "raw sexiness" that civet imparts without contributing to animal cruelty. This shift demonstrates the industry's recognition of consumers' growing awareness of animal welfare and their desire for ethically sourced products.
While synthetic civet has become the norm, it is worth noting that some small perfumers may still secretly source natural civet. However, the practice of using genuine civet is generally discouraged due to the ethical implications. As consumers become increasingly conscious of the impact of their choices, the demand for synthetic alternatives to controversial animal-derived ingredients, such as civet, is likely to continue to rise.
In conclusion, due to ethical concerns about the traditional method of obtaining civet, the perfume industry has largely transitioned to using synthetic civet. This change ensures that perfumers can continue to create desirable fragrances while also upholding animal welfare standards and responding to consumers' preferences for ethically sourced ingredients.
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Frequently asked questions
No. While civet is popular and found in many perfumes, it is not used in all of them.
Civet is a glandular secretion produced by both sexes of the Viverridae species. It is a soft, yellowish, almost liquid material with a strong odour.
Civet has a strong, almost nauseating faecal odour in its natural form. However, once diluted, it becomes pleasantly and sweetly aromatic. This makes it a desirable ingredient for perfumers to add raw sexiness to their perfumes.
