Katrina Rosales
Civet, also known as civet musk and civet oil, is a glandular secretion produced by the Viverridae species of civet cats. The secretion is produced by both sexes of the species in their perineal glands. Civet has been used as a flavouring and in perfumery. In its raw form, civet has a strong, putrid odour, but once diluted, it becomes pleasantly and sweetly aromatic. The use of civet in perfumery has a long history, with Cleopatra being a noted admirer of the scent. However, due to ethical concerns surrounding the treatment of civets, synthetic alternatives are now often used in the creation of perfumes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Description | A soft, almost liquid material that is pale yellow when fresh, darkening in the light and becoming salve-like in consistency. |
| Odor | Strong, even putrid as a pure substance, but once diluted, it is pleasantly and sweetly aromatic. |
| Chemical composition | Civetone (2.5-3.4% concentration), cyclopentadecanone, cyclohexadecanone, cycloheptadecanone, 6-cis-cycloheptadecenone, indole, and skatole. |
| Source | Glandular secretion produced by both sexes of the Viverridae species, including the African civet, large Indian civet, and small Indian civet. |
| Historical use | Used by Ethiopians as pure fat, especially on wedding nights, and was a rare and appreciated perfume. |
| Ethical concerns | Animal notes of natural origin are forbidden in the perfume industry due to ethical concerns. Most civet used today is synthetically recreated. |
| Perfumes containing civet | Chanel's No. 5 (1925 edition), Jicky by Guerlain, and Mouchoir by Monsieur by Guerlain. |
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What You'll Learn
- Civet is a soft, almost liquid material with a strong odour
- It is the glandular secretion of the African and Indian civet
- Civet is used for its raw sexiness and is popular in seductive scents
- Natural civet is unethical to produce, so synthetic alternatives are now used
- Civet was used in perfumes for men, women, and unisex fragrances
Civet is a soft, almost liquid material with a strong odour
Civet has a long history of use in perfumery, with its distinctive odour providing a raw, sexy note to perfumes. The use of civet in perfumery dates back to ancient times, with Cleopatra known to have particularly appreciated the smell. In the past, civet was obtained by keeping civet cats in captivity and extracting the secretion from their glands. This practice was unethical and cruel, leading to public outrage and a shift in consumption patterns. Today, most civet used in perfumery is synthetically recreated, although some small perfumers may still secretly source the real thing.
The process of obtaining civet musk involves keeping civet cats in tiny cages, barely larger than their bodies, in hot and smoke-filled sheds for up to 15 years. Every 10 days or so, the musk is brutally extracted from the glands of the conscious cats, causing immense suffering and even death. This dark secret of the perfumery industry has led to increasing public awareness and a move towards synthetic alternatives.
Civet is prepared for use in perfumery through solvent extraction, yielding 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%. The oil also contains other ketones and small amounts of indole and skatole, which contribute to its unique scent.
Today, the use of animal products in perfumery is forbidden in many places, and synthetic alternatives are preferred. Perfumers create bases or use synthetic civetone to mimic the scent of civet without the cruelty associated with its production. While some small, independent perfumers may still use real civet, the majority of the industry has moved away from this practice, opting for vegan and cruelty-free alternatives.
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It is the glandular secretion of the African and Indian civet
Civet is a soft, paste-like secretion produced by the African and Indian civet, a small carnivorous mammal. The African civet is native to Ethiopia, while the Indian civet is found in Nepal, Bangladesh, and Vietnam. Civets produce this secretion in their perineal glands, and it is used for marking their territory. The raw secretion has a strong, putrid odour, but when diluted, it becomes pleasantly aromatic.
In perfumery, civet is derived from the glandular secretions of the African and Indian civet. The African civet, in particular, has been a significant source of civet production, with farmers in Ethiopia relying on the breeding of these animals. The secretion is produced in the perineal glands of the civet, located in the perianal region. It is a soft, almost liquid material with a pale yellow colour when fresh, darkening over time and becoming salve-like in consistency. Its odour is strong and putrid in its pure form, but dilution transforms it into a sweet and pleasant aroma.
The use of civet in perfumery has a long history, with Cleopatra known to have particularly appreciated its scent. The secretion is prepared for perfumery through solvent extraction, yielding a tincture, absolute, or resinoid. Civetone, a chemical in civet oil, contributes significantly to its distinctive odour, along with other ketones and compounds like indole and skatole.
However, the use of natural animal products in perfumery has faced increasing scrutiny due to ethical concerns. Civet cats are often captured and kept in cramped, stressful conditions to obtain their secretions, leading to suffering and even death. As a result, synthetic alternatives like civettone are now commonly used to replicate the scent without causing animal suffering.
Today, most global manufacturers have abandoned the use of animal products like civet, opting for synthetic alternatives. While some small perfumers may still secretly source real civet, it is generally discouraged due to ethical and consistency issues. The synthetic reproductions are not only more ethical but also more affordable, consistent, and potent.
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Civet is used for its raw sexiness and is popular in seductive scents
Civet is a soft, almost liquid material produced by the Viverridae species of civet cats. The animal produces secretions in the form of fat in its perianal region, which they use to mark their territory. The secretion has a strong, putrid odour in its pure form, but once diluted, it becomes pleasantly and sweetly aromatic.
Civet has been used in perfumery for its raw sexiness and is popular in seductive scents. The scent of the raw product is extremely strong, but it softens when integrated with other scents such as rose, jasmine, and ylang-ylang. It improves the cohesion of the fragrance and brings an almost aphrodisiac-like sweetness.
Historically, civet was obtained by keeping civet cats in captivity and extracting the secretion from their glands. This practice was unethical, as the cats were kept in small cages and subjected to stressful conditions. Today, most civet used in perfumery is synthetically recreated, as natural animal notes in perfume creation are forbidden in many places. Synthetic civet is cheaper, stronger, and more consistent than its natural counterpart.
Despite the shift towards synthetic alternatives, some small perfumers still secretly source real civet, and it is believed that certain niche and natural perfumers continue to use animal musk in their fragrances. The use of real civet is controversial due to ethical concerns and the difficulty in ensuring consistent quality across batches.
Civet has been a popular ingredient in many well-known perfumes, including Chanel No. 5, Jicky by Guerlain, and Calvin Klein Obsession. Its distinctive odour and ability to enhance the smoothness and roundness of fragrances have made it a sought-after ingredient in the past.
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Natural civet is unethical to produce, so synthetic alternatives are now used
Civet is a soft, almost liquid material produced by the civet cat, a small carnivorous mammal native to Ethiopia. It is a glandular secretion produced by both sexes of the Viverridae species. The secretion is produced in the perineal glands of the animal, which they use to mark their territory.
Civet has been used in perfumery for its strong, distinctive odour. The chemical in civet oil that gives it its unique scent is civetone. While the pure substance has a putrid smell, once diluted, it becomes pleasantly and sweetly aromatic.
However, the use of natural civet in perfumery is considered unethical due to the methods used to obtain it. Civet cats are captured in the wild and kept in small cages, often in stressful and inhumane conditions. The musk is then extracted from the glands of the conscious animals, causing them suffering and sometimes even leading to death. In response to these concerns, most perfumers have switched to synthetic alternatives, such as civettone, which is created by mixing synthetic animal raw materials and plant-based natural materials.
Synthetic replacements for civet offer several advantages over natural civet. They are cheaper, stronger, and more consistent in terms of scent. Additionally, the use of synthetic alternatives ensures that perfumery can be a more vegan-friendly and cruelty-free practice, protecting animals from suffering and death. While some small perfumers may still secretly source natural civet, the majority of the industry has moved away from its use, thanks to changing consumer demands and the availability of effective synthetic options.
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Civet was used in perfumes for men, women, and unisex fragrances
Civet, a soft, almost liquid material, has been used in perfumes for men, women, and unisex fragrances. It is a glandular secretion produced by both sexes of the Viverridae species, including the African civet, large Indian civet, and small Indian civet. Civets were historically farmed and kept in captivity to obtain this secretion, but such practices are now considered unethical due to the stress inflicted on the animals.
In its pure form, civet has a strong, putrid odour, but when diluted, it becomes pleasantly and sweetly aromatic. Its distinctive scent is attributed to civetone, a chemical present in civet oil at a concentration of 2.5% to 3.4%. The raw material was primarily sourced from Ethiopia, where it played a significant role in the local economy.
Civet has been prized by perfumers for the raw sexiness it delivers to fragrances. Its animalistic notes enhance the smoothness and roundness of perfumes while improving the cohesion of the fragrance. Notable perfumes that once used civet include Chanel No. 5 (1925 edition), Jicky by Guerlain, and Mouchoir by Monsieur by Guerlain.
Due to ethical concerns and changing consumer preferences, the use of natural animal notes in perfumery has declined. Today, synthetic alternatives like civettone are favoured, and perfumers combine synthetic animal raw materials with plant-based natural materials to create scents that mimic animal notes. While some small perfumers may still secretly source real civet, the majority of the industry has moved away from animal-derived ingredients, opting for synthetic reproductions that are cheaper, stronger, and more consistent.
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Frequently asked questions
Civet is a soft, almost liquid material produced by the Viverridae species. It is a glandular secretion produced by both sexes of the species.
Civet is used in perfumes for its strong, distinctive odour. It is prepared for use in perfumery by solvent extraction to yield either a tincture, an absolute, or a resinoid.
Perfumers use civet for the raw sexiness it delivers to perfumes. Civet has a strong, distinctive odour that improves the cohesion of a fragrance while bringing an almost aphrodisiac-like sweetness.
No, the use of civet in perfumes is not ethical. Civets are kept in captivity and subjected to stressful conditions to produce the secretion. In recent years, public opinion has shifted against the use of animal products in perfumes, and most perfumers have switched to synthetic alternatives.
