Antonio Mcgowan
Civet, a secretion produced by the Viverridae species, has been a popular ingredient in perfumery for its depth and intrigue of earthy, woody tones. Its use dates back to Cleopatra, who is said to have required fragrances made from civet to treat her ailments. However, the process of collecting civet has been controversial due to animal welfare concerns. Traditionally, civet was obtained by scraping the paste from the anal glands of wild civets, a method that has raised ethical concerns. Today, the perfume industry has largely shifted towards using synthetic civet, which offers greater consistency and control over the final product while also addressing animal cruelty issues.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How perfumers collect civet | Civet, a musky secretion produced by the African civet cat, has been a fascinating and prized ingredient in perfumery for centuries. |
| Civet is collected by scraping the civet paste from the anal glands of wild civets, a process that has raised concerns about animal welfare. | |
| The zebu horn was traditionally used to collect civet paste. | |
| Today, most civet is produced in African farms, where African civets are kept in cages. | |
| Civet is a soft, almost liquid material. It is pale yellow when fresh, darkening in the light and becoming salve-like in consistency. | |
| Civet has a strong, even putrid smell as a pure substance, but once diluted, it is pleasantly and sweetly aromatic. | |
| Civet is used as a fixative in perfumery. | |
| Civet is also known as civet musk and civet oil. | |
| The United States does not allow civets to be imported, as the species can transmit the SARS virus. However, the US permits the importation of civet oil, as long as it has been treated to ensure it is noninfectious. | |
| The natural substance is famed for its intoxicating warm, musky aroma. | |
| Civet has been used in many iconic fragrances, including Chanel No. 5. | |
| Civet is also used for curative purposes. | |
| In recent years, there has been a shift towards synthetic alternatives due to ethical concerns. |
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What You'll Learn
- Civet is a secretion from the anal glands of the musk cat or civet cat
- Civet farms in Asia and Africa keep civets in cages to produce the secretion
- The traditional method of collection involves scraping the paste from the animal's anal glands
- Civet is now banned in many places, and synthetic alternatives are used instead
- Civet oil can be imported to the US if treated to be non-infectious
Civet is a secretion from the anal glands of the musk cat or civet cat
Civet, a musky secretion produced by the African civet cat, has been a fascinating and prized ingredient in perfumery for centuries. The natural substance is famed for its warm, musky aroma and has been used in many iconic fragrances throughout history, transcending the boundaries between the animal and botanical worlds.
The African civet typically produces three to four grams of civet per week. In the year 2000, civet sold for about five hundred dollars per kilogram. Civet is a soft, almost liquid material that is pale yellow when fresh, darkening over time and becoming salve-like in consistency. Its odour is strong and putrid as a pure substance, but once diluted, it becomes pleasantly and sweetly aromatic, with a floral and radiant scent.
Due to ethical concerns, the perfume industry has largely shifted towards using synthetic civet. This synthetic version not only addresses ethical issues but also offers greater consistency and control over the final product. While some companies strive to obtain civets in a humane manner, the quest for a thoroughly humane way of harvesting civet continues.
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Civet farms in Asia and Africa keep civets in cages to produce the secretion
Civet, a musky scent used in perfumery, is obtained from the African civet (Civettictis civetta). This small, lean, nocturnal mammal is native to tropical Asia and Africa. Civet farms in Asia and Africa keep civets in cages to produce the secretion.
In Asia, civets are raised in captivity to process coffee beans. In Indonesia, the Asian palm civet is often considered a pest as it raids commercial fruit farms. However, the growth of the kopi luwak industry has encouraged locals to protect civets for their dung, which is used to make coffee. The digestive enzymes in civets change the structure of proteins in coffee beans, removing some of the acidity to make a smoother cup of coffee.
Civets are kept in cages on coffee plantations, with some ending up labelled as wild civet coffee in Europe. The demand for kopi luwak has led to civet farms where the civets are fed a diet composed almost exclusively of coffee cherries, causing them to become severely malnourished. Farm conditions are routinely described as deplorable.
In Africa, civet farming is common in Ethiopia, where they are kept in captivity to collect their perineal secretions for perfume-making. Civet farmers in Ethiopia keep 10-15 civets in individual cages. Despite its importance in the livelihoods of smallholder producers, the mistreatment of civets in captivity has raised welfare concerns.
The use of natural civet in perfumes is declining due to ethical concerns and the availability of synthetic substitutes. Chanel, for example, claims to have replaced natural civet with a synthetic substitute since 1998.
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The traditional method of collection involves scraping the paste from the animal's anal glands
Civet, a musky secretion produced by the African civet cat, has been a popular ingredient in perfumery for centuries. The natural substance is known for its warm, musky aroma and has been used in many iconic fragrances. The African civet typically produces three to four grams of civet per week. In the year 2000, civet sold for about five hundred dollars per kilogram.
The traditional method of collection involves scraping the paste from the animals' anal glands. This process, which was often performed using a zebu horn, raised concerns about animal welfare. The paste is a soft, almost liquid material that is pale yellow when fresh and darkens in colour over time, becoming salve-like in consistency. Its odour is strong and putrid in its pure form but becomes pleasantly and sweetly aromatic when diluted.
Due to ethical concerns, the perfume industry has largely shifted towards using synthetic civet, which offers greater consistency and control over the final product while also addressing animal welfare issues. However, some companies continue to strive for more humane methods of obtaining natural civet. For example, a company in Thailand keeps civets in individual wooden cages, feeding them bananas, rice, and meat, and providing a wooden stick for them to release their paste.
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Civet is now banned in many places, and synthetic alternatives are used instead
Civet, a glandular secretion produced by the Viverridae species, has been prized for centuries for the unique depth it brings to fragrances. However, due to ethical concerns, environmental pressures, and health risks, civet is now banned in many places, and synthetic alternatives are being used instead.
Civet farms, particularly those in Asia and Africa, have come under scrutiny for keeping civets in cages to collect their secretions, with some farms even requiring the killing of the animal to obtain the substance. The extraction process has been criticised as inhumane, and the conditions on these farms are often not conducive to the well-being of the animals. This has led to legislative action, with organisations like CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) working to protect the musk deer from over-hunting.
In addition to ethical concerns, environmental movements have advocated for the banning of natural civet due to the risk of transmitting the SARS virus to humans. The United States, for example, has imposed an embargo on the import of civet cats but allows the importation of treated civet oil, ensuring it is non-infectious. China also took similar measures in 2004, culling civet cats in their thousands and banning their sale and consumption.
As a result of these bans and increasing ethical and environmental concerns, the perfume industry has turned to synthetic alternatives. One such alternative is 5-cyclohexadecen-1-one (Ambretone), which can be more easily synthesized and provides a similar aromatic effect as civet. With the development of new technologies and a growing awareness of animal welfare, it is likely that the use of synthetic alternatives will continue to grow, reducing the reliance on natural animal products in perfumery.
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Civet oil can be imported to the US if treated to be non-infectious
Civet oil, a secretion produced by both sexes of the Viverridae species, has been used in perfumery for centuries. The African civet, large Indian civet, and small Indian civet are among the viverrid species that secrete civet oil in their perineal glands. The oil has a strong, putrid odour in its pure form, but when diluted, it becomes pleasantly and sweetly aromatic.
The extraction of civet oil from civet cats, also known as musk cats, has been controversial due to animal welfare concerns. Civet farms, particularly those established in Asian countries, have been criticised for their breeding and extraction methods. To address these concerns, the extraction of musk is now highly regulated by legislation such as CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).
Despite the restrictions on importing civets into the United States due to the risk of transmitting the SARS virus, the importation of civet oil is permitted under specific conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), civet oil intended for the perfume industry can be imported if it has been properly processed to render it non-infectious. This involves subjecting the oil to specific treatments to eliminate any infectious agents.
The CDC provides guidelines for rendering animal products non-infectious, which includes methods such as heat treatment, chemical treatment, and gamma irradiation. These processes ensure that any potential infectious agents or zoonotic diseases are neutralised, making the civet oil safe for import and use in the perfume industry.
By adhering to these regulations, perfumers can utilise civet oil while prioritising the health and safety of consumers. The treatment processes ensure that the oil is free from infectious agents, allowing for its legal importation into the United States while maintaining compliance with health and safety standards.
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Frequently asked questions
Civet is collected by scraping the paste from the anal glands of the civet, a process that has raised concerns about animal welfare.
Civets are found in Asian countries and on the Chinese market, where they are often locked in farms in Ethiopia and other countries.
The collected civet is prepared for use in perfumes by solvent extraction. The scent of the civet is dissolved in a solvent which is then evaporated.
