Lance Carson
Civet, also known as civet musk, civet oil, or civetone, is a yellowish, paste-like substance secreted by the Viverridae species of mammals, commonly known as civets. Civet has been used in perfumery for centuries, prized for its strong and musky scent. While natural civet has an overpowering and putrid odour, when diluted and blended, it takes on a pleasantly sweet and aromatic character, enhancing floral and other scents. Due to ethical concerns and the stressful methods of extraction, synthetic alternatives are predominantly used in modern perfumery.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is civet | A yellowish, soft, paste-like substance which is secreted by an animal called a civet, from their perineal glands |
| Civet appearance | A small carnivorous, marten-like mammal that is native to Ethiopia and also known as the "Abyssinian cat" |
| Civet odour | Strong, putrid, almost nauseating faecal smell |
| Civet use in perfumes | Used as a base note to add warmth and radiance to floral scents, especially as a 'fixative' |
| Civet extraction | A curettage, a painful process for the animal, was carried out approximately every ten days while the civet was kept in cramped cages |
| Civet price | Due to the difficult harvest of this fat, the price of the product was very high—in 2000, civet sold for about five hundred dollars per kilogram |
| Civet alternative | Due to ethical concerns, most perfumes now use a synthetic version or a base created by the perfumer-creator |
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What You'll Learn
- Civet is a secretion from the perineal glands of civets, used to mark territory
- Its scent is strong and putrid in pure form, but softens when diluted
- Civet was first used in the 10th century by Arabic perfumers
- Natural civet is now banned, so synthetic alternatives are used
- Civet is popular for its 'raw sexiness' and found in many seductive scents
Civet is a secretion from the perineal glands of civets, used to mark territory
Civet, also known as civet musk or civet oil, is a secretion produced by the perineal glands of civets, a type of viverrid species. Both male and female civets produce this strong-smelling substance, which is used to mark their territory. In its pure form, civet has a putrid odour, but when diluted, it takes on a sweet and inviting aroma.
Civet has a long history of use in perfumery, dating back to 10th-century Arabic perfumers. It is valued for the raw sexiness it brings to perfumes, adding warmth and radiance, especially to floral scents. The process of preparing civet for perfumery involves solvent extraction to remove impurities and odourless substances.
There are two main types of civet: African civet and Indian civet. The African civet, native to Ethiopia and South Africa, is the primary source of civet for perfumery, with most of it produced on African farms where the animals are kept in captivity. The Indian civet, on the other hand, is native to Nepal, Bangladesh, and Vietnam.
The use of civet in perfumery has come under scrutiny due to ethical concerns. Civets are often kept in stressful conditions, and the process of harvesting the secretion can be cruel. As a result, synthetic substitutes for civet have gained popularity, with many perfumers opting for these ethical alternatives.
While the use of natural civet has declined, it still holds a place in the world of perfumery. The unique aroma of civet, when skillfully blended, adds a musky and seductive element to perfumes. However, the welfare of civets and the availability of synthetic alternatives are important considerations in the modern perfumery industry.
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Its scent is strong and putrid in pure form, but softens when diluted
Civet is a soft, almost liquid material that is the glandular secretion of various species of civets, also known as civet cats. It is produced in their perineal glands and used to mark their territory. The scent of civet in its raw form is extremely strong and putrid, with a strong animal and fecal odor. It has been described as "concentrated cat pee".
However, when diluted, the scent of civet softens and becomes pleasantly and sweetly aromatic, adding warmth and radiance to floral scents. It is said to give perfumes a raw sexiness and is found in many of the world's most notoriously seductive scents. Cleopatra was particularly fond of the smell of civet.
To prepare civet for use in perfumery, it undergoes solvent extraction to yield either a tincture (10 or 20 percent), an absolute, or a resinoid. The chemical in civet oil that gives it its distinctive odor is civetone, which has a concentration of between 2.5 and 3.4%. The oil also contains various other ketones and smaller amounts of indole and skatole, which reinforce the animal scent.
Due to ethical concerns and the stress caused to civet cats kept in captivity, most civet used in perfumery today is synthetically recreated. However, some small perfumers still secretly source the real thing. The use of natural animal products in perfumery is now forbidden in many places, and perfumers have had to adapt their formulas to meet public demand.
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Civet was first used in the 10th century by Arabic perfumers
Civet, also known as civet musk or civet oil, is a soft, glandular secretion produced by both sexes of the Viverridae species. The African civet, large Indian civet, and small Indian civet are examples of these species. The substance is almost liquid, with a pale yellow colour that darkens over time and takes on a salve-like consistency. In its pure form, civet has a strong and unpleasant odour, but when diluted, it becomes pleasantly aromatic.
Civet has been used in perfumery for centuries, with records of its use dating back to the 10th century. Arabic perfumers were the first to use civet, as documented by the Arab historian al-Masudi in his book Murū. The name "civet" is derived from Arabic words related to the "civet cat," which is a type of Viverridae species.
Civet is prepared for use in perfumery through solvent extraction, yielding a tincture, absolute, or resinoid. The chemical compound civetone gives civet oil its distinctive odour and is present in a concentration of 2.5 to 3.4%. Other ketones and compounds like indole and skatole are also found in civet, enhancing its animal scent.
The use of civet in perfumery has been popular due to the raw sexiness it brings to fragrances. Its unique, musky aroma adds warmth and radiance, especially when combined with floral scents. Civet also serves as a fixative, helping to prolong the fragrance's longevity. However, due to ethical concerns and the stress caused to civets in captivity, most modern perfumers have shifted towards synthetic recreations of civet rather than using the natural secretion.
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Natural civet is now banned, so synthetic alternatives are used
Civet is a glandular secretion produced by both sexes of the Viverridae species. Civet cats use this secretion to mark their territory. The odour of civet is strong and putrid in its pure form. However, when diluted, it becomes pleasantly and sweetly aromatic. It adds warmth and radiance to floral scents and works as a fixative.
Civet has been used in perfumery for centuries. The use of civet in perfumes was pioneered by 10th-century Arabic perfumers. It was also used in Shakespeare's time to scent gloves. However, the natural form of civet is now banned in perfumery due to ethical concerns. Civet cats were kept in cramped cages and stressed to produce the secretion, which was a painful process for the animal.
Today, most civet used in perfumery is synthetically recreated. Synthetic civet allows perfumers to continue using the distinctive scent of civet without the ethical concerns associated with the natural form. While some small perfumers still secretly source natural civet, this practice is not condoned by the industry.
The process of creating synthetic civet involves solvent extraction to yield either a tincture (10 or 20 per cent), an absolute, or a 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 per cent. The oil also includes various other ketones, such as cyclopentadecanone and cyclohexadecanone. Synthetic civet is prepared in a way that mimics the natural form, ensuring that it has the same aromatic properties valued by perfumers.
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Civet is popular for its 'raw sexiness' and found in many seductive scents
Civet is a popular ingredient in perfumery, known for its distinctive odour and ability to enhance other scents. The use of civet in perfumes has a long history, dating back to ancient times.
Civet is a soft, almost liquid material produced by the Viverridae species of civets, including the African civet and Indian civet. It is a glandular secretion that the animals use to mark their territory. In its pure form, civet has a strong and putrid odour, but when diluted and blended, it takes on a pleasantly sweet and aromatic fragrance.
The use of civet in perfumery has evolved over time, with ancient civilisations like the Egyptians and Ethiopians appreciating its unique scent. Cleopatra, for example, was known to favour the smell of civet. The 10th-century Arab historian al-Masudi also mentioned civet as a spice in his book Murū.
Today, civet is valued for its raw sexiness and is often found in seductive perfumes. Perfumers utilise its animalic notes to add warmth and radiance, especially to floral scents. The dilution and blending of civet soften its intensity and enhance its sensual qualities. Its versatility improves the cohesion of fragrances and contributes an almost aphrodisiac-like sweetness.
Due to ethical concerns and the protection of animals, the use of natural civet in perfumery has been largely replaced by synthetic alternatives. Synthetic civet, known as civettone, is composed of a mixture of synthetic animal raw materials and plant-based natural materials to recreate the animal scent. This shift away from natural civet ensures the well-being of civet cats, which were once kept in captivity and stressed to produce the secretion.
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Frequently asked questions
Civet is a yellowish, paste-like substance secreted by the perineal glands of a civet—a small carnivorous mammal native to Ethiopia that resembles a cat.
Civet has a strong, putrid odour in its pure form, but once diluted, it adds a lustily musky and inviting scent to perfumes. It is also a natural fixative that enhances the cohesion of fragrances.
Civet is obtained by curing the perineal glands of civets, a process that is painful for the animal and involves keeping them in cramped cages. Due to ethical concerns, synthetic alternatives are predominantly used today.
