Civet (Viverra Civettina) perfumes

Strong, faecal, ammoniac and floral.

Source

Civet is an odoriferous glandular secretion from male or female civets, native to Abyssinia. Most of the civet available today originates from Ethiopia where the animal is raised in captivity.

Extraction Method

The civet is a carnivorous mammal with a greyish-yellow coat and a pattern of black markings. It resembles the marten. The secretions are removed from the animal once a week. The unrefined civet secretion is purified by extraction using solvents, and is often left to brew. Synthetic substances are mostly used to replace the civet secretion.

Uses

Used in prestige perfumes, also as a fixative.

History

Long ago, unrefined civet paste was shipped in zebus' horns large enough to contain up to 2 1/2 pounds of the yellow substance, which darkened and hardened over time. The contents of the horn amounted to four years of civet extraction.