Civet, also known as civet musk and civet oil, is the glandular secretion produced by both sexes of Viverridae species. Civet first came to prominence in the 10th Century when Arabic perfumers pioneered its use. It is extraordinarily powerful and even stomach-turningly obnoxious in its concentrated form. But in the hands of a gifted nose, diluted and blended, civit morphs into something altogether lustily musky and inviting, adding warmth and radiance to floral scents especially, and working as a 'fixative'. It rapidly became incredibly desirable as a perfume ingredient, with artisans using civit to scent gloves, in Shakespeare's time. Most of the civit now used is synthetically recreated, for ethical reasons.
Natural or Synthetic?
Civet was traditionally used in its natural form, extracted from the civet animal. However, due to ethical concerns, modern perfumery primarily uses synthetic alternatives to replicate its deep, musky, and animalic aroma.
Fragrance Families Civet Most Commonly Found In
Show fragrances that contain Civet as a note