So far, we have introduced musk and amber, which are representative animal-based fragrances.
This time, we will talk about the fragrances civet and castoreum.
Next, I will write about the role of animal-based fragrances.
First up is the Civet.
It is a yellowish-white, paste-like secretion excreted by civets, an animal that lives mainly on farms in Ethiopia, when they become angry.
It has a very strong fecal odor and is not a very pleasant smell.
However, this fragrance component is actually the same as the smelly odor found in the scent of flowers.
You'd be surprised at how many scents there are all around us.
And it is used in high quality perfumes.
Next is Castoreum.
This is collected from beavers that live in Canada and Russia.
It is the dried yellowish-brown, creamy secretion from the incense sac near the anus.
Beavers use this scent to mark and mark their territory.
The scent is described as leathery.
The best way to experience the unique scent of leather is to smell it yourself if you have a leather rider's jacket at home.
The scent gives the impression of a blend of bitter cold medicine with a fecal smell that is weaker than civet, and also has a smoky element reminiscent of tobacco.
It is often used as a substitute for civet.
Over the course of three articles, we have introduced four typical animal-based fragrances: musk, amber, civet, and castoreum.
Animal-based fragrances are not very pleasant to smell on their own.
However, just a small amount of it will bring out the sensual scent and enhance other scents.
It adds breadth and depth to the fragrance and also makes it last longer.
It's amazing to think that our predecessors thought up ways to incorporate these strange-smelling substances, which seem to have no connection to perfume, into a pleasant fragrance.
Modern perfumers are also searching for "an unpleasant odor that, when added to a good fragrance, brings about a dramatic change like a poison."
We hope that this will help you to further enjoy the fascinating and profound world of fragrance.