Animal perfume ingredient Castoreum:

Animal perfume ingredient Castoreum: 

• It is a kind of very fatty oil secreted by the glands of the North American beaver to protect its hair from cold and humidity. This fragrant oil is recovered when the animal is killed to regulate its population and sell its fur.

• Its smell is also very powerful with fecal notes but also strong nuances of leather and a fruity aspect.There are two other animal-based ingredients that are much rarer in perfumery: hyraceum and beeswax.

• Hyraceum comes from the fossilized urine produced by an animal called the Rock Daman, which looks like a large marmot. From an olfactory point of view, this material gives off a very animal smell with leathery undertones. 

• Beeswax is also very little used. But some perfumers use it to bring roundness to floral or fruity compositions.

• Castoreum is sometimes used for anxiety, insomnia, menstrual cramps, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

• In foods and beverages, castoreum extract is used as a flavoring agent. In manufacturing, castoreum tincture is used as a fragrance or fixative in cosmetics and soaps.