Description
Product of animal origin consisting of a glandular secretion of the male musk deer of Tibet, southern China, northern India, and throughout the Himalayan highlands. The secretion, obtained from adult male musk deer only, is a reddish-brown, paste-like mass with a very strong, penetrating odor. The secretion is found in an internal pouch located under the skin of the abdomen of the animal. The musk pouches are removed from the animal and subsequently dried, thus causing the hardening and darkening of the secretion (so-called musk grains) within the pouch.
The dried, unopened pouches of commerce are distinguished by the following names: Tonquin, Blue Skin, Yunnann, Sawko, Cab- ardin, Nepal, and Assam. Good quality pouches contain approximately 70% musk, while the less valuable ones contain as little as 40% musk.
The odorous principle of musk has been chemically identified as a macrocyclic lactone (3-methylcyclopentadecanone-one), also known as muskone. Musk has a potent, penetrating, musk odor with a strong, animal note.
The derivatives are infusions and tinctures that are prepared by alcoholic extraction of musk grains. By concentrating the alcoholic extracts, it is possible to prepare a “musk resinoid.” The true resinoid is prepared by petroleum ether extraction of musk grains. A musk absolute is prepared by alcoholic extraction from the resinoid.
Chemical Properties
Musk is an aromatic secretion derived from the musk gland of the male musk deer of Tibet, southern China, northern
India and throughout the Himalayan highlands. The musk deer attains a stature of only 0.5 m. The secretion, obtained from adult
male musk deer only, is a reddish-brown, paste-like mass with a very strong penetrating odor. The secretion is found in an internal
pouch located under the skin of the abdomen of the animal. The musk pouches are removed from the animal and subsequently dried,
thus causing the hardening and darkening of the secretion (so-called musk grains) within the pouch. Musk has a potent, penetrating,
musk odor, with a strong, animal note
Physical properties
The fresh musk secretion is a dark-brown viscous semisolid that turns brownish-yellow or
purple-red granules upon drying
Definition
The odorous, dried secretion from the preputial follicles of Moschus moschiferus, Moschidal. It consists primarily of muskone, cholesterol, fats, waxes and albumins. It may also be derived synthetically.
