Civet cats are native to Africa. The animals are also found in India, Malaysia, Indochina and Indonesia. The product
consists of odorous glandular secretion of the male and female civets. The largest quantities come from Africa, where the animals
are kept captive on farms. The animal glands are drained of the secretion approximately once a week. Civet has a very strong, putrid
odor, becoming sweet on dilution.
Civet absolute has a sweet animal-like odor, not very strong but rich and tenacious.
Civet is a glandular secretion produced by both sexes of the civet cat (Viverridae).
Two species are known: Civettictis civetta, which inhabits Ethiopia,
and Viverra zibetha, found in India and Southeast Asia.
The animals are kept in cages, and the fresh secretion is taken from the
pouches at regular (about 1-week) intervals. Civet is almost liquid with a
light yellow color. It darkens when exposed to light and takes on a consistency
similar to that of salve. In dilutions (e.g., as an alcoholic tincture), civet
has a pleasant, sweetish odor. A resinoid prepared by extraction with acetone
is a dark brown-red mass. Civetone is themain odoriferous
constituent of civet (2.5–3.4%). Civet contains other macrocyclic ketones
such as cyclohexa- and cycloheptadecanone and (Z)-6-cycloheptadecenone.
Traces of indole and skatole contribute to the animal note.
Civet has a distinctly different odor frommusk andwas formerly a versatile
ingredient of fine fragrances.
It is a yellowish to brownish, honey-like paste.
Natural civet is a glandular secretion from both sexes of the Viverra civetta, a mammal of the Viverridae family.
By extraction of natural civet (Naves, 1974).
Extractives and their physically modified derivatives such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, inorganic ions, etc. obtained from Viverra civetta. Viverridae.
Essential oil composition
The important constituents of civet are civetone, ska toi and civetol
African civet contains approximately 1.0% skatole.
Low toxicity by ingestion and skincontact. A skin irritant. When heated to decomposition itemits acrid smoke and irritating vapors.
