Which animal-derived substance from the civet cat is used as a perfume fixative? Civet is used.
Civet is a glandular secretion produced by viverrids, including the African civet. Although the animal is often called a civet cat, it is not a true member of the cat family. The secretion is collected from perineal glands and processed into forms such as tinctures, absolutes, or resinoids for perfumery.
In its concentrated state, civet has an intensely animalic odor that can be described as fecal, fatty, or musky. When highly diluted, however, it can add warmth, sweetness, and diffusion to a fragrance. Its traditional fixative role comes from helping a perfume smell more rounded and persistent while blending other aromatic materials.
The key odor molecule is civetone. Natural civet has largely been replaced by synthetic aroma chemicals, partly because of ethical concerns surrounding captive civet farming and because laboratory-made substitutes offer more consistent supply. Civet should not be confused with musk, castoreum, or ambergris: all are animal-derived fragrance materials, but they come from different animals or biological sources.