MUSC-Musc

Natural musk or Musc (you can also meet the English name Musk or in the French language Musc) is a group of aromatic substances that are used in the production of perfumes. This pungent-smelling substance accentuates other notes of fragrance compositions, although it is found in small quantities in almost every perfume. Adds softness, sensuality and appeal to perfumes. This musk fragrance is slightly sweet, sensual, but also intense and long-lasting.

Musk of animal origin comes from the seed sacs of the Kabar musk (moschus moschiferus). This approximately 50 cm tall ruminant from the moschidae family is a highly endangered species. Since time immemorial, it has been hunted for the special musk glands located on the abdomen, with the secretion of which it marks its territory. The exchange, called musk, smells intensely and is said to act as an aphrodisiac, which proved fatal for Kabaru. The scent of musk grains is described as sweet, very persistent. In estrus, which occurs in the middle of winter, the males fight furiously and inflict sometimes fatal wounds with their long canines. At that time, they smell strongly of musk, which in the form of solid fat is secreted by glands in a special pouch located near the genitals. A pouch the size of a smaller walnut can contain up to 50 g of this gooey substance. From this pouch, musk is usually secreted in the form of granules, balls, and lumps no bigger than a pea. The colour of musk is reddish brown and darkens to black over time.

The amount of musk produced depends on the age of the male as well as the season. Musk is highly valued in perfumery for its excellent fixing properties. Since in the past the acquisition of this precious substance was essentially only possible by killing the Musk Kabar, hunting them led to the near extinction of the species. Hunting has therefore been prohibited since 1979 and the Musk Kabar is protected as an endangered species. It is only allowed to collect the musk or get the seed pouch without killing the animal. Unfortunately, this practice is not very widespread, so natural musk is often replaced by artificial.

Kabar belongs to the deer family and lives in the high mountain areas of Central Asia, i.e. in the territory of India, Pakistan, Tibet and China.

In the search for substances that would most closely resemble natural musk, polycyclic and macrocyclic musk were developed.

Polycyclic musk began to be used in modern perfume production.

Macrocyclic musk is made from plants and very closely mimics the natural scent of musk, but it is quite expensive to produce. It is also interesting that about half of the human population does not smell macrocyclic musk and does not perceive scents like those of plants.

The source of this beautiful musk scent is, for example, plants such as musk hibiscus (abelmoschus moschatus), Angelica archangelica, or musk sedge (mimulus moschatus).

Different musk components are usually combined in perfumes, which are divided into four groups:

#natural musk obtained from Musk Kabar

#natural musk from other animals and plants,

#synthetic musk

#musk odour molecules.

Due to its properties and unmistakable scent, musk is still an integral part of perfumes. The fragrance itself is described as sweet, creamy or powdery. Perfumes with a higher musk content are then referred to as the scent of purity.

The original perfume Moschus (Wild Love, Exotic Love, Oriental Love) produced in the 1980s was sold in the Czech Republic by the foreign trade chain TUZEX and later also in various stores.