In response to Cecil’s reply to the question regarding the torture of civets, I wish to point out that English perfumer F.V.Wells has commented that it was not necessary to “torture” the animal to obtain its civet paste. He says- “One of us (F.V.Wells) posseses a sample of civet obtained- by very gentle treatment, incidentally- from a healthy male civet cat kept in captivity in one of the world’s most famous zoos. This civet has only a faint suggestion of skatole and has much more in common with civettone”. [Perfume Technology by F.V.Wells & Marcel Billot,1981]
Which leads me to my point- it seems a general conclusion that because the civet paste comes from around the rear end area of the animal that it must nescessarily pong! This is a misconception. I am a perfumer and use civet in my compositions. It is a very important ingredient, not only for its fixative power but also because of the innate odour. It has the ability to enhance and “propell” a fragrance besides fixation. I think it smells wonderful! In fact, in centuries past people, mainly men, wore civet straight & uncut as a perfume!I should say at this point that we use artificial civet compounds from various perfume houses. However a French perfume supplier once gave a small phial of pure natural civette from the animal, and this was divine! I use it only in the most precious perfumes and am, unfortunately, gradually phasing it out because of the supposed cruelty involved in its production. Yet I wish I could still use natural civet because the results are astounding!
So, far from stinking like a skunk, civet is a very attractive odour- ON DILUTION!!!
Also, the original questionner stated that he/she belived that civet was a “major ingredient” in Chanel No.5 perfume. Hardly! Civet is an important note in that fragrance, but hardly a “major ingredient”!!!