Musk is a class of aromatic substances commonly used as base notes in perfumery. They include glandular secretions from animals such as the musk deer, numerous plants emitting similar fragrances, and synthetic compounds. Since obtaining the deer musk requires killing the endangered animal, nearly all musk fragrance used in perfumery today is synthetic, sometimes called "white musk". Synthetic musks are chemicals used in personal care product fragrances and are rarely listed on the label, since fragrance ingredients are often not disclosed. They can disrupt cell functioning and hormone systems and have been detected in human breast milk, body fat, blood, and umbilical cords. The natural aroma of musk is very complex and usually described with so many contradictory attributes, ranging from sweet, creamy, or powdery to rich, leathery, spicy, and even woodsy. The typical musky smell develops from the natural musk tincture once the reddish-brown paste inside the musk pod turns into a black granular material called "musk grain," which is then tinctured with alcohol. The aroma of the tincture gives a pleasant odor only after it is considerably diluted. The most common types of musks used in consumer products are nitro-musks and polycyclic musks, which enter the human body through skin absorption, inhalation, and ingestion of foods such as fish that are exposed to these chemicals. Ethylene brassylate is a macrocyclic musk, like most of those found in nature, and is exceptionally tenacious and a good fixative.
In summary, musk is a class of aromatic substances used as base notes in perfumery, and it includes glandular secretions from animals such as the musk deer, numerous plants emitting similar fragrances, and synthetic compounds. Since obtaining the deer musk requires killing the endangered animal, nearly all musk fragrance used in perfumery today is synthetic. Synthetic musks are chemicals used in personal care product fragrances and can disrupt cell functioning and hormone systems. The natural aroma of musk is very complex and usually described with so many contradictory attributes.
