Musk is a class of aromatic substances commonly used as base notes in perfumery. It is a well-known fragrance ingredient that is often described as comfortable, soft, fruity, clean, powdery, sensual, and similar to the smell of skin. However, there are different types of musks, and some of them are synthetic and can have negative effects on human health and the environment. Here are some details about musk fragrance products:
Positive:
- Musk is well-known for its aphrodisiac powers and is often used in perfumery to create alluring, sensual, and enticing scents.
- Musk is a popular fragrance ingredient that can add a velvety, skinny effect to perfumes.
Negative:
- Synthetic musks are chemicals used in personal care product fragrances that can disrupt cell functioning and hormone systems.
- Synthetic musks bioaccumulate in the environment and have been detected in human breast milk, body fat, blood, and umbilical cords.
- Frequent use of musk-containing products corresponds to greater accumulation of these chemicals in the body and the environment.
Ingredients or materials:
- Natural musk was used extensively in perfumery until the late 19th century when economic and ethical motives led to the adoption of synthetic musk, which is now used almost exclusively.
- Synthetic musks are used as fragrance ingredients in personal care and cleaning products. The most common types of musks used in consumer products are nitro-musks (e.g., musk ketone and musk xylene) and polycyclic musks (e.g., galaxolide and tonalide) .
- The organic compound primarily responsible for the characteristic odor of musk is muscone.
- Other ingredients, such as extracts of ambrette seed, galbanum, and angelica root, can also deliver a musky sensuality to a perfume.
