Musk is a class of aromatic substances commonly used as base notes in perfumery. It includes glandular secretions from animals such as the musk deer, numerous plants emitting similar fragrances, and artificial substances with similar odors. The name "musk" originates from the Late Greek μόσχος moskhos', from Persian mushk and Sanskrit मुष्क muṣka (lit. 'testicle') derived from Proto-Indo-European noun múh₂s meaning "mouse". The substance has been used as a popular perfume fixative since ancient times and is one of the most expensive animal products in the world.
Musk was originally obtained from a gland of the musk deer, which was harvested by taking a glandular sack about the size of a golf ball from the deer. That sack holds a liquid that is sprayed by the deer and used to attract a mate. When the deer died, the sack would be taken and dried to produce something called a "musk pod." Once that was broken open, you'd find the fragrant musk grain, which would then be soaked in alcohol, producing the scent we would refer to as "musk". However, natural musk is no longer used in fragrances, as the musk deer is killed in order to extract the musk pod, which led to the musk deer becoming endangered.
Today, musk scents are obtained mostly from ethical safe synthetic sources, and are used mostly often in base notes to add long-lasting allure to fragrances. The scent of musk is warm, subtle, and defined by a complex range of powdery, sweet, woodsy, and earthy aroma impressions, with fruity or floral undertones that can also be detected depending on the musk.
