Абсолют цибетину

What it is

Civet is the glandular secretion produced by both sexes of Viverridae species. A number of viverrid species secrete civet oil in their perineal glands, including the African civet (Civettictis civetta), the large Indian civet (Viverra zibetha) and the small Indian civet (Viverricula indica).

Production

Most civet is produced in African farms, where African civets are kept in cages for this purpose. African civets typically produce three to four grams of civet per week. In Ethiopia, civets are found in the wild, then caught and kept in captivity. Males are generally preferred to females because they produce larger quantities and better quality civet musk.

Chemistry

Civetone is a macrocyclic ketone and the main odorous constituent of civet oil, at a concentration of between 2.5 and 3.4%. The oil also includes various other ketones such as cyclopentadecanone, cyclohexadecanone, cycloheptadecanone and 6-cis-cycloheptadecenone. The animal scent is reinforced by smaller amounts of indole and skatole, which in African civet are present at a concentration of about 1%. Civetone is closely related to muscone, the principal odoriferous compound found in musk. The structure of both compounds was elucidated by Leopold Ružička. Today, civetone can be synthesized from precursor chemicals found in palm oil.

Trade and welfare

Ethiopia is the world's main supplier of civet musk, with 90% of the international export share. Following concerns raised by animal rights groups about the mistreatment of captive civets in Ethiopia, musk exportation is an underground industry. Animal rights activists have criticised the extraction of civetone as cruel. The population of the African civet in Botswana is listed under Appendix III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. The US permits the importation of civet oil, as long as it has been treated to ensure it is noninfectious.

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