User:Mykstor/sandbox
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The word Musk originates from Sanskrit muṣká meaning testicle, is a misnomer as it pertains to a substance with a penetrating, effusive odor obtained from a special singular gland of the male musk deer which is located between the genitals and the stomach. This substance has been coveted for its aroma and fixative properties by both makers and wearers of perfumes since ancient times. Is one of the most expensive and now largely outlawed animal products in the world.
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Nowadays, Musk in a broader sense refers to any number of substances, of natural origin or man-made, that elicit an approximation of the distinctive and archetypal smell of muscone, the essential chemical compound found in this gland or dried "pod" taken from the highly-endangered musk deer. Musk odorants of widely differing chemistry and origin are highly revered and nearly ubiquitous in modern perfumery. Musk odorants tend to be exceptionally tenacious, being what perfumers call very substantive. Musks impart a soft but highly effusive sensual warmth and finesse as well as strength and support to a fragrance composition's overall olfactory picture. Because musks tend to "underlie" floral, fruity, citrus and other aroma notes in a composition and often outlast them, they are often referred to as a base note. In fact, a noticeable musk component in a fragrance meant to worn close the the skin or in a lipstick is for many people exactly that effusive and "nose-filling" unknown "something" which causes them to describe what they're smelling as being a "real" perfume, as smelling or tasting "perfumey". [1]
Other sources of the musk aroma include glandular secretions from other animals, notably the endangered civet, which yields a macrocyclic ketone not very similar in basic structure" to muscone and called civetone, several plants emitting similar fragrances, notably ambrettolide from the seeds of abelmoschus as well as and man-made nature-identical and others not found in nature with similar aromas which expert "noses" classify subjectively as being part of the same olfactive family.
[2][3] Until the late 19th century, natural musk was used extensively in perfumery until economic and ethical motives led to the adoption of synthetic musk, which is now used almost exclusively.[4] The organic compound primarily responsible for the characteristic odor of musk is muscone.
Use of natural musk "pods", i.e. the dried deer glands, unfortunately still occurs in traditional Chinese medicine.