Oils, castoreum

Castoreumis an unpleasantly sharp-smelling, oily substance secreted by special glands of beavers, Castor fiber L. (Castoridae), living in Canada, Alaska, and Siberia. Both sexes secrete the substance, which accumulates in an abdominal pouch, also called castoreum. Dilute castoreum (e.g., as a tincture in ethanol) smells pleasantly of birch tar and musk and is slightly fruity.
Castoreum is a by-product of the fur industry. The beaver pouches are dried in the air or over a wood fire, the col

Cut the beaver (Castor spp.) sachets and dry them with fire to form a block. After being chopped, it is soaked in ethanol, filtered and concentrated.

Tincture can be used to mix perfume, soap essence. It can also be used in tobacco, food and wine flavors.