Civettone is a synthetic aroma chemical known for its musky, animalic scent profile, reminiscent of the natural civet musk. It is primarily used in perfumery to impart depth and warmth to compositions, often found in oriental and woody fragrances. Civettone can enhance the overall complexity of a scent, providing a rich base that supports floral, fruity, and spicy notes. In formulations, it typically occupies a lower percentage due to its potent character, allowing it to blend seamlessly without overpowering other ingredients. As a synthetic compound, civettone offers a cruelty-free alternative to natural civet musk, which is derived from animal sources. It is important to note that civettone may be subject to regulatory scrutiny, and perfumers should be aware of any applicable IFRA restrictions or safety guidelines when incorporating it into their creations. While it is not commonly listed as a major allergen, as with all fragrance materials, it is advisable to conduct thorough safety assessments to ensure compliance with cosmetic regulations. — AI-generated summary, 2026-09-02.
Civettone is the macrocyclic ketone responsible for the characteristic scent of natural civet. In isolation it is intensely animalic and fecal at high concentrations, opening into a warm, radiant, musky-sweet character on dilution. It has a soft, skin-like, slightly powdery warmth that lends a sensual, diffusive body to compositions.AI · claude-opus-4-7
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Perfume and Flavor Chemicals, page 293.
White or colorless crystalline mass
Almost insoluble in water, poorly soluble in propylene glycol, soluble in alcohol and oils
Delicately sweet-animal, rather musky odor, more musky than Exaltone, but not in any way repulsive or unpleasantly animal.
A very useful fixative in Chypres, Oriental fragrance types, Citrus colognes and in many types of floral compositions, particularly those where Rose is a major component.
Produced from synthetic (several methods), e.g. 1) via Di-ketenes. 2) via Methylesters of unsaturated dicarboxylic acids. 3) from Aleuretic acid (Hunsdiecker’s synthesis). 4) by oxidation of Civettol extracted from Civet.