Musk is actually the name given to a substance obtained from the gland of the musk deer. This substance known as musk has a very penetrating odor. This is one of the most expensive animal products known. It has been used as a perfume fixative since times immemorial. The word has been derived from a Sanskrit word meaning testicle. At present a number of substances with similar odors are placed in the category of musk but they differ in their chemical structure. These chemicals are either derived from the glandular secretions of animals other than the musk deer or certain plants are also known to emit fragrances similar to this compound or they may be synthesized artificially.
Until the 19th century natural musk was used in making perfumes but with the advent of technology a number of synthetic compounds were prepared which bear similar fragrance like that of this substance. The organic compound chiefly responsible for the tempting odor of musk is muscone. The musk deer is a member of family Moschidae. It dwells in the forests of India, Pakistan, Tibet, China, Siberia and Mongolia. In order to obtain the musk the deer is killed and the gland also known as the musk pod is removed from the body of the animal. The musk pod contains a reddish-brown paste that turns into a blackish granular material called musk grain when the pod is allowed to dry. Musk grain is then tinctured with alcohol. A pleasant odor is obtained only when the tinctured material is allowed to undergo dilution. No other substance has a complex aroma like that of musk.
It has been used in perfumes since long as it bears characteristic long power to be used as a fixative. Today the trade quantity of natural musk is strictly under the control of CITES and illegal poaching is prohibited. Muskrat is a rodent native to North America also secretes a glandular substance bearing odor similar to musk. The animal is known since 17th century but the product is not worthy from commercial point of view. The Musk Duck of Southern Australia, muskox, musk shrew, musk beetle, African Civet, musk turtle, alligator from Central America are some of the animals known to secret glandular substances with musk like odor. In crocodiles there are two pairs of such glands in crocodiles one located near the jaw and the other near the cloaca. Snakes also bear these glands.
Some plants like Abelmoschus moschatus produce musky smelling macrocyclic lactone compounds. These compounds are widely used as substitutes for musk. The flowers and seeds of the plant are sources of this substance. As musk deer has entered the category of endangered most of the substance used in perfumery is produced artificially and is known as white musk. They are placed in three categories sometimes aromatic nitro musks, polycyclic musk compounds, and macrocyclic musk compounds. The aromatic nitro musks and polycyclic musk compounds are used in making cosmetics and detergent industry. Macrocyclic compounds are generally safer than these two types of compounds and it is expected that they will replace them in the near future.
