Character
The Story of Castoreum
An animalic base once prized for its intense leather and smoky character, castoreum was sourced from beaver scent glands and banned from perfumery two decades ago due to ethical concerns.
Heritage
Alexander the Great discovered castoreum around 330 BC during his campaigns in the Middle East. The ancient Greeks and Romans prized it as both medicine and perfume. Medieval perfumers incorporated it into scented pomanders worn to mask foul city odors. North American beavers faced near-extinction by 1900, driven by fur trade demand and castoreum harvesting. Canada and Russia supplied the majority of historical supplies. Organizations including the WWF eventually campaigned successfully for prohibition, as extraction required killing the animal. By the early 2000s, castoreum vanished from mainstream perfumery, leaving only ambergris as a permitted natural animalic note.
At a Glance
1
Feature this note
Canada
Primary source region
Ingredient Details
Solvent extraction
Castor sacs (scent glands)
Did You Know
"Ancient commentators mistakenly believed castoreum came from the beaver's testicles, a myth even repeated in Aesop's fables."