Deer musk tincture

Say itDeer musk TINGK-chur

Warm, powdery-animalic, skin-like and slightly urinous, with enormous diffusion.

What it is: Natural tincture from dried preputial gland secretion of male musk deer.
Where it comes from: Himalayas, Siberia, China
When you smell it: Dry-down: hours later.
What perfumers do with it: Historic king of fixatives; gave depth, sensuality and lasting radiance to classic perfumes.
Worth knowing: The word musk traces back to Sanskrit muska, 'testicle', a misreading of what the gland pod was.
Rules: Not allowed. CITES Appendix I/II; perfume trade effectively ended.
Also called: Tonkin musk; grain musk; musk pod

Not on the label of any of the 232 perfumes read so far.

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