Civet

Civet
(African Civet - Civettictis civetta, 1894)
Photo: Ra'ike - lic. under GNU 1.2

A curious detail is revealed when we learn that the civet acquired its name because it loves to eat the fruit of Durio zibethinus - the Durian. The Durian fruit also has a long legend of being an aphrodisiac: Henri Baillon's 1875 "The Natural History of Plants", Vol. 4 states of the Durian "The civet-cat feeds on it; whence its specific name. This fruit passes as aphrodisiacal having, at the same time, the flavour of several fruits and vegetables and of cream." [7] Whether there is any actual connection between the aphrodisiac legends of the civet and the fruit it eats, undoubtedly remains to be seen but might make an interesting avenue for scientific research. The civet is apparently so fond of the Durian fruit that the fruit has been used as bait by civet hunters. [5]

The civet musk was also used to create "civet absolute", a flavoring ingredient that was added to rum or caramel flavored candies, and even added to cigarettes. [2]

A further curiosity of the civet (the Indonesian palm civet - Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) is an indirect result of its love of eating coffee fruits. The inner "beans" are excreted in its dung - and, unbelivably, these beans are retrieved from its dung and sold as a gourmet coffee called Kopi luwak, said to be the most expensive coffee in the world (over $100 / pound and up to $3000 for certain types). [8] [9]

Civet - Aphrodisiac History

Civet has been used in perfumery since old times in diverse cultures, and there are references to it being used as a perfume ingredient since at least as far back as the 17th century. It continued to be used until recent times, in famous perfumes such as those by Chanel, Lancome and Cartier. Chanel substituted civet with a synthetic ingredient as of 1998.

Civet was described as an aphrodisiac scent by a number of writers of the 19th century - however its reputation as an aphrodisiac may have much earlier origins: Robert Lovell's famous 1661 text "Sive Panzoologicomineralogia. Or a Compleat History of Animals and Minerals" states (p.116) "Applied to the glans [i.e. clitoris] it causeth great delectation in Women." Lovell is not the only writer of the 17th century to have held views that civet, used to anoint the genitals, had an aphrodisiac effect - and there is also mention of it being applied to the male parts in order to bring greater pleasure to lovemaking. Civet was also used medicinally in that age for a number of conditions.

Samuel Frederick Gray's 1828 "Supplement To The Pharmacopœias" lists several perfume recipes, including an "Essence royale", described as aphrodisiac, which includes Civet, Musk, Ambergris, Cinnamon, Rose, Orange Flower Water, "ol. lign. rhod." [this is an abbreviation for oleum e ligno rhodii aka Oil of Rhodium; described in that book as being either Levant Rosewood or Rhodiola rosea, interchangeably], and Kali pp [ I think this is potassium phosphate(?)]. The aphrodisiac also appears to have been taken internally, as evidenced by the recipe. [10] This recipe, with mininal variations, is widely quoted and the earliest reference to it I can find is in William Lewis and John Aikin's 1784 "An experimental history of the materia medica" [11]

Frederick Hollick's 1878 "The origin of life and process of reproduction in plants and animals" has an interesting statement about the use of civet as an aphrodisiac:

"In Turkey, an odoriferous pastile is in common use in the harems, and is reputed to have great stimulating power. It is compounded principally of musk, civet, ambergris, cinnamon, and a variety of vegetable oils. One of these is constantly worn in the dress, and sometimes it is powdered and rubbed over the person." [12]

Jonathan Pereira's 1852 "The Elements of materia medica and therapeutics: Volume 1 - Page 289" likewise describes civet as an aphrodisiac scent, stating:

"Various odoraments, as musk, castoreum, civet, and ambergris, have been employed as sexual stimulants. [13]

Numerous other texts of the 19th century in particular described civet as an aphrodisiac scent. The London Medical and Surgical Journal of 1835, listing a large number of the substances considered aphrodisiac through the ages, writes of civet that it was "said to be of undoubted efficacy". [14]

However, by the 1890s civet appears to have been somewhat 'downgraded' as a potential aphrodisiac; though the basis for this is not clearly stated. The latter 19th century was one in which attitudes to old myth and fable changed - due in part to the work of Darwin (Origin of Species, 1859). Once science had found a solid foundation from which to attack religion, it spared little of ancient fable, lore and mystery, all of which were consigned to be nothing more than mere superstition; and much that was good, if not immediately able to be proved, was vehemently discarded. In technical terminology, this is known as "throwing the baby out with the bath water". The following report from the "Bulletin of Pharmacy" Vol. 9, 1895 is typical of that era:

"The civet cats are chiefly remarkable for the highly odoriferous secretion from which the perfumers used to prepare the old-fashioned musk. When good this substance is of a clear yellowish or brown color, and of about the consistence of butter or honey; undiluted the smell is powerful and very offensive, but when largely diluted with oil or other ingredients it becomes an agreeable perfume. It is much employed by native practitioners in India, under the name of Kusterii, the Oriental name in most of the Eastern languages for musk, which it somewhat resembles. Important medicinal virtues were formerly attributed to civet; it, however, no longer forms an article in the materia medica, and the virtues ascribed to it as a valuable stimulant and aphrodisiac probably possessed no foundation.—Pharmaceutical Journal." [15]

Is Civet an Aphrodisiac?

Civet musk is one of several animal secretions that have been used in perfumery. Others include castoreum (from the beaver), musk (from the musk deer, Moschus moschatus) and ambergris. In a number of cases, including that of the civet, these products are made from the scent glands of the creature.

Looking at the history of use of this ingredient in connection what is known about pheromones, it seems likely that the aphrodisiac legend of civet scent has some basis; however science considers it far from proven.

Both pressure from animal rights groups and the availability of synthetic alternatives have - rightly - done much to curtail the use of animal musks.

Civet - scientific research

Much of the scientific research surrounding the civet has been undertaken in investigation of the SARS virus. However, some papers appear which have investigated the properties of its scent or may relate to it. List below: (to be investigated)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/5930290
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/5120311
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4274264
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4418427
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/955242
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/507382
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2263223 ***
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10554286
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12854407
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14994474
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16556990
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18997951

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