Civetone (CAS 542-46-1) — Musky Heart Note Fragrance Ingredient
Civetone
CAS 542-46-1
What Is Civetone?
Civetone is a rare animal-derived musk compound originally obtained from the scent glands of civet cats. Today it’s primarily synthesized for ethical reasons. You’ll encounter it in luxury perfumes where it adds depth and warmth. This molecule matters because it’s one of the most powerful musks known, with exceptional longevity and a unique ability to blend with floral and woody notes. A tiny amount can transform a fragrance’s character.
Safety Profile
USE WITH AWARENESS
What Does Civetone Smell Like?
Civetone unfolds with an initial animalic warmth – imagine sun-warmed fur with hints of leather and honey. As it evolves, the sharp edges soften into a velvety musk that feels paradoxically clean yet primal. The dry-down reveals astonishing depth: a skin-like sensuality with whispers of ambergris and aged parchment. Unlike white musks, civetone maintains a subtle fecal undertone that gives it erotic tension, making florals blush and woods tremble with anticipation.
Scent Profile
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Civetone provides the legendary animalic growl beneath Shalimar’s vanilla-amber pyramid, creating the perfume’s provocative contrast between sweet and carnal.
One of the first fragrances to use synthetic civetone, where it bridges the lavender top to vanilla base with shocking animalic warmth.
Civetone stars here, amplified by costus and cumin into a fur-coat musk that smells like a medieval marketplace.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: O=C1CCCCCCC\C=C/CCCCCCC1
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Civetone is a macrocyclic ketone (cyclopentadecanone) with a 15-membered carbon ring. Naturally occurring in civet gland secretions, modern synthesis typically involves ring-closure of long-chain diacids or cyclization of unsaturated fatty acids. Its large ring structure gives exceptional stability and low volatility. The molecule’s conformational flexibility allows it to bind strongly to olfactory receptors, explaining its potent musk character. Synthetic civetone is chemically identical to the natural compound but avoids ethical concerns.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | 343 °C (estimated) |
|---|---|
| Melting Point | 31-33 °C |
| Molecular Weight | 224.38 g/mol |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.01-0.1% | Up to 0.3% | Used in trace amounts for animalic effects |
| Soap | 0.001-0.01% | Up to 0.05% | Highly diluted to avoid overwhelming other notes |
Classic Accords
+ Oakmoss + Labdanum = Chypre
+ Vanilla + Tonka = Animalic Gourmand
Tip: Always predilute to 1% in ethanol before incorporating into blends to ensure even distribution.
Alternatives & Comparisons
A softer macrocyclic musk from deer, with less animalic edge but similar longevity. Preferable for cleaner musk effects.
Synthetic musk with comparable fixative properties but no animalic character. Used when ethical sourcing is paramount.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. IFRA, REACH, EU Cosmetics Regulation standards update periodically. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating. Not legal or regulatory advice.
IFRA Status
No IFRA restrictions. Synthetic civetone is unrestricted under Amendment 51.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM considers synthetic civetone safe at current usage levels in fragrance (FEMA GRAS 3425).
Sustainability
Modern civetone is entirely synthetic, eliminating the need for animal harvesting. The synthesis from renewable plant-based fatty acids has minimal environmental impact. As a potent material, its carbon footprint per kilo of finished product is exceptionally low due to extremely small usage quantities.
Explore Civetone
Browse essential oils and aroma compounds.
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Industry & Science Data
References
- Arctander S. (1969). Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin.
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Mar 2026.
Ingredient Data Sheet
CAS 542-46-1Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 250.4 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 6.1🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 342.5 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 157.1 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | 0.104💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | C1CCCC=CCCCCCCCC(=O)CCC1🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Base💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 15 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | animalicmuskysweet• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | ketonealkene💻 RDKit |
| “Delicately sweet-animal, rather musky odor, more musky than Exaltone, but not in any way repulsive or unpleasantly animal. Extremely tenacious.”📖 Arctander | |
| Cycloheptadeca-9-en-1-one has an obnoxious animal-gland odor. It can be pleasant at extreme dilutions.📖 Fenaroli | |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 11.4559 ppm (n=5)📖 van Gemert |
Regulatory Status
| IOFI Classification | Nature Identical📖 Fenaroli |
Physical data: PubChem (NIH/NLM), U.S. EPA CompTox Dashboard, EPA OPERA models, RDKit. Odor & flavor: Arctander (Perfume & Flavor Chemicals), Fenaroli's Handbook of Flavor Ingredients, Leffingwell. Thresholds: van Gemert (Compilations of Odour Threshold Values). Regulatory: IFRA Standards 51st, FEMA GRAS. Trade names: Surburg (Common Fragrance & Flavor Materials). All data compiled and cross-referenced for perfumertools.com.
Physicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID80883434
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 250.426 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.863 g/cm^3📊 OPERA |
| Boiling Point | 342.5 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 32.5 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 157.15 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.449 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 291.365 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 6.31 Log10 unitless🔬 EPA CTX |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 6.044 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 6.044 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 8.95 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0 mmHg📊 OPERA |
| Viscosity | 6.694 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 30.299 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 148.746 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 17.07 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 78.134 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 30.975 Å^3📊 OPERA |
Data Sources:
🔬 EPA Experimental data from U.S. EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard & CTX APIs. 📊 OPERA Predicted using EPA's OPERA QSAR models. 💻 Computed Calculated from SMILES using RDKit.
