Castoreum

Product Description

~~In perfumery, the term castoreum refers to the resinoid extract resulting from the dried and alcohol tinctured beaver castor.The dried beaver castor sacs are generally aged for two or more years to mellow.
Castoreum is largely used for its note suggesting leather, typically compounded with other ingredients including top, middle, and base notes. Some classic perfumes incorporating castor are Emeraude, Chanel Antaeus, Cuir de Russie, Magie Noire, Lancme Caractre, Hechter Madame, Givenchy III, Shalimar, and many "leather" themed compositions.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration lists castoreum extract as a generally recognized as safe (GRAS) food additive.[ In ***5, the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association's GRAS program (FEMA ***1 and ***2) added castoreum extract and castoreum liquid. The annual industry consumption is very low, around **0 pounds, whereas vanillin is over 2.6 million pounds annually.
Castoreum has been traditionally used in Sweden for flavoring a variety of schnapps commonly referred to as "Bverhojt" (literally, beaver shout).
Castoreum was also considered for use to contribute to the flavor and odor of cigarettes.
Medieval beekeepers used castoreum to increase honey production.