A substance, of the consistence of butter or honey, taken from glands in the anal pouch of the civet (Viverra civetta). It is of clear yellowish or brownish color, of a strong, musky odor, offensive when undiluted, but agreeable when a small portion is mixed with another substance. It is used as a perfume.
The animal that produces civet (Viverra civetta); -- called also civet cat. It is carnivorous, from two to three feet long, and of a brownish gray color, with transverse black bands and spots on the body and tail. It is a native of northern Africa and of Asia. The name is also applied to other species.
To scent or perfume with civet.
catlike mammal typically secreting musk used in perfumes
A glandular secretion from the civet cat, used as a fixative. Repugnant by itself, civet blends well and adds a warm, leathery, erotic tone to a composition.
A musk-like substance obtained from sacs or glands in the anal pouch of several animals of the civet genus.
also called Zibetha, civet is one of the few perfume materials obtained from an animal and also one of the most important. It is an excellent fixative and a constituent of many top-quality perfumes today. 'Bal a Versailles', 'Boucheron' and 'Parfum d'Hermes' are examples of perfumes containing civet.
The 32 species of civet (pronounced /ˈsɪvɪt/), genet, and linsang make up the family Viverridae. They are small, lithe-bodied, mostly arboreal members of the order Carnivora. General appearance is broadly cat-like, but the muzzle is extended and often pointed, rather like an otter or a mongoose.