civet
/ˈsɪvɪt/
noun
- A catlike mammal found in Africa and Asia, known for producing a musky substance used in perfumes.
- The civet is a nocturnal animal that lives in tropical forests.
- Farmers sometimes keep civets to collect their valuable musk.
- A civet looks somewhat like a long, slender cat with a pointed face.
- A strong-smelling, musky substance obtained from the glands of the civet, used in making perfume.
- Perfumers use civet as a fixative to make scents last longer.
- The smell of pure civet is very strong and unpleasant.
- Many modern perfumes use synthetic civet instead of the natural product.