The information here describes the ingredient in general. Its possible sources may vary and do not necessarily show the origin or form used in a particular YUMA product. For product-specific information, check the relevant product page.
Muscone is a key perfumery ingredient that brings musky, floral, and animalic notes to fragrances. It is widely used to recreate natural musk and adds a distinct powdery-violet feel to leather and woody compositions.
The historical origins of Muscone trace back to natural musk extracted from the Siberian musk deer. Discovered in 1905, its molecular structure was not identified until 1925 because it posed a major challenge for chemists of the era. It was originally extracted from Tonkin musk, with certain grades containing up to 20 percent Muscone.
Today, Muscone is produced exclusively through synthetic methods, standing out as the first non-nitrated musk to enter the market. It shares a similar structure with Muscenone but is less potent. Mapping its structure marked a milestone in chemical science, since early 20th-century scientists struggled to imagine that a molecule could form a carbon ring with more than six atoms.
It took a full 20 years for scientists to decode the molecular structure of Muscone, as it challenged established early-20th-century theories regarding cyclic carbon compounds.
In the past, producing natural musk required harming the musk deer. The development of synthetic Muscone marked an important step toward protecting these endangered species.
Natural musk was historically so valuable that its weight exceeded the price of gold, making it one of the most expensive perfumery ingredients in the world.
The IFRA Standards form an industry self-regulatory system. They may prohibit or restrict the use of particular fragrance ingredients, or set specifications, according to end use. The status below reflects the IFRA data recorded for this ingredient. It is not a product certification and does not replace applicable law or assessment of the finished product.