Animal Ingredients In Perfumes? Read This!

Few of us pay much attention to reading the small print that is on the label of a perfume bottle (check out these cologne samples). Generally, there are only two things that seem to interest us: the brand and details of possible allergies. This is one reason why we are usually not aware of the fact that there are some ingredients that are from animals that wend their way into a bottle of perfume. This is nothing to be alarmed about as this has been a practice for the last couple of centuries. Though we have heard of the musk deer being extensively culled and exploited for its coveted musk oil, there are other animals also who have been used in this industry.

Bees

Whether it is honey or wax, the contribution of the humble bee is something that cannot be discounted in the cosmetics industry. In the case of perfumes and scents, the use of honey is quite high. Wax is used in other preparations as well. The problem today is to be able to source authentic honey and beeswax. Adulteration is one thing that you have to be watchful about. For instance, the easiest way of adulterating honey is to mix sugar syrup in it in the right quantity and you will not be aware that the honey you use is impure. There are some perfumes that use the honey generated by bees that pollinate only one or two specific species of plants. This could be considered medicinal too and be used as a spray or perfumed cream.

Milk

This is one of the more commonly used animal secretions – consisting of fat, lactose, minerals, and protein, milk is used as a mixing agent too. It is common to find this mentioned on a perfume label that wants to concentrate on the use of natural products. It would be a good idea for you to find out what percentage of milk is being used in the scent that you buy. Usually, milk is mixed in a certain proportion and treated in such a way that it can be blended with the rest of the ingredients without allowing anything to get spoilt.

Apart from the two animal ingredients mentioned above, there are others such as the secretions of beavers, sperm whales, and civet cats too. Each of these animals secretes a certain substance that is used in small quantities but contribute significantly to the aroma or texture of the final product.