Castoreum Absolute
Origin: North America

• Details and product description

  Introduction:

  The beaver is the largest living rodent except the capybara, and is distinguished by its extremely broad, horizontally flattened, scaly tail. It serves as a prop while sitting up and for propulsion, steering, and communication while swimming. A resounding tail slap on the water surface signals danger. Beavers are 3 to 4 ft (91-120 cm) long, including the tail (12 in./30.5 cm long, 6 in./15.2 cm wide), and about 15 in. (38 cm) high at the shoulder; they usually weigh about 60 lb (27 kg). Their long, dense fur is reddish brown to nearly black; the naked, scaly tail is black. Both sexes have scent glands located in a pouch in the anal region. 

  History:

  Beaver has been used since the earliest times and are mentioned in Pomet's "Histoire des Drogues". The beaver played an enormous role in the economy of the United States in the early part of the Nineteenth century. The fashion industry used the soft under fur of the animal and pressed it into felt for ladies' and mens' hats. The beaver was also used as a source of castoreum, a musky-scented oil secreted by the animal's castor gland, which was used as a base for perfume. Castoreum was also used as bait to lure the beaver to their traps. Mountain men trapped the Rocky Mountain beaver practically to extinction to receive $6 to 9 per pelt. Traps were set in the water and the beaver would swim to deeper water for safety and, weighted by the heavy trap, drowned. Because of their great importance in maintaining the natural environment, they have been reintroduced in many areas of North America and Russia and are now increasing in numbers.

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