Which chemical substance is found in musk, excreted by male musk deer ?

1 Answer
Mar 17, 2018

Deer musk is a substance with a persistent odour that is obtained from a gland of a musk deer.

Explanation:

In addition to its odoriferous principle, it contains ammonia #(NH_3)#, cholesterol, fatty matter, a bitter resinous substance, and other animal principles. Free fatty acids and phenols #(10%)#, waxes #(38%)#, and steroids #(38%)# were found to be the main groups of the secretion lipids.

The musk from the musk pod is removed and dried in the sun. Upon drying the reddish brown paste turns into a black granular material called musk grain. This is used for alcoholic solutions in the perfume industry. The aroma of this tincture becomes more intense during storage and gives a pleasant odour only after it is considerably diluted.