What is "civetone"

n. (context organic compound English) The unsaturated macrocyclic ketone ''1-cycloheptadec-9-enone'' that is a pheromone produced by the civet cat, and is used to add a musky tone to perfumes

Civetone is a macrocyclic ketone and the main odorous constituent of civet. It is a pheromone sourced from the African civet. It has a strong musky odor that becomes pleasant at extreme dilutions. Civetone is closely related to muscone, the principal odoriferous compound found in musk. Today, civetone can be synthesized from precursor chemicals found in palm oil.