castoreum
noun
cas·to·re·um
ka-ˈstȯr-ē-əm 
: a bitter strong-smelling creamy orange-brown substance that consists of the dried perineal glands of the beaver and their secretion and is used especially by perfumers
called also castor
Examples of castoreum in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Animal excretions such as deer musk; castoreum, from beavers; and civet, from the perineal glands of a mammal of the same name, are no longer considered humane.
—
Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2024
In the early 20th century, castoreum began appearing in some foods to add a vanilla-raspberry flavor.
—Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Nov. 2023
But removing castoreum from beavers is a labor-intensive process.
—Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Nov. 2023
The Romans burned castoreum in lamps, believing the fumes caused abortions.
—Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Nov. 2023
The Romans believed castoreum capable of curing ailments from constipation to gout, and the substance still scents perfumes and occasionally flavors some foods today, although its culinary use has dwindled dramatically in recent decades.
—Amy Brady, Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2022
But they were thought to have been hunted to extinction in the 17th century for their meat, their castoreum — a secretion used in medicine and perfumes — and, above all, their fur.
—Karla Adam, Washington Post, 7 Aug. 2020
Tamworth Distillery, whose bourbon was earlier reported on by the local news outlet Concord Monitor, hasn’t been shy about including beaver castoreum in its booze.
—Don Reisinger, Fortune, 13 June 2018
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Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2024
In the early 20th century, castoreum began appearing in some foods to add a vanilla-raspberry flavor.
—Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Nov. 2023
But removing castoreum from beavers is a labor-intensive process.
—Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Nov. 2023
The Romans burned castoreum in lamps, believing the fumes caused abortions.
—Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Nov. 2023
The Romans believed castoreum capable of curing ailments from constipation to gout, and the substance still scents perfumes and occasionally flavors some foods today, although its culinary use has dwindled dramatically in recent decades.
—Amy Brady, Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2022
But they were thought to have been hunted to extinction in the 17th century for their meat, their castoreum — a secretion used in medicine and perfumes — and, above all, their fur.
—Karla Adam, Washington Post, 7 Aug. 2020
Tamworth Distillery, whose bourbon was earlier reported on by the local news outlet Concord Monitor, hasn’t been shy about including beaver castoreum in its booze.
—Don Reisinger, Fortune, 13 June 2018
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Cite this Entry
“Castoreum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/castoreum. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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