Қоңырдың иіс бездерінен алынатын заттар

Fluid produced by beavers

Castoreum /k//æ//s/'/t//ɔr//i//ə//m/// is a yellowish exudate from the castor sacs of mature beavers. Beavers use castoreum in combination with urine to scent mark their territory. Both beaver sexes have a pair of castor sacs and a pair of anal glands, located in two cavities under the skin between the pelvis and the base of the tail. The castor sacs are not true glands (endocrine or exocrine) on a cellular level, hence references to these structures as preputial glands, castor glands, or scent glands are misnomers. It is extracted with alcohol from the dried and crushed castor sacs for use as a tincture in some perfumes and, rarely, as a food additive.

At least 24 compounds are known constituents of beaver castoreum. Several of these have pheromonal activity, of which the phenols 4 ethylphenol and catechol and the ketones acetophenone and 3 hydroxyacetophenone are strongest. Five additional compounds elicit a weaker response: 4 methylcatechol, 4 methoxyacetophenone, 5 methoxysalicylic acid, salicylaldehyde, and 3 hydroxybenzoic acid. There are also oxygen containing monoterpenes such as 6 methyl l heptanol, 4,6 dimethyl l heptanol, isopinocamphone, pinocamphone, and two linalool oxides and their acetates. Other compounds are: benzoic acid, benzyl alcohol, borneol, o cresol, 4 (4' hydroxyphenyl) 2 butanone, hydroquinone, phenol. All those compounds are gathered from plant food. and castoramine, and cis cyclohexane 1,2 diol.

In perfumery, the term castoreum refers to the resinoid extract resulting from the dried and alcohol tinctured beaver castor. The dried beaver castor sacs are generally aged for two or more years to mellow. Castoreum is largely used for its note suggesting leather, typically compounded with other ingredients including top, middle, and base notes. Some classic perfumes incorporating castor are Emeraude, Chanel Antaeus, Cuir de Russie, Magie Noire, Lancôme Caractère, Hechter Madame, Givenchy III, Shalimar, and many "leather" themed compositions. In 1965, the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association's GRAS program (FEMA 2261 and 2262) added castoreum extract and castoreum liquid. The annual industry consumption is very low, around , whereas vanillin is over annually. Castoreum has been traditionally used in Sweden for flavoring a variety of schnapps commonly referred to as Bäverhojt .

Castoreum was also considered for use to contribute to the flavor and odor of cigarettes. Medieval beekeepers used castoreum to increase honey production.