Hyraceum Absolute
Hyraceum Absolute. Is a sweet, smooth animal musk with notes of Deer musk, Castoreum and Tobacco. It is one of my two favourite creations, the other being my Musk Root Absolute.
I spent almost 4 months preparing this product and am delighted with the result.
$11.00 - $675.00
This is a thick but pourable liquid, prepared by finely powdering the rock-hard mineralized Hyraceum stones (Which was no mean feat!). The material was then macerated and stirred for 2 weeks in a warm water bath before filtering and distilling under a vaccuum. The collected alcohol was then added back in to the marc and the maceration process was repeated to collect all the aromatic molecules from the stone. So, a long process. But well worth the time and effort!
Though it dissolves readily in alcohol, Hyraceum Absolute is in a base of DPG to hinder crystilization of the material.
Hyraceum Absolute acts as a fixative and base/heart-note in perfume compositions, anchoring more fleeting and volatile scents, it is likely useful in incense-making as well.
Explaining precisely what Hyraceum is,is always fun.
To be succinct, Hyraceum is the mineralized urine and feces of the Rock Hyrax, the only other animal related to the elephant. (Even though it looks more like a Groundhog and doesn't have a long nose.)
Rock Hyrax communities deposit their excrement in the same place for thousands of years. These smelly aggregates are called middens and serve as social and territorial markers. These middens can be as old as 50.000 years.
Rock Hyrax are most often found basking on warm rocks in sunshiny places from South Africa to Israel and Lebanon.
Hyraceum is best known for its use in perfumery, where it can deliver notes of leather, Deer Musk, Civet, Castoreum and Cade.
Dan