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Glite Dictionary
castoreum

castoreum

1 9.9
A yellowish strong-smelling substance that comes from beavers and people use in perfumes and flavorings
  • noun
  • /kæˈstɔriəm/
  • Specialized
: castoreo
  • The castoreum obtained from beavers is prized for its aromatic properties in cosmetics and flavorings.

Examples

  • I got me some castoreum in Saint Louie for bait." Morgan remembered Silas coming to their farm, showing them a beaver pelt with its thick, shiny fur.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Castoreum is a substance made from beavers' castor sacs or anal scent glands.

    Blog text (4)

  • Castoreum is one of the many nebulous "natural ingredients" used to flavor food.

    Blog text (4)

  • "What's castoreum?"

    Fiction book (1994)

  • 6) Castoreum

    Blog text (4)

  • Before the beaver's demise, it was hunted for food, its pelt, and its castoreum, or musk.

    Academic text (2001)

  • Many people are unaware that castoreum can be included in food products as a natural flavoring.

  • It is common for perfume makers to use castoreum for its distinctive and strong scent.

Surface Forms

castoreum singular
castoreums plural

Etymology

Castoreum comes from the Latin and Greek word castor, which means 'beaver'. The name refers to the strong, yellowish-smelling substance taken from beavers and used in perfumes and old medicines, so the word literally points to the animal it came from.