In Ethopia, the African civet is in kept in captivity in tiny cages for years, and their anal glands are harvested for a yellow waxy substance called civet which is diluted and used as a perfume base. Civet is scaped out of the anal sacs every few days, and is a painful proceedure for the animal.

The WSPA says that Chanel, Cartier, and Lancôme have all admitted to using civet in their products and that laboratory tests detected the ingredient in Chanel No. 5.

To exploit the African civet and force it to endure a life this way for a perfume ingredient is animal cruelty- especially since synthetic musk is an alternative.We ask Chanel, Cartier, and Lancôme to stop using civet as a perfume ingredient.

SOURCE: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2306/does-civet-come-from-tortured-cats

In Ethopia, the African civet is in kept in captivity in tiny cages for years, and their anal glands are harvested for a yellow waxy substance called civet which is diluted and used as a perfume base. Civet is scaped out of the anal sacs every few days, and is a painful proceedure for the animal.

The WSPA says that Chanel, Cartier, and Lancôme have all admitted to using civet in their products and that laboratory tests detected the ingredient in Chanel No. 5.

To exploit the African civet and force it to endure a life this way for a perfume ingredient is animal cruelty- especially since synthetic musk is an alternative.We ask Chanel, Cartier, and Lancôme to stop using civet as a perfume ingredient.

SOURCE: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2306/does-civet-come-from-tortured-cats