Q&A: Is Perfume Vegan?

A staple cosmetic product found in almost every household, perfume is not always free from animal cruelty.

A commonly used animal product in most perfumes is musk, which is often extracted from the glands of the male Musk or Kasturi deer – an endangered species. Found in the Himalayas, deer produce musk to attract females. Moreover, many female musk deer are also killed accidentally while hunting for the males.

Another ingredient used as a fragrance is castoreum. This is a secretion derived from the castor sacs of beavers, which is placed near their anal glands. These animals use this secretion, along with their urine, to mark their scent across territories.

Apart from this, other common sources of fragrance or musk used in perfumes are derived from Civet cats. Found in Asia and Africa, these animals also produce musk to attract mates. To extract their musk, they are captured in the wild and trapped in small, congested cages, for even upto fifteen years. Oftentimes the musk is taken from their glands while they are still conscious.

Ambergris, derived from Sperm whales, is also found in perfumes at times, although it is illegal in some countries, including India. This is used to make the perfume last longer.

Sperm whales, which are also considered an endangered species, are often killed for the extraction of ambergris.

Like any cosmetic product, animal testing on rabbits, guinea pigs, beagles, cats, mice and monkeys is usually involved in manufacturing of most perfumes.

Since perfumes use animal ingredients and usually involve animal testing, they are not vegan.

However, vegan and cruelty-free perfumes are also available in the market. Some which are available in the Indian market include All Good Scents and Verdure.

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