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Most DISGUSTING cologne ingredients

post #1 of 25
7/18/10 at 11:38am
Thread Starter 
I just learned about "Ambergris" today. Apparently it is formed in whale intestines and then either vomited or, well, excreted.

Gross.

What other gross stuff are we putting on?
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post #2 of 25
7/18/10 at 11:44am
Hi malwambi and welcome to Basenotes.

Do a search of basenotes forums on ambergris and you'll see that there has been quite a lot of discussion already, you're treading trodden ground here, there's a lot of info in the other discussion threads about it.
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post #3 of 25
7/18/10 at 11:57am
Many of the grossest ingredients are being replaced by synthetic versions of same. e.g. Castoreum and civet.

Ambergris has a long history with cologne. BTW, it's a long process to obtain real ambergris. It is not harvested directly from whales. It is excreted and has to float around in the ocean and weather for a longgggg time to turn into the material desired by perfumers. Look it up in Wikipedia.
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post #4 of 25
7/18/10 at 11:58am
Well, glands traditionally used in perfume-making, like musk and civet. But nowadays perfume-makers are resorting to their synthetic versions due to availability, cost as well as ethical issues. The point being, some of these (synthetic) aroma-chemicals are not considered safe by some organizations and pressure groups, so there are lots of discussions on this issue.
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post #5 of 25
7/18/10 at 12:18pm
Whatever Creed used in their pre-1980s fragrances that gives off that urinal cake smell... completely ruins the line for me. Bois du Portugal, Acier, Cypres Musc, etc. ... they're all horrific to my nose.
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post #6 of 25
7/18/10 at 12:25pm
Castoreum, musk, civet come from anal glands (although at least one is not from a technically anal gland).
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post #7 of 25
7/18/10 at 1:21pm
Civet, leather, or going overboard with musk, vanilla or patchouly I find disgusting

Edit: How could I forget Oud - Sickly sweet, it's yuk for me
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post #8 of 25
7/18/10 at 2:28pm
The monkey's paw used to make Creeds has always been controversial.
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post #9 of 25
7/18/10 at 2:38pm
You are lucky you don't know (apparently) what's in the food you are eating! LOL.
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post #10 of 25
7/18/10 at 2:57pm
Another vote for civet
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post #11 of 25
7/18/10 at 3:46pm
Civet is disgusting, yes,
but damn it smells good!
Take Bal Ã* Versailles for
example ... DAMN!!!
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post #12 of 25
7/18/10 at 4:10pm
Iso e-super. Headache for me.
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post #13 of 25
7/18/10 at 4:43pm
I can't seem to find that article called "Let us spray," which talks about imitating body odours, unwiped saddles and peoples armpits. Of course, they do not actually use bodily secretion, but they are certainly inspired by them.

The civet in Mouchoir de Monsieur is shocking at first, and then mingles with the glorious vanilla and lavender.
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post #14 of 25
7/18/10 at 4:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by actiasluna View Post

Hi malwambi and welcome to Basenotes.

Do a search of basenotes forums on ambergris and you'll see that there has been quite a lot of discussion already, you're treading trodden ground here, there's a lot of info in the other discussion threads about it.

i dont think the op is looking for info strictly on ambergris
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post #15 of 25
7/18/10 at 5:18pm
I think castoreum, civet and anything that smells like body odor, fecal matter, urine and the like are repulsive and I would never wear anything with these disgusting notes.
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post #16 of 25
7/18/10 at 5:56pm
Hyraceum from the Cape Hyrax ..this cute thing ...


Hyraceum is petrified poo and pee from the Hyrax and is called Africa Stone- good for giving scent an animalistic muskiness. Isn't it JUST yummy ??? !!! *LOL*


Picture from www.profumo.it
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post #17 of 25
7/18/10 at 6:09pm
Give me the gross stuff. I don't find it hard mentally to separate a delicious smell from what it comes from.
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post #18 of 25
7/18/10 at 6:50pm
Welcome to BN, you'll come to find that many notes and ingredients come from animals. Musks of course which you'll find in the base of a lot of fragrances are that of musk deer or musk rats urine and feces. When you think about it though from the other side.. the person smelling the fragrance and enjoying it.. you'll come to see that these musk notes, as well as ambergris notes are extremely versatile notes, that have been tested for years and years, and are put in fragrances for a reason.
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post #19 of 25
7/18/10 at 7:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Primrose View Post

I can't seem to find that article called "Let us spray," which talks about imitating body odours, unwiped saddles and peoples armpits.

I PMed it to OP already.
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post #20 of 25
7/18/10 at 7:42pm
Skatole has to be near the top of my list of disgusting ingredients - but I'm not complaining. What puts the jazz in jasmine? Indoles!
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post #21 of 25
7/18/10 at 8:23pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for you very interesting answers! That "hyraceum" turd oil--wow.
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post #22 of 25
7/18/10 at 8:25pm
OMG. But nowaday they do not use the "real" stuff right?
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post #23 of 25
7/19/10 at 3:29am
Go veggie!
No one mentioned oud/aoud/agarwood?
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post #24 of 25
7/19/10 at 8:34am
Anything that cheapens the quality of the fragrance. That's a long list with a lot of variables.

Animalics usually increase the quality. Perfumery would be nowhere without them. Fortunately there are better and better synthetics, although much of what is used now isn't adequate. Good animalic ingredients give a fragrance a warmth, smoothness, depth and complexity that is otherwise hard to accomplish.
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post #25 of 25
7/19/10 at 9:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mimi Gardenia View Post

Hyraceum from the Cape Hyrax ..this cute thing ...


Hyraceum is petrified poo and pee from the Hyrax and is called Africa Stone- good for giving scent an animalistic muskiness. Isn't it JUST yummy ??? !!! *LOL*


Picture from www.profumo.it

Thank you, Mimi, for posting this.

The great thing about hyraceum is that it's cruelty-free. This is in Liz Zorn's Tobacco and Tulle.

Quote:
Originally Posted by easyfish View Post

Go veggie!
No one mentioned oud/aoud/agarwood?

Happily, many synthetics are used these days that are not harming animals, and agarwood is a wonderful ingredient that adds depth to the scent.
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