noun
- A strong-smelling substance secreted by beaver glands, historically used in perfumery, medicine, and as a food additive.
Usage: Also called castor; technical/specialized term; Derived from the beaver (genus Castor)
Examples
- Castoreum was once a common ingredient in traditional medicines.
- The perfume industry has largely replaced castoreum with synthetic alternatives.
- Castoreum is still approved as a food flavoring in some countries.
- Medieval physicians valued castoreum for its purported healing properties.
- Modern cosmetics rarely contain castoreum due to ethical and practical concerns.