Musk has long been used in perfumes. Musk is produced in specialized glands of males of various species (including red deer, musk ox, muskrats, and civet cats).

It is clear that the mammals that produce their own musk use it as a pheromone, and there is evidence it has a similar effect on human mammals.

Most modern 'musk' perfumes typically contain no animal musk. Instead, they contain synthetic nitromusk compounds, which are cheaper and can be produced in any amount needed. These nitromusk compounds are somewhat similar, but not identical to true musk. Of particular concern, nitromusks disrupt the endocrine system, and have been linked to reproductive difficulty and various cancers in lab tests.

True animal musk contains the molecules muscone and or civetone. These funky chemicals have curious chemical structures. True animal musk is available, although you may have to hunt around to find it.

The Prostaderm company is developing medicinal patches containing musk - their first product is for prostate problems, and there are rumors of a patch for aphrodisiac uses.