Hyrax

A hyrax is a small fluffy creature, a mammal in the order of Hyrocoidea. These lovely wild animals live in Africa and over the Middle East. Hyraxes are small, furry, and have a short hairy tail. They pretty much resemble rats, rabbits or guinea pigs. What really comes as a surprise is that the hyrax is the elephant’s closest living relative. This small creature is only 30–70 cm long and barely weights between 2–5 kg. Still, it shares some of the important elephantine features, and it has been around for a very long time. There is fossil evidence that hyrax existed more than 40 million years ago. Moreover, fossil remains show that some of them were big, almost as a horse, which further supports the theory that hyrax and elephant are related.

Hyraceum, or Hyrax, is an aromatic raw material of the antique perfumery. However, men used this material much before they started to use it in perfumery. The African tribesman and people of the Middle East used Hyraceum as a traditional remedy for epilepsy, kidney problems, convulsions and feminine hormonal disorders.

This substance is actually the petrified and rock-like excrement formed from the urine of hyrax. Hyraceum is fairly sterile, stone-hard material that also contains pheromones, which are odoriferous substances. The urine of hyrax is a jelly-like substance, and these little creatures always use the same place to urinate. Therefore, the best places to harvest Hyraceum are the caves or mountain passages in which the hyrax colony builds up a load of excrements.

In perfumery, we use very old, fossilized, dry and stone-heavy Hyraceum, which is typically over hundreds if not thousands of years old. It gives an animalistic, sensual and deep note that feels like a combination of musk, civet, castoreum, tobacco and agarwood. Because of its characteristic structure, this material is also known as Africa Stone. Earthy, rich and resinous, Hyraceum is obtained by powdering raw material and fusing it with the pure organic non-denaturated alcohol. Last but not the least, no animals are harmed in making this material.