Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've been trying to find out exactly what is in snake musk and haven't gotten very far. I was wondering if any of you knew the answer. I've certainly been covered in more than my fair share and yesterday a friend asked me in the field what it's made of. I have no idea...

Any takers?

The correct answer is.....putrid stench!!!LOL.....that's a very good question!!.....and one that I've talked about many times in the past!......to be honest, I don't have the slightest idea of the biological/chemical compounds that make up the musk of snakes,.....other than a small percentage of possible pheromones for breeding purposes.
But I would(like you) be very interested in what makes up this
"EVIL" concoction!!LOL..........One thing is for certain, whatever it is is MEANT TO BE SMELLED by the olfactory organs!LOL

Please let us know if you come up with anything interesting about it's composition, or anything at all for that matter other than the fact that it smells bad!LOL....I would like to know more about it......this subject seems to be overlooked in all the literature that I've ever read in my entire life about snakes, and that's MANY snake books!

Ya know,......I'm sure you'll agree, your question probably sounds funny and amusing to most,....but I think it's probably one of the best questions I've heard in a long long time!!

best regards, ~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

I'm not sure what's in snake musk but oddly enough I have just had the opportunity to smell some this afternoon. I am living in Cairo, Egypt and I went to the mall to buy some musk & amber oil from the perfumery. Egypt is famous for it's perfume-oils and there are thousands of shops selling scents from all over the world. Anyway, I inquired of him if he had any other musks available. He presented a bottle of snake musk which he claimed was from snakes in Cambodia, Viet Nam. The musk was in an oil based form, probably the color of corn oil. It had a very pungent smell at first, not like anything I have come across before. It wasn't anything one would be attracted to right away. Undeterred, I tried a bit on my arm and I have been taking whiffs of it all afternoon. I cannot describe the drydown scent at all. It is very pleasant-smelling. Not sweet or flowery. It's very unique. It doesn't smell like any musk I've come across before. It has a very fresh scent. When I first put on the musk oil, it was a completely different smell than what is now on my arm. I only put a small drop on the crook of my arm and I am still smelling it. The man was not sure which type of snake it came from however, he indicated with his hand that it had a big head like that of a cobra.

Hope this helps.