The name deer antler velvet, sometimes called deer velvet antler, comes from its appearance.

While antlers are growing, they are covered by a hairy layer of skin that resembles velvet fabric. When an antler stops growing, this outer layer is shed to reveal the hard, calcified, bony antler underneath.

Note that the term “deer antler velvet” refers to the whole, entire antler in its growth phase. Many people (including those who work for deer antler velvet companies) misstate that deer antler velvet products are made exclusively from the fuzzy outer layer, or the velvet itself.