Ambergris is
formed in the bowels of sperm whales. Sperm whales are particularly fond of
squid, and though the squid’s body is soft, their mouth contains a hard beak
that is not readily digestible. The whales must expel the hard beaks by
vomiting them up. However, in some instances the beaks pass from the stomachs
(sperm whales have four) into the whale’s intestine. When this happens a waxy
substance form around the beaks to protect the fragile intestine walls. Though
it has yet to be proven, scientists believe that either the waxy ball remains
inside the whale until it dies, or the ball grows so big that it ruptures the
digestive tract and kills the whale. Free floating in the ocean, this waxy
substance ages over time and its aroma matures from smelling faintly of
excrement to the desired smell of ambergris.
Etymology
In
terms of cultural history and etymology, ambergris has often been confused with
amber (true, yellow or Prussian amber, Latin succinum, Greek electron). Ambra
or amber is also the English and old German name for amber. To distinguish
between the two, the English word ambergris is used today for the excretory
product of sperm whales, which is derived from the French ambre gris and
ultimately from the Arabic word an-barThe word "ambergris" comes from
the Old
French ambre
gris or "grey amber". The addition of "grey" came about when, in
the Romance
languages,
the sense of the word "amber" was extended to Baltic amber (fossil
resin), as white or yellow amber (ambre jaune), from as early as the late 13th
century. This fossilized resin subsequently became the dominant (and now
exclusive) sense of "amber", leaving "ambergris" as the
word for the whale secretion.
Physical
properties
Ambergris
is a substance of animal tissue, formed in the stomach or intestine of Physeter
Catodon, the cachalot whale. It is conceivable that Ambra is the result of a
pathological condition caused by irritation of the whale’s stomach walls due to
certain indigestible particles in the whale’s food. Consequently, Ambra is one
of the few natural perfumery raw materials which cannot be “cultivated”, not
even in the same way that pearls are.
Ambergris
is a metabolic product of the sperm whale that accumulates as
concretions in the gut of the animal. It is still not known exactly how it is
formed. When the concretion leaves the body of the animal, the diameter is
seldom more than 20 cm. The largest piece so far recorded weighed 400
kg, however, and was recovered from a sperm whale that had been
killed. As a result of the action of sunlight and floating in waves containing
oxygen, often for decades, the ambergris undergoes an aging process, during
which the strong stercoraceous indole, fecal note, recalling dead fish, disappears.
At the same time as the change in quality, the dark color fades and the waxy
consistency disappears.
The
finest and most valuable ambergris (gray amber) is pale gray to golden yellow,
or in very rare cases, chalky white. It possesses a complex yet balanced
fragrance that is composed of a series of notes
and subnotes that combine in the best examples to give a harmonious
character. A typically marine odor, perceived only in the open ocean and not
along the coasts accompanied by a violet tone occurring in algae,
is just as perceptible as the scent of damp, moss-covered
ground in a forest but without a musty effect. A precious fragrance of exotic
wood and an incense-like tonality, such as is found in ancient
cathedrals, have been identified, as well as a fine smell of tobacco. It is
said that in yellow pieces, one can often detect a weak tea note. The
warm animal musky note is supposed to be the most important effect exerted.
The
ambergris is an initially waxy, soft mass in the intestine of the sperm whale,
which it forms after mechanical injury by the horn jaws of squid (Sepia
officinalis) and squid (Teuthida), its preferred food. The ambergris serves as
an antibiotic wound closure in which the indigestible suture components are
embedded. The concretions enter the sea through vomiting, as fecal stones or
through the natural death of the animals. Weighing between a few grams and 100
kg, the almost black lumps, which initially smell of feces, float on the sea
surface due to their low density of 0.78-0.93 g/cm3 and are transformed by
photochemical degradation and oxidation into the highly prized perfumery raw
material.
The
lumps, which are initially almost black in color, float on the sea surface due
to their low density and are transformed by photo-chemical degradation and
oxidation over the course of years and decades into the highly prized perfumery
raw material before the stone-like, light gray, fragrant amber pieces are
salvaged by fishing boats or washed up on the beach. The scent ranges from
woody, dry, balsamic, somewhat tobacco-like to bouquet-like with an aphrodisiac
touch. Ambergris is found in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, on the coasts of
Brazil, Africa, Madagascar, the Maldives, China, Japan, New Zealand and the
Caribbean.
Among
the most valuable animal perfumes like civet, musk and castoreum, ambergris
fills a niche of its own. In all the great civilizations and long before the
Christian era, men were familiar with this material.
Formation
Ambergris is a waxy substance that can be a
range of colors from gray to black. It ages over time. (Smithsonian
Institution)
For centuries the origin of ambergris
captivated the imaginations of people around the world. Some guessed it to be
dried sea foam or foam of seals, while to others it was a fungus that grew at
the bottom of the sea. Some claimed it to be a rare clay. Or, perhaps, hardened
bird poop from a special bird in Madagascar. A waxy substance, ambergris was
believed to be honeycomb that melted off the shore and molded by the sea.
The first indication ambergris came from whales was during the height of
whaling in New England during the 1600s. Sperm whales were sought after for
their oil and upon harvesting the whales whalers soon discovered that the
carcass contained the waxy substance. Initial beliefs that the substance was
created by the bladder soon gave way to the idea that it came from the
digestive tract. Whalers soon knew where to look for the prized substance, and
it was in the rear end of the whale. Questions about the nature of its creation
persisted until the early 1900s. Today, it is generally accepted that ambergris
forms around squid beaks in the bowels of sperm whales.
In History
The first evidence of the use of ambergris in
fine perfumery comes from the Arabs in Spain in the 10th century. For this
purpose, ambergris was already imported from the Sunda Islands and the Maghreb.
At the beginning of the modern era, ambergris was traded throughout Europe and
in many cases was weighed out with gold.
Al-Hasan ibn Mohammed al-Wassan (called:
Johannes Leo Africanus; * around 1490 in Granada, † after 1550 in Tunis) wrote
that the price of one pound of ambergris on the market in Fez was 60 du- cats,
which corresponded to that of three slaves.
There was uncertainty about the origin of
ambergris for a long time. The Chinese called them "lung sien hiang"
and imagined dragons sleeping on coastal rocks and drooling into the sea while
they slept. The saliva, they believed, was the source of the fragrance.
In the Japanese cultural area, on the other
hand, they spoke of "kunsurano fuu", of walkot. The Arab traveler and
historian Al-Mas'udi († 957 in al-Fustat, Egypt) reported of merchants and
sailors who believed that ambergris grew like mushrooms on the seabed and was
occasionally washed ashore by storms.
Marco Polo (1254-1324) was the first Western
traveler to report that the sperm whale of ambergris was hunted by Yemeni
sailors off Socotra Island.
Certainty about the origin of ambergris,
however, was only achieved when, with the flourishing of the American whaling
industry in Nantucket (Massachusetts) in the 18th century, sperm whales were
shot again and again, and lumps of ambergris were found in their intestines.
First used for ceremonial and religious
purposes, ambergris soon contributed to the quality of life of nobles in every
age on account of its outstanding fragrance and the mysterious effect of its
odor. The first report of the use of ambergris in perfumery comes from Muslim
of Spain. According to Abu'l Kasim Obaid-allah (d.912), the raw material came
from the Malay Archipelago.
In Asia, besides being used as a drug, it was
also employed until recently as a spice for food and wines. There were reports
of Arab seamen bringing ambergris to Europe as early as the ninth century. At
first the material came from North Africa, then later from the Near and Far
East as well as from India. The beaches of the Bahamas and other islands in
tropical seas were said to be especially productive collecting grounds. The
best pieces collected by the inhabitants often disappeared into the vaults of
local rulers, since emirs, sultans, and maharajas valued the material for its
reputed aphrodisiac properties (Cornon, 1955). Because of its restorative
properties, ambergris enjoyed great popularity in Medieval Europe too, and
remained in the principal pharmacopoeias until the end of the last century.
Ambergris played a prominent role as the dominant ingredient in high-class
French perfumery, particularly at the beginning of this century (Wériguine,
1966).
Ambergris essentially consists of the
triterpene alcohol ambreine, together with a series of sterols of the
cholestanol type (Janistyn, 1941; Lederer, 1949, 1950). The ratio of the two
groups of terpenes apparently determines the quality of the material. Thus, the
best samples contain up to 80% of ambreine, while black amber is found to
contain 46% of the sterol derivatives (Korzh and Strigina, 1972). A recent
sample of average quality yielded 30% pure alcohol in the soluble fraction
(Ohloff and Vial, 1977). The size of the steam-volatile fraction, in which the
odoriferous principles of ambergris are concentrated, can vary by a factor of
5 (Stoll, 1959) depending on the quality and can reach 0.3 % in good samples
(Ruzicka et al, 1948b).
Despite its origins, for over a thousand years
people of various cultures have sought after ambergris for its unique
properties. One of the earliest known uses of ambergris was in ancient Egypt,
where it was burned as incense. The Egyptians believed that the sweet, earthy
scent of ambergris could purify the air and ward off evil spirits. In other
Arabic regions people used it as a medicinal remedy for digestive issues, heart
conditions, and as a general tonic to optimize health. Later during the Black
Death in the 14th century, people in Europe carried balls of ambergris, called
pomanders, to protect themselves from the plague. They believed that the
pleasant smell of ambergris could counteract the “bad air” that caused the
disease.
The most famous use of ambergris, however, is
in perfume. Its ability to fix and enhance other scents made it a prized
ingredient in many perfumes including some of the world’s most famous perfumes,
like Chanel No. 5 and Shalimer by Guerlain. Perfumes rely upon the compound
ambrein, an alcohol within ambergris that is likely responsible for its unique
scent and helps stabilize other scents. Even today, some high-end perfumes
still use ambergris, although synthetic alternatives are more common. Whaling is
now illegal, and selling ambergris is illegal in many countries. Finding
ambergris washed ashore is extremely rare, making it almost impossible to
acquire a piece legally.
Despite the perfume industry’s move away from ambergris use, it remains a rare
and valuable commodity, treasured for its unique properties and fascinating
history. Perhaps, Herman Melville sums up the allure of ambergris best in his
novel Moby Dick, "Who would think, then, that such fine ladies and
gentlemen should regale themselves with an essence found in the inglorious
bowels of a sick whale! Yet so it is."
Legality
From the 18th to the
mid-19th century, the whaling industry prospered. By some reports, nearly
50,000 whales, including sperm whales, were killed each year. Throughout the
19th century, "millions of whales were killed for their oil, whalebone,
and ambergris" to fuel profits, and they soon became endangered as a
species as a result. Due to studies showing that the whale populations
were being threatened, the International Whaling Commission instituted a moratorium on
commercial whaling in 1982. Although ambergris is not harvested from whales,
many countries also ban the trade of ambergris as part of the more general ban
on the hunting and exploitation of whales
Ambergris is disappearing from the world
market. Excessive hunting of the sperm whale in the past has
more than decimated the population. In addition, the continued
increase in the pollution of coasts makes it more difficult to find prime-quality
material that is more and more rarely washed ashore.
Because of the reduced catch, even black amber is becoming extremely
rare. In future, the perfume industry must therefore meet its needs for
the natural product with a synthetic equivalent. We attempt in the
following review to explain how far our knowledge in the domain of the
chemistry of ambergris odorants has now developed
In the United States, selling and buying of
ambergris is illegal because it is obtained from whales, which are endangered
species. Although collecting ambergris does not involve any harm, it is illegal
because in the past killing and cutting of whales was observed for the sake of
obtaining ambergris.
That’s not exactly the case. It is illegal to
possess or trade/sell ambergris in the United States and Australia where it is
considered tantamount to possessing or selling whale parts; as such it is
governed by the Marine Mammal Protection Act and its Australian equivalent.
In Pakistan to hunt/get is legal to have and to
sell.
In India, ambergris is considered to be the
property of the state (kind of like swans in England I suppose) and not
something that can be sold by private parties. I don’t know the underlying
reason but perhaps it is also marine mammal protection.
In the UK, Canada, and the EU it’s considered
to be excreta and is perfectly legal to have and to sell.
Culinary Consumption
The history of ambergris consumption is both varied and
intriguing: At Falstaff's table (a character possibly based on Sir John
Oldcastle) his favourite Sack wine was spiced with ambergris. Cardinal
Richelieu ate ambregris-flavored chocolates and grey amber pastilles with
gusto! On a sinister note,
The unique
taste and aroma of ambergris made it a popular ingredient in luxury dishes and
beverages like in Turkish coffee, Persian sherbet, hot chocolate, upscale
cocktails, punch, the first recipes of ice cream and a drink called posset, a
popular hot beverage in medieval Europe made from milk curdled with ale or
wine, often spiced and sweetened. It is said that in 17th-century Britain King
Charles II favored his eggs seasoned with ambergris and the famous lover
Casanova was known to add ambergris to his chocolate mousse, believing it to
have aphrodisiac properties.
As aphrodisiac
In the Middle East men consume ambergris
to stimulate their sexual prowess while women believe the practice helps
with infertility. Ibn Battuta, known as "the Traveler of Islam",
narrates to have observed with astonishment in a city in Persia that people ate
hashish and ambergris unabashedly, possibly believing ambergris to boost the
narcotic effect of the drug. A lusciously erotic experience involves crushing a
small dried lump of ambergris (percehd on the edge of the spoon) into organic
coconut oil and allowing it to macerate for months before using. In
Morocco it is traditional to use ambergris with tea; how a grain of ambergris
sticked inside the teapot's cover flavors the tea by mere contact with the
vapor for years along is a miracle of nature's essences. As Karen
of Globetrotter Diaries says, "Ambergris to liquids is much like
3D to movies; it gives new meaning to the otherwise familiar." I prefer to
call it umami for the nose, the missing link in the realm of the
senses.Mixed with wine, it was considered an aphrodisiac, used to ward off the
plague and as a medicine to treat headaches, colds, epilepsy and other
illnesses. Louis XV of France is said to have spiced his favorite dishes with
ambergris, and Elizabeth I of France was said to have used ambergris as a
spice.
England perfumed their gloves with it. In
Egypt, ambergris is still used today to flavor cigarettes.
Chocolat Ambré:
chocolate drink laced with natural ambergris
Later, the renowned gastronome Brillat-Savarin recommended a
chocolate drink for warming up, boosting the immune system and at the
same time savoring the best of refined
foods: "Chocolate Ambré" (of which I present a recipe
below) was made with shaved dark chocolate and hot water, laced with a
substantial amount of grinded ambergris. La Marquise de Pompadour was
fond of eating truffles and celery soups followed by cups
of chocolat ambré "to raise the spirits and arouse the
passions".
Negus, a drink of Port or Sherry with natural ambergris
1 bottle of sherry (or port), 2-1/2 pints of
water, juice of 1 lemon, a little of the peel rubbed off on sugar; grated
nutmeg, and sugar to taste; add one drop essence of ambergris, or 10 drops of
vanilla; all to be made and drunk warm.
Ambergris Wedding Punch
Take 1/2 pint of pineapple juice.
1 pint of lemon juice.
1 pint of lemon syrup.
1 pint of claret or port wine.
1/2 pound of sugar.
1/2 pint of boiling water.
6 grains of vanilla.
1 grain of ambergris.
1 pint of strong brandy.
Rub the vanilla and ambergris with the sugar in the brandy thoroughly; let it
stand in a corked bottle for a few hours, shaking occasionally. Then add the
lemon juice, pineapple juice and wine; filter through flannel, and lastly add
the syrup.
Eau de
Cologne à l'Ambergris (Ambergris Cologne Water)
21 ounces of oil of orange.
21 ounces of oil of bergamot.
2-5/8 ounces of oil of neroli.
6-9/16 ounces of oil of lavender.
3-15/16 ounces of oil of rosemary.
63 drops of oil of roses.
126 drops of oil of cloves.
200 drops of essence of ambergris.
Dissolve in 10 gallons of alcohol, 95 per cent.
Big Tail Cocktail
The cocktail it's used in consists
of malted rye whiskey, Spanish brandy, ambergris-laced palm sugar and
orange bitters, stirred with ice and strained into a cocktail glass. Similar to
an Old Fashioned, it is boozy, well balanced and delicious.
Java Monk
In a mortar or small bowl, muddle a piece of
ambergris the size of a grain of barley with an ounce of Indonesian gula jawa
or other dark, funky sugar until it has been incorporated. Add 2 ounces Batavia
arrack and muddle again until sugar has dissolved. Break up 5 ounces of gula
jawa, put it in a two-quart jug with 6 ounces lime juice and muddle together
until sugar has dissolved. Add the ambergris-sugar-arrack mixture and stir. Add
the remains of the 750-milliliter bottle of Batavia arrack from which you have
removed the 2 ounces to mix with the ambergris, stir again, and finish with 3
to 4 cups water, according to taste. Grate nutmeg over the top.
*As Brown noted,
you can buy raw ambergris online at ambergris.co.nz,
but it costs $40 per gram and the minimum order seems to be five grams. I’m not
sure what shipping would be, but it’s coming from New Zealand
https://www.ambergris.co.nz/
*Dogs
are attracted to the smell of ambergris and are sometimes used by ambergris
searchers.
King
Charles II of England famously and decadently breakfasted on eggs with (then as
now very expensive) ambergris, and his mysterious death following a sudden
stroke on February 16, 1685, gave rise to rumors of foul play; ambergris could
have been the necessary concealer of poison, thanks to its rich, complex
flavour. Indeed, as crumble a tiny lump to heat with eggs, a pumice-like
substance melts away easily with heat, imparting a delicious aroma. Even more
decadently, during the Renaissance a dessert of iris flower jelly with
ambergris posset was made for lords and queens; shooting two birds of expensive
and fragrant materials with one stone!
Overview
Ambergris is a rare and highly prized substance
produced in the digestive system of sperm whales. It forms when a whale ingests
indigestible materials such as squid beaks, which irritate its stomach lining.
The whale then secretes a waxy substance to coat the irritant, forming a
ball-like mass. This mass is eventually expelled by the whale and can float on
the ocean’s surface for years, gradually aging and transforming due to exposure
to sunlight and saltwater.Initially, fresh ambergris has a foul odor, but as it
ages, it develops a unique, pleasant fragrance described as sweet, earthy, and
musky. This transformation is one reason why it’s highly valued in the perfume
industry, where it’s used as a fixative to help enhance and prolong the scent
of other fragrant compounds in perfumes.
What is Color of Ambergris
Ambergris can vary in color depending on its
age and exposure to light, air, and water. Freshly expelled ambergris typically
has a dark, almost black appearance due to its exposure to the stomach acids of
the whale. However, as it ages and oxidizes, it gradually lightens in color.
Aged ambergris can range in color from
grayish-brown to pale yellow or even white. The exact shade can depend on
factors such as the duration of exposure to sunlight, the presence of
impurities, and the specific chemical changes undergone during its aging
process.
Benefits
It plays a major role in boosting libido and
treating impotence in both women and men. recent studies have confirmed that
adding amber to saffron makes it a sexual tonic. On the other hand, don’t use
it in large quantites in oreder to avoidso as not to produce negative symptoms
such as headache, weakness and insomnia.
Here Are Some Other Major Benefits of
Ambergris:
Amberstimulates appetite and weight gain
Reducing arthritis and rheumatism.
Relieves nerve pain.
Maintains neurological health and state.
Treating high blood pressure.
Also reduces the problem of the seventh nerve.
Treatment of diseases of the intestine, liver
and bladder.
It improves the psychological state and helps
to rest and a sense of calm and reassurance.
Uses
Ambergris is primarily used in the perfume
industry, where it serves several purposes:
Fixative: Ambergris acts as a fixative in
perfumes, helping to stabilize and prolong the scent of other fragrance
ingredients. Its complex aroma enhances the overall fragrance composition and
prevents the rapid evaporation of volatile scent molecules.
Scent Enhancement: The unique fragrance of
ambergris, which is often described as sweet, earthy, musky, and with marine
undertones, adds depth and complexity to perfumes. It can contribute to
creating rich and sophisticated fragrance profiles that appeal to consumers.
Blending: Perfumers use ambergris as a blending
ingredient to harmonize and balance different fragrance notes. It can add
warmth, smoothness, and a distinctive character to perfume formulations.
Luxury and Exclusivity: Due to its rarity and
the labor-intensive process of sourcing it ethically, genuine ambergris is
considered a luxurious and prestigious ingredient in perfumery. Perfumes
containing ambergris often command high prices and are sought after by
collectors and connoisseurs.
Ambergris looks like?
Ambergris comes in many colours, shapes and
textures. This makes identification difficult and ensures frustration for
beachcombers on the hunt for this elusive substance. Ambergris is most often
white, grey, black or brown in color or even a mixture of these shades. The
colours are typically dull and earthy and the texture is often hard, like rock
or dry clay. Check the sections below to find more helpful tips to identify
ambergris.
Shapes
Ambergris cures as it floats in the ocean
becoming lighter in color and in weight as it does so. The action of the water
tends to roll the ambergris leveling out the surface to a surprisingly smooth
finish in some cases. Rounded and oval shaped pieces are common due to this
rolling and smoothing action which can continue for many years. Although
oval and rounded shapes tend to predominate; ambergris has a propensity to
surprise with even the most unusual shapes and forms increasing the difficulty of
identification.
As a general rule; any material collected which
has a clearly defined square or rectangular shape is more likely to be a
manmade material and subsequently less likely to be ambergris.
Colours and Textures
Pieces which have been floating in the ocean
for a long time develop a white coating on the outside surface (oxidation)
which may be powdery and fragile or even quite thick and hard (like thick
wrinkled shell). A typical appearance is of a mixed surface colour with powdery
white patches over dark grey, black or brown surface colours beneath
Inside, ambergris is often brown or grey in
colour although it can range from jet black, brown to light or dark grey and
more rarely off white or cream.
Well cured pieces may be as hard as rock or
similar to dry clay with a dense interior texture (like fine compacted sand).
Less cured pieces may have a softer exterior surface which will still resist
firm pressure and the inside texture may be pasty similar to damp clay.
Low quality ambergris
We are often asked about the colour of
low-quality ambergris. The lowest quality ambergris which is also referred to
as soft black or fresh ambergris is a completely different type of product.
While it is still collected; the value is much less as this type of ambergris
has more limited applications and is less in demand. Soft black or fresh
ambergris is normally jet black in colour though it may also develop a thin
powdery white coating (oxidation) on the surface. It can be found in flat
strips and in larger lumps which may resemble a flattened cow pat in
appearance. It has a matching unpleasant odour of scented cow dung. The texture
of this material is not hard but rather pliable like softened or melting tar.
It can be very sticky and will more easily melt in the heat.
As a rule; if you collect any item which has a
soft texture but is not black in colour; it will not be ambergris.
Is it waxy/tacky
The “feel” of ambergris is often described as
waxy/tacky which can be confusing for beachcombers as this characteristic is
more obvious when ambergris is held in the hands for some minutes. This waxy
quality increases with the warmth of the hands but may not be noticeable when a
piece is first collected at the beach due to the effects of any cold salt water
and moisture remaining on the surface.
As there are materials which have a much more
easily noticeable waxy or greasy texture than ambergris; this waxy description
can be initially misleading for beachcombers.
What does ambergris smell like
So, what does it smell like? Well, it’s
complicated. Ambergris has an odour which is difficult to explain to anyone who
has never had the pleasure of its sensual aroma. There is no denying that
it is odd with its combination of sweetness and raw animal potency. For those
who grow to love its exquisite yet elusive notes; the contradiction is part of
this attraction. Ambergris is often described as being musky and having a sweet
earthy aroma unlike any other or a mossy fragrance reminiscent of the damp
forest floor. Add a dash of ocean spray, a hint of cigar, a good amount of
sweetness and a little odour of the stable floor to complete the recipe for
this exotic fragrance blend. Ask 10 different people to describe their
impression of the ambergris fragrance and you may receive 10 different answers.
In the first instance; the fragrance will vary greatly depending on the quality
of a particular piece. Then there is the fragrance perception unique to us all
where an odour so pleasant to one person is offensive to another. Given that
ambergris originates in the bottom of a whale; there is a general (and not
unreasonable) expectation that ambergris will have a strong and foul odour.
This is not the case. The base animal (manure) odour fades as ambergris cures
in the ocean. In general, lighter coloured pieces of ambergris have a subtle,
pleasant fragrance. The white and grey varieties, in particular, possess the
subtle, sweet addictive aroma which is so highly prized and brings such rich
rewards for the dedicated beachcomber.
To Test for Ambergris
Try this simple “do it yourself” home test to
check any unusual items you have found. The test is not sufficiently
reliable to provide a positive ID unless you are thoroughly familiar with the
required result. However, the test result may be helpful in determining whether
it is worth pursuing the enquiry further.
Hot Needle Test
Heat the tip of a needle until very hot.
Lay the heated needle flat on the surface of
the item for 3-4 seconds and remove.
If ambergris; the surface will melt instantly.
A thin melted line will now be visible on the surface.
This melted liquid residue should be glossy and
sticky with a jet black or caramel colour.
If the test result appears to be positive; we
recommend you complete the evaluation form on the sell ambergris page.
If the surface of the material does not melt to
a liquid at all; then the collected item will not be ambergris.
Fact #1
When humans first discovered ambergris, they
figured out various uses for it but could not figure out how it was formed or
where it came from. Some guessed that it was hardened sea foam. Others
theorized that it was large bird droppings. Mythical origins emerged, too, with
some convinced that it was a dragon’s drool. When large-scale whaling began in
the 1800s, fingers began pointing at the sperm whale and, over time, scientists
began to unravel the mystery of the substance, ultimately concluding that it’s a
byproduct of a sperm whale’s digestive system.
Fact #2: Ambergris Is Produced in the Sperm
Whale’s Intestines
A sperm whale’s diet includes large quantities
of cephalopods, especially squid. When whales eat squid and other prey, their
digestive system begins the complex process of breaking down the food. The
formation of ambergris occurs when bile secretions, undigested squid beaks, and
other intestinal matter get mixed together within the intestinal tract. Some
scientists believe that ambergris is formed as a means to protect the whale’s
digestive system, surrounding and encapsulating indigestible or irritating substances
(think sharp squid beaks) and relieving the ulcerations that may be caused by
these sharp objects.
Fact #3: It’s a Slow-Growing Mass
Ambergris is said to form over a period of
several years. In its early stages, it’s a soft and foul-smelling mass. How
long it takes to develop is difficult to estimate, but it might have a lot to
do with the whale’s diet and digestion rate, plus the amount of time the mass
spends being exposed to the elements once it’s expelled from the sperm whale’s
body.
Fact #4: How It’s Expelled Is Still Debated
While some people are quick to nickname
ambergris “whale vomit,” scientists say that it’s not regurgitated. Rather,
it’s expelled through the whale’s rectum. According to an article
titled “What is ambergris?” by Emily Osterloff of the Natural History
Museum, she quotes Richard Sabin, Curator of Marine Mammals at the Museum, as
saying that he believes ambergris passes from the sperm whale’s body through
its rectum during defecation.
Fact #5: As Ambergris Hardens, Its Smell
Changes
When the sperm whale expels the ambergris, the
mass will rise to the surface of the water, which will expose it to the
elements. Once this floating mass dries out and hardens, it transforms into a
waxy substance with an undeniably characteristic scent.
The scent is described as musky, earthy, and,
believe it or not, pleasant! American novelist Herman Melville referenced the
scent in his famous whale-inspired novel, Moby Dick. The narrator
encounters a dead whale and mentions its “faint stream of perfume.”
So, what does ambergris smell like? It’s
fragrant and perfumy, with notes that are described as warm, musky, earthy, and
sweet. The scent profile includes hints of musk, vanilla, tobacco, and damp
earth. Ambergris’s aroma is both alluring and complex, making it a popular
ingredient in the fragrance industry.
Fact #6: Ambergris Is Harvested for Use in
Perfumes and Medicines
Sperm whales reside in oceans worldwide, so
ambergris can be found floating in many of the world’s oceans. It also washes
up on shorelines. When ambergris deposits are found, they are harvested and
used in eastern medicines and in perfumes.
According to an article published in 2012
by National Geographic, ambergris is a highly prized (and valued)
ingredient in the perfume industry because it is known to enhance fragrances
and “fix scent to human skin.” In eastern medicines, ambergris has many
purposes. Some believe it can treat back pain, enhance digestion, and support
the kidneys. It’s a popular ingredient within traditional Chinese medicine and
Ayurveda. The price of ambergris depends on its quality, size, and the
pleasantness/strength of its odor.
Fact #7: Laws Regarding the Collection of
Ambergris Vary
Given how important it is to protect wildlife—including
marine mammals residing in the ocean—many countries regulate or restrict the
trade and use of whale-derived products. Since ambergris is classified as a
“waste product” of sperm whales that occurs naturally,
The Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species (CITES) does consider it legal to collect ambergris if you
find it on a shoreline or while at sea.
Fact #8: Ambergris Is Rare
Due to the uncertainty in supply, and the fact
that ambergris takes years to develop, it’s widely regarded as a rare find.
When it does show up on a shoreline, its appearance will vary—some pieces of
ambergris look like small lumps. Other pieces are quite large. The more time
ambergris has spent floating and aging on the surface of the water, the more it
undergoes changes in its texture, color, and consistency. The most desirable
form of ambergris is solid, light in color, pleasant-smelling, and waxy.
Fact #9: Sperm Whales Are the Primary Source of
Ambergris
Scientists have found that pygmy sperm whales
and dwarf sperm whales can produce ambergris in small quantities. However,
sperm whales are credited as the primary source of ambergris. They continue to
be studied by scientists the world over because despite what we do know,
there’s still a lot we don’t know about these beautiful creatures that live and
feed in the deepest depths of the ocean.
Fact #10: Synthetic Ambergris Exists
Synthetic alternatives to ambergris have been
developed. These alternatives make it possible for perfumers to replicate the
unique qualities of ambergris without having to wait—and pay a significant sum
for—the genuine substance.
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