Ambergris - Wikipedia
Ambergris (/ ˈæmbərɡriːs / or / ˈæmbərɡrɪs /; Latin: ambra grisea; Old French: ambre gris), ambergrease, or grey amber is a solid, waxy, flammable substance of a dull grey or blackish colour produced in the digestive system of sperm whales. [1] Freshly produced ambergris has a marine, fecal odor.
Why Is Ambergris (Whale Poop) So Valuable? | HowStuffWorks
Ambergris is a smooth, waxy and usually round substance that the feces of large sperm whales. It is initially soft and has a terrible smell, but after floating in the ocean for about a decade, it hardens and the smell becomes so fragrant, it’s a coveted ingredient for fine perfumes.
What is ambergris? - Natural History Museum
Ambergris is made by sperm whales and has been used by people for centuries. Find out what it is made from, how it ends up in the ocean and whether we still use ambergris in perfumes.
What is Ambergris and Why is it So Valuable? - American Oceans
Ambergris is a result of sperm whales’ digestive process, not whale dung. In the form of a waxy material, it is expelled after being created in the whale’s intestines. According to popular belief, ambergris forms around objects that whale stomach acid cannot digest, such as squid beaks.
Ambergris, The 'Whale Vomit' That's More Valuable Than Gold
Nov 5, 2022 · Commonly referred to as “whale vomit,” ambergris is an intestinal slurry that comes from the guts of sperm whales. And, yes, it’s a highly coveted perfume ingredient. In fact, chunks of it can sell for thousands or even millions of dollars.
Ambergris: how to tell if you’ve struck gold with ‘whale vomit’ or ...
Apr 15, 2016 · It is a product of the sperm whale, as only sperm whales make the compound responsible for ambergris’ allure: ambrein. Different organisms biosynthesise different compounds, such as...
A Brief, Fascinating History of Ambergris | Smithsonian
Sep 2, 2021 · Ambergris, unlike other valuable commodities, cannot be cultivated or mined. Instead, it washes up on beaches wherever sperm whales exist, and they’re clustered throughout the world’s oceans.
Ambergris | Uses in Perfumery, Medicinal Properties & Chemical ...
Oct 24, 2024 · ambergris, a solid waxy substance originating in the intestine of the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus). In Eastern cultures ambergris is used for medicines and potions and as a spice; in the West it was used to stabilize the scent of fine perfumes.
What is Ambergris? | History, Uses and Facts - Whale Facts
Whale vomit, known as Ambergris, is a dead gray, solid, wax-like material created in the intestines and digestive system of sperm whales. Because of the large mass in which Ambergris can be found, scientists and marine biologists believe it is expelled through the sperm whale’s mouth along with other chemicals and materials found in the whale ...
What's Ambergris? Behind the $60k Whale-Waste Find - National …
Sep 1, 2012 · Sperm whales eject an intestinal slurry called ambergris into the ocean, where the substance hardens as it bobs along. Eventually it gets collected along shores—most often as sheer...