Those who are interested in perfumery are probably familiar with the “amber” aroma class, but did anyone wonder why it is so called and what ambergris is in general? In fact, there is no mystery in this. So called wax-like substance, which is formed in the digestive tract of sperm whales. Among the inhabitants, however, there is a version that ambergris is nothing but the vomit of whales. But scientists have long concluded that the substance is formed not in the stomach, but in the intestines of sperm whales and is secreted from there.
It is believed that the secretion of this substance is caused by wounds that cause acute squid beaks to the intestines of sperm whales. However, there is no exact information about what ambergris is and how exactly it is formed. This substance is collected on the coasts of the sea, as well as when catching whales. There are 4 main types of it: fresh, white, plain and black ambergris. Fresh product is practically useless, so experts usually advise throwing such finds out to sea for further ripening. White ambergris is the most expensive and rare - it has been at sea for a very long time. Pieces of this species are usually quite small and hard, as part of the substance is washed and the surface is oxidized. The oldest pieces can easily crumble to dust.
And what is ambergris of the usual category? This substance is gray-brown in color, it has a strong specific aroma, its pieces are larger, and the texture is less dense than that of the previous species, some layering may be noticeable. Finally, the last type is black (low-quality) ambergris, which is most common. This substance was in the sea for a very short time, so it almost did not have time to oxidize. Nevertheless, the pieces are quite dense, although not always solid, and also have a pronounced smell.
By the way, about how this substance smells. As the quality grows, its aroma becomes thinner and sweeter. If black ambergris can have a pronounced fecal note in its smell, then from white you will feel only a barely noticeable sweetish fragrance. Nevertheless, all categories of this substance, except fresh, are used both in perfumery and in alternative medicine.
The fact is that ambergris, the aroma of which is used to fix the smell of perfume, is very much appreciated in oriental medicine, as is mummy. However, due to its rarity and high cost, it is practically not possible to purchase it, because the global manufacturers of elite perfumes have a monopoly on the purchase of almost all ambergris stocks. However, in recent years, synthetic fixers and perfume compositions have increasingly been used instead of it and musk.
It is also believed that this substance literally exudes pheromones that attract the opposite sex, but this point of view is unlikely to have any basis. Surely ambergris does not contain substances that attract people, but it can act on whales. Nevertheless, it is interesting what ambergris is for whales, and what is its initial functional purpose. Scientists, among other possible answers, are also considering the option that this substance serves as a kind of message about the state of health, genotype and carries other information about a particular cetacean.