ambergris

Ambergris is a rare, waxy substance produced in the digestive system of the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus). It forms around indigestible materials, such as squid beaks, and is either excreted with feces or regurgitated. The substance can then float in the sea for months or years, during which it ages and concentrates compounds with a characteristic scent.

Fresh ambergris tends to smell strongly of marine and fecal notes; as it ages in the sun and seawater, chemical processes transform it into a sweet, earthy, or vanilla-like odor. Colors range from black or dark gray to pale gray or ivory, and textures from waxy to solid chunks.

Ambergris has been highly valued in perfumery as a fixative and base note because it contains ambrein, a compound that oxidizes to fixative aromas such as ambroxan, strengthening and extending scents. It was widely used in European and Middle Eastern perfumes from the 17th century onward. Since the mid-20th century, many perfumes use synthetic substitutes such as ambroxan, reducing demand for natural ambergris, though natural ambergris remains sought after by some artisans and collectors.

Because ambergris derives from sperm whales, its trade is subject to wildlife protection laws and international agreements; many jurisdictions regulate or prohibit its harvest, sale, or transport without proper authorization. It is occasionally found washed ashore, sometimes in large lumps, and can occur in oceans around the world.