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’s digestive system that are either too large to pass through the intestines or are rejected by the whale’s digestive system before it can make its way into the anal tract.
When first expelled, whale vomit assumes a very unattractive pungent odor similar to fecal matter.
As it ages, however, the Ambergris takes on a very musky, sweet earthy scent.
During the aging process, ambergris absorbs, combines, and oxidizes with various elements of sunlight, sand, air, sea salt, ocean minerals, and water to create a sweet earthy scent, considered highly desirable by many fragrance experts.
Ambergris is often found floating in the sea, on the sand near the coastline, or in some sperm whales’ intestines.
Historically Ambergris (whale vomit) has been adopted for several uses, including being used as incense, as an ingredient in cigars to improve their odor, in medicine to help with colds, headaches, and other medical conditions, to protect individuals from a plague (the scent of whale vomit was believed to prevent the plague by eliminating the plagues odor which was thought to be the way the epidemic transferred from person to person) and as an aphrodisiac among other purposes.
Today we can discount some mythological uses of whale vomit, such as its ability to prevent the plague.
However, in the past, it provided many people with many physical, mental, and psychological uses for improving their lives.
The most widespread use for whale vomit has been its use in perfumes and cologne.
In recent times (as well as ancient), whale vomit has been used to improve the scent of certain perfumes, which could be purchased at local stores.
Those who purchased some of these products containing whale vomit have characterized it as having a delightful, musky scent that is very difficult to describe in words.
In addition to perfumes, whale vomit has also been used as an ingredient in certain makeup cosmetics.
Ambergris is a rare material considered highly desirable by companies related to the cosmetics and perfume industry.
A single gram of Ambergris can be worth several thousand dollars.
While Ambergris can still be sold worldwide, it is considered illegal to hunt and track sperm whales to collect Ambergris.
After all, sperm whales are an endangered and protected species, so hunting them is considered illegal in most countries.
If found illegally hunting and tracking sperm whales, individuals could face steep fines or, worse legal action.
Because of the high price individuals and companies are willing to pay for Ambergris, it is commonly referred to as liquid gold because those who acquire this material have, in some ways, struck gold.