Buzz
Ambergris is a solid, wax-like substance with an enigmatic nature, originating from the digestive system of sperm whales. Its name, derived from the French phrase 'gray amber,' has sparked debates for centuries regarding its true nature and origins.
Ambergris is unique to sperm whales and is not found in other whale species. It is estimated that fewer than 10 percent of sperm whales produce ambergris, thought to be a secretion from the bile duct. As squid beaks are commonly embedded in the substance, it is believed that ambergris helps in passing these hard, sharp, indigestible beaks through the whale's digestive tract.
Similar to wax, ambergris floats on the ocean's surface and is typically discovered on beaches across the globe. Locations such as the Bahamas, Maldives, New Zealand, India, Kenya, and the coastlines of Yemen and Oman are known for yielding ambergris. In the past, the whaling industry would occasionally find it in the intestines of deceased sperm whales during processing in whaling factories.
10. History
Ambergris, a valuable commodity traded globally, has a rich history spanning thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians used it as a medicinal remedy and burned it as incense. The Chinese believed it to be a hardened form of dragon saliva, spilled by dragons during their sleep. While its origin was unclear, its worth was widely recognized.
The mystery surrounding ambergris, particularly the fact that its origins could not be traced to any known plant or animal, was part of what made it so valuable. For some, it was believed to have medicinal properties. During the Black Death in Europe, many people wore a pomander containing ambergris and herbs around their necks, as its faint scent was thought to mask the foul odors linked to the plague.
A recent study on ambergris, using chemical analysis, found that some of the 40 samples tested were over 1,000 years old. These pieces had floated across the oceans for decades, or even centuries, before eventually washing up on shores where they were discovered and identified.
9. Composition
Ambergris has only recently been confirmed through DNA analysis as originating from the digestive system of sperm whales. For centuries, it was mistakenly believed to be whale vomit, regurgitated from the whale's mouth, and attributed to various whale species. However, it has now been proven that ambergris is expelled from the whale's anus, not its mouth.
Ambergris has a waxy texture that allows it to float and makes it highly flammable. The presence of sharp, black squid beaks is a strong indicator that the substance might be ambergris. While the flame test is commonly used to identify ambergris on beaches, it is not considered definitive proof.
Another method to identify ambergris is through its distinct aroma. However, this test is only reliable for those with considerable experience, as the scent of ambergris is notoriously difficult to describe accurately in any language.
When first expelled from the sperm whale, ambergris resembles dark brown to black, waxy sludge containing squid beaks, and is largely worthless. Over time, the substance undergoes an aging process in the ocean that lightens its color from nearly black to brown, gray, and occasionally white. This aging can span years or even decades, imbuing ambergris with a subtle, complex fragrance and other valuable qualities.
8. Location
Since ambergris is a product solely of sperm whales and cannot be found in any other whale or animal species, nor can it be cultivated, created, or mined, ambergris hunters naturally look for it in areas where sperm whales are known to inhabit.
However, the reality is more complex. Sperm whales are found across all the world's oceans, but not every whale produces ambergris throughout its life. Factors such as ocean currents and local storms play a role in where ambergris might eventually wash ashore. The substance can drift randomly for years, decades, or even centuries after being excreted by a sperm whale.
Some of the locations where ambergris has been found washed up on beaches or in nearby waters include New Zealand, where sperm whales are known to inhabit, as well as Sri Lanka, Brazil, Somalia, Kenya, Britain, Mozambique, Madagascar, The Bahamas, Indonesia, and other regions.
A recent discovery off the coast of Oman in the Arabian Sea involved three fishermen who caught a large chunk of aged, gray ambergris while fishing. The piece weighed more than 80 kilograms (176 pounds) and was valued at nearly US $3 million.
7. Finding
Throughout history, many different methods have been employed to locate ambergris. However, none have proven particularly successful, as the substance has remained rare and valuable. If a method had been discovered to boost the natural supply of ambergris, it would have become more abundant, and the price would have dropped, but this has not happened.
In ancient times, Arab hunters of ambergris along the coasts of Oman and Yemen employed camels, specially trained to detect the substance among seaweed, dead fish, cuttlebones, and other debris typically scattered along the shores of the Arabian Sea. These animals were trained to kneel upon discovering a piece of ambergris.
Much like the prized truffles, ambergris hunters today often rely on dogs, known for their exceptional olfactory skills, to locate the substance. However, the owner faces a challenge: preventing the dog from consuming the ambergris as soon as it's found. With adequate training and discipline, a dog can be trained to avoid eating it, as a poorly-trained dog might unknowingly swallow a fortune.
6. Color
Ambergris is available in a spectrum of colors, ranging from deep black to rusty brown, and even almost white. Its color plays a significant role in determining both its age and market value. The darkest ambergris, which still retains a strong manure-like odor, is the freshest and is valued the least on the global market. In fact, black ambergris is often considered almost worthless.
As ambergris ages, its color undergoes a transformation. This change is attributed to a combination of oxidation, photochromic shifts, and other complex processes. The mystery of how this happens remains unsolved, but over the course of years, decades, or even centuries at sea, the ambergris gradually lightens from black to brown, then to gray, and eventually to a near-white shade.
The oldest and usually the most valuable ambergris is a light gray to white in color, a gradual fading that has taken place over years or decades of random drifting in the oceans of the world. Several tested samples of ambergris have been proven to be hundreds of years old. Some have even been confirmed at over 1 000 years old, a prolonged period of aging at sea or lying undisturbed on an isolated beach.
5. Notable People
As ambergris has been traded and used in various applications for centuries, many notable people have been associated with the substance as users or traders. The ancient Egyptians mentioned ambergris in hieroglyphic texts over three thousand years ago when it was burned as an incense.
Ambergris was a favorite of royalty across the European continent, with King Charles II of Britain said to enjoy grated ambergris over his morning scrambled eggs. Many people, including King Louis XIV of France and his wives and mistresses, drank small amounts of ambergris-laced wine and other drinks in the belief it was a powerful aphrodisiac and sexual enhancer, something like the Viagra of its day.
Ambergris was incorporated into edibles from ancient times, as recorded in the travel journals of the Muslim scholar and traveler Ibn Battuta, who noted ambergris was eaten as an aphrodisiac by men and as a fertility enhancer by women in ancient Persia and the Red Sea region of Arabia.
4. Trade
Ambergris was a widely traded commodity in the ancient world, exchanged among Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans around the Mediterranean Sea. Of Indonesian origin, the term “Ambar,” meaning ambergris in Arabic, reached Europe during the early Middle Ages through trade with the Muslim world.
As Venice grew in prominence and prosperity as a key trading hub for spices and luxury goods from both near and far, ambergris became one of the prized commodities in the bustling markets of medieval Europe. Though it wasn’t a major trade item in Venice, the city became one of the few places in Europe where ambergris could be regularly found, imported from Muslim cities in the Middle East, like Alexandria and Gaza.
The Portuguese were the first to bring significant quantities of ambergris to Europe, having encountered the substance during their extensive voyages to India and the East Indies, beginning with Vasco de Gama's arrival on India's west coast in 1498. These long journeys, often lasting years and involving many stops along the coasts of West and East Africa, as well as India, provided ample opportunity for trading valuable items, including ambergris. When trade terms couldn’t be agreed upon, the Portuguese would often use their military superiority to take the goods they wanted, including ambergris.
3. Value
Now let’s dive into the details—what is ambergris really worth? The answer depends on the quantity and quality of the piece, but in general, it holds significant value.
Typically, the most valuable ambergris is the oldest. This rare pale gray, nearly white substance has a subtle fragrance, indicating it may have been drifting in the sea for years, decades, or even centuries. In contrast, the least valuable ambergris is fresh, dark, and pungent, with a strong manure-like smell, making it almost worthless.
The ambergris trade is largely dominated by a small group of seasoned dealers who are experts in identifying authentic ambergris. Therefore, attempting to counterfeit the substance and sell it would be a waste of time.
Most ambergris buyers follow strict testing and verification procedures. The current market price for the finest pale gray ambergris is about $30 per gram, while lower-quality grades typically trade for $20 to $25 per gram.
So grab your beachcomber gear, head to the nearest shoreline, and maybe you’ll stumble upon the find of a lifetime.
2. Legality
Ambergris, derived from sperm whales, is a product of animal origin, and as such, its possession or sale is regulated or illegal in certain regions.
In countries like the UK, New Zealand, and throughout the European Union, possessing or trading ambergris is entirely legal. Though it originates from a protected species, it is treated as an excretion—similar to urine or feces—and thus is not restricted.
The laws in the United States and Australia are much stricter. There, possession or trade of ambergris is completely prohibited, with no exceptions. In India, although the trade of ambergris is banned, it is often ignored, and ambergris from India continues to circulate in international markets.
During the peak of the whaling industry, ambergris was sometimes found within the intestines of slaughtered sperm whales. However, most credible dealers today assert that their ambergris is sourced from 'en flotte' or 'floating' ambergris—meaning it was naturally excreted and discovered washed up on beaches or floating in the sea.
1. Perfume
The earliest documented use of ambergris as an enhancer for perfumes dates back to the 10th century in the Arab emirate of Granada, located in Muslim Spain. The substance, known as 'Ambar,' was introduced to Spain from North Africa. Unlike traditional incense, ambergris was incorporated into court perfumes as both a binder and enhancer, a practice still used by prominent perfume houses today.
In perfumes, ambergris has a similar effect to a pheromone. It subtly influences the hormonal system of men, without direct physical contact, making any woman wearing ambergris perfume irresistibly attractive. Men are drawn to her, offering their full attention and admiration, often going to great lengths to please her. No wonder it's favored by women!
Modern synthetic alternatives to ambergris, derived from plants, are said to produce a similar effect. However, this remains unproven. Many perfumeries continue to use natural ambergris, purchasing it from the open market as it becomes available. It is then carefully stored for future use, much like diamond merchants who stockpile diamonds when they can.
Although few perfume houses openly admit to using natural ambergris, the ongoing demand for it and the sky-high prices it fetches on the market suggest otherwise. Furthermore, the leading synthetic version of ambergris' active ingredient, Ambrox, is both challenging to produce and expensive in large quantities, offering little benefit to perfumers in opting for the synthetic substitute.
Frater Perfumes, the luxury perfume brand founded by Jamie Frater of Mytour, features natural New Zealand ambergris in several of its fragrances.
