Those who are interested in perfumery are probably familiar with the "amber" class of fragrances, but has anyone wondered why it is called that and what ambergris is in general? In fact, there is no mystery in this. This is the name of a wax-like substance that is formed in the digestive tract of sperm whales. Among the inhabitants, however, there is a version that ambergris is nothing more than whale vomit. But scientists have long concluded that the substance is formed not in the stomach, but in the intestines of sperm whales and is excreted from there.
It is believed that the secretion of this substance is caused by wounds that the sharp beaks of squid inflict on 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, as well as when catching whales. There are 4 main types of it: fresh, white, regular and black ambergris. A fresh product is practically useless, so experts usually advise throwing such finds into the sea for further maturation. White ambergris is the most expensive and rare - it has been in the sea for a very long time. Pieces of this species are usually quite small and hard,because part of the substance was washed out, and the surface was oxidized. The oldest pieces can easily crumble to dust.
And what is regular ambergris? This substance is gray-brown in color, it has a strong specific aroma, its pieces are larger, and the texture is less dense than in the previous species, some layering can be noticeable. Finally, the last type is black (low quality) ambergris, which is the most common. This substance was in the sea for a very short time, so it almost did not have time to oxidize. However, the pieces are quite dense, although not always hard, and also have a pronounced smell.
By the way, about how this substance smells. As the quality grows, its flavor becomes finer and sweeter. If black ambergris can have a pronounced fecal note in the smell, then from white you will feel only a barely noticeable sweetish fragrance. Nevertheless, all categories of this substance, except for 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, like mummy. However, due to its rarity and high cost, it is almost impossible to purchase it, because the world's elite perfumery manufacturers have a monopoly on the purchase of almost all stocks of ambergris. However, in recent years, synthetic fixatives and perfume compositions have been increasingly used instead of it and musk.
It is also believed that thisthe substance literally exudes pheromones that attract the opposite sex, but this point of view is unlikely to be grounded. Surely ambergris does not contain substances that attract people, but it can act on whales. And yet it is interesting what ambergris is for whales, and what is its original 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 he alth, genotype, and carries other information about a particular cetacean.
