Different Types of Ambergris

Introduction to Ambergris

Ambergris, derived from certain sperm whale species, is among the most precious raw ingredients in perfumery. Both the item itself and the scent it emits are extremely uncommon. Ambergris is a fixative used in perfumes, and its aroma is best characterized as sweet, sea, and like animals.

Brief History of Ambergris

Ambergris has traditionally been utilized in the production of excellent perfumes. Because of their incredibly distinctive sweet, leathery, and marine-like aroma, ambergris perfumes are still in high demand.

From ancient times, the process of employing ambergris to create perfumes has been kept a secret. Ibn Battuta, a well-known Muslim traveler, and thinker, also spoke about ambergris and its unique significance in pre-modern history.

Types of Ambergris

Fresh Ambergris is completely black (dark brown inside). Its texture is flexible and sticky (like wet soft clay). It smells strongly of manure, which most people would find to be highly offensive. It is best to toss away any new ambergris that you uncover because it is useless and should be returned to the sea. Ambergris can be divided into three primary groups.

White or grey ambergris

It is a product with a light interior tone and a white or partially white exterior. Often, this kind of artwork comes in lesser sizes as they have been in the ocean for a long time. The smell will have some sweetness to it.

Standard ambergris

It typically has a brownish-gray or ash tint. Although still a tad intense, the aroma will be nice. Bits may also be bigger. The material frequently has visible layers.

High-quality Black ambergris

This variety might be quite firm, soft, or very hard.

How long does ambergris have a life span?

Ambergris can float for years in the ocean. The ideal period of time for a piece to be cured is unknown, although often it would be preferable for the pieces to float in the sea for as much as feasible (20 - 30 years).

According to its look, we were unable to determine a piece's exact age. But, we can determine if it is an older and well-cured piece from a number of variables, including the thickness of the white external coating, the internal color of the piece, and the aroma.

Is ambergris brittle or hard?

Typically, ambergris has a firm texture. The texture is only soft (hard, flexible) at the lowest qualities. Very old pieces may become more powdery and fragile.

How can we tell the difference between ambergris of good and low quality?

The term "ambergris” is used to describe all product grades; the quality of the substance and the odor it produces vary greatly. Ambergris with the lowest quality has a soft texture, is black in color, and generally smells strong of "manure."

The smell would make it seem as though you were in a stable before it had been cleaned out. This smell would offend a lot of people. Yet, if you held a particularly high-quality piece directly up to your nose, you might not even be able to detect its light, delicate, and sweet aroma.

Why does ambergris cost so much?

Whale vomit or ambergris, which is sometimes referred to as ambergris ocean, is known as the ocean's treasure or floating gold. Due to its uniqueness, ambergris has a high value. This valuable material is exclusively created in the belly of the ambergris sperm whale, and only one percent of them can manufacture this substance, which the endangered species rarely vomits.

In addition, numerous nations passed legislation outlawing the trade of this chemical. Ambergris is one of the most precious animal assets worldwide because of its scarcity and high demand in the fragrance and pharmaceutical industries. Depending on the quality, ambergris currently costs between $35 and $61 per gram (a gram of gold costs roughly $61 as of October 2020).

Conclusion

In conclusion, ambergris is rare and has many different types. We have discussed briefly about all the types of ambergris. Although ambergris is rare but you can find ambergris oil easily on “theperfumist”. They have the rarest products in the world including “White ambergris oil” which is 100% pure.