Ambergris. As soon as it was called at different times in the languages of the peoples of the world - sea wax, gray amber, amber fat, dragon saliva and even whale vomit. Each piece (or weighty monolith) found of ambergris has its own smell, depending on the period of its stay in sea water.
Fecal, dung, fetid, musky, earthy, mossy, marine, with a jasmine note, sweetish, fragrant - this whole set of definitions, and far from complete, describes the smell of the same gift of nature, born in the gastrointestinal tract of sperm whales. Despite the "divergence of opinion", there is no contradiction in such a wide range of ambergris aromas.
Ambergris
This is the name of the product that enters the sea from the whale's belly and has not passed the ripening period (should not be confused with the perfumery "Black Ambergris" from Saudi Arabia, an analogue of aromatic oils). Soft or somewhat hardened, rather plastic, it has a black outer layer and a dark brown tint at the fault.
The smell of black ambergris will seem unpleasant to most, since a noticeable fecal note prevails in it, most of all the "bouquet" reminds of a neglected barn. However, the product has nothing to do with excrement, but is the result of a special protective secretion from the stomach of the sperm whale. Fresh amber has no value - only under the influence of sea water for at least 2-3 decades it can change its dark color to light, lose its stench and acquire a delicate aroma.
Ambergris
The complete fading of a piece of black ambergris occurs gradually, and its smell also changes. The most common ambergris monoliths are ash-colored or gray-brown. At this stage of maturity, the product has a pleasant, but somewhat intense fragrance. The highest value is found in pieces of white (or gray) and golden amber with the lightest sweetish aroma, dried so much that powder can be obtained by grinding them.
The size of the pieces of ambergris decreases in proportion to its "age". The older the sample, the less likely it is to meet its large fraction. The weight of individual finds varies from tens of grams to several tens of kilograms - the heaviest piece of ambergris, weighing 340 kg, was found in Madeira. The search for "floating gold" is on a commercial level in the Bahamas: ambergris is found here more often than on other ocean and sea coasts.
The value of ambergris
Despite its own aromatic advantages, ripe ambergris is highly regarded in the perfumery market not only because of them. The reason for its success lies in the ability to persist the most ephemeral notes caught by the sense of smell. In combination with various lines of aromas, ambergris gives depth and warmth to the bouquet of aromas, acting as an amplifier and refiner of perfume ingredients.
Amber compositions are incredibly stable and can last for years. One of the most famous admirers of amber notes in perfumery is Giacomo Casanova, a connoisseur of women's hearts, the legendary seducer of the 18th century.
