People shelling out thousands of dollars for stinky whale vomit may seem disgusting to some, but experts believe that this waste, known as ambergris, is indeed floating gold.
Ambergris, a fatty substance secreted in the intestines of sperm whales that hardens over time, is extremely rare. More than that, experts say that ambergris is a valuable substance as it is used as a valuable ingredient in drugs and perfumes.
As oxidation removes air and water from the excreted chunk, an aroma similar to tobacco or mulch is produced by the ambergris. The length of time the ambergris undergoes oxidation determines its quality and value. Known ambergris broker Bernard Perrin compares its aging to a fine wine that gets better over time.
Based on historical data, Middle Easterners pulverize ambergris and ingest it to improve virility and strength, fight brain and heart illnesses as well as flavor their food and drinks.
A treaty dating back to the Middle Ages stated that the substance can help relieve colds, headaches and even epilepsy. The so-called whale vomit is so valuable that it even forced the Portuguese to take over the Maldives in the 16th century just so they could have access to the flourishing bounty of ambergris.
Ambrein, the chemical component of ambergris, is used in perfume because it helps enrich the olfactory notes and prolong the scent. It is present in the sought-after Chanel No. 5 perfume.
Odor chemist George Preti of the Monell Chemical Senses Center explained that like perfume molecules, ambergris molecules are lipophilic or fat-loving, but they are heavier and larger.
"The odor molecules have a high affinity for the other lipophilic molecules, so they stay associated with the ambergris molecules and don't go into the vapor phase all at once," said Preti.
Much is still to be known about ambergris, as experts are yet to explain why it is particularly more common to see it in the southern hemispheres and why only male sperm whales can produce it. What probably adds to the value and rarity of the ambergris is the dwindling number of sperm whales, which is now estimated to be at 350,000 from approximately 1.1 million before whaling.
Photo: Peter Kaminski | Flickr
