A fortunate fisherman in Scotland recently stumbled upon a valuable find - a lump of ambergris, often dubbed as 'floating gold.' For ages, this rare substance has captivated perfumers for its unique properties. We wanted to shine some light on what it smells like and the fragrances that feature it well.
The mystery of ambergris' origin was only unraveled in the early 19th century when whaling activities became widespread. Derived from about one in every 100 sperm whales, ambergris forms when these marine giants consume vast amounts of squid and cuttlefish. While most of the squid is regurgitated, some remnants coalesce within the whale's intestines, eventually creating ambergris.
With a scent reminiscent of moist, earth-toned, with a hint of the sea, and a subtly sweet aroma, with a trace of animal musk, undertones of tobacco, and notes of sandalwood, ambergris is a very complex ingredient that, when added to perfumes, can add an incredible amount of depth and warmth to the fragrance.
Here are the ambergris gems on our digital shelves worth getting acquainted with.
