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Ambergris

lat. Ambra grisea

Group: Animal Sources

Ambergris, or grey amber (Ambra grisea, Ambre gris, ambergrease) is a solid, waxy, flammable substance of a dull grey or blackish color, with the shades being variegated like marble. It possesses a peculiar sweet, earthy, animalistic, powdery odor with sweet nuance of musk and the sea. It is a biliary secretion of the intestines of the sperm whale. While fresh, ambergris is dark, with flabby consistency and a nauseating odor. Under the simultaneous action of sea water and the atmosphere, amber takes on a lighter and lighter tinge, silver-grey to golden yellow, and at last it becomes almost white. Its smell becomes refined, sweet, very pleasant and characteristic.

Ambergris can be found floating upon the sea, or in the sand near the coast, and sometimes in the abdomens of the whales. It appears in the Atlantic Ocean, on the coasts of Brazil and Madagascar, on the coast of Africa, of the East Indies, mainland China, Japan, India, Australia, New Zealand and the Molucca islands. However, most commercially collected ambergris came from the Bahamas and Providence Island.

It has been used in perfumery since the ancient times as a fixative component for delicate fragrances in perfumes, since it has the effect of making other fragrances last much longer than they would otherwise. It was known and appreciated in Africa and China before 1.000 AD. Ancient Egyptians used it as frankincense, while Greeks added it to vine in order to enhance its effect. It was used in perfumery of the Middle East and in Roman Empire. It was included in recipes of the pharmacopoeia. Arabs used it as medicine for heart and head. In Asian cuisine ambergris was used as a spice. Turks considered the most pleasing offering to Allah to bring with them on their life pilgrimage to Mecca.

Ambergris is used in the modern perfume industry as well, but due to its high price and reduced whale hunting it is often replaced by components containing ambrein, the the principal active fragrant ingredient of ambergris, extracted from plants such as Rockrose, Bee Balm (Oswego Tea) and Angelica.

Ambergris Essential Oils

Price: $15.00
Ambergris Perfume Oil
A healing panacea made from large chunks of ambergris when found by fishermen floating on the Atlantic Ocean. A scent to captivating and beautiful, it inspired John Singer Sargent to paint his famous La Fumee d'Ambergris. Madini Oils have a long tradition in perfumery, 14 generations old.

Price: $15.00
Amber Perfume Oil
Warm, earthy and exotic essence made from amber resin and blended to perfection. Madini Oils have a long tradition in perfumery, 14 generations old.

Ambergris

Group: Animal Sources

Ambergris Essential Oils

Perfumes and Colognes With Ambergris

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