What is Ambergris?
and where is it extracted from?
A lot of people have heard of Ambergris. However, very few of them know exactly what it Is, where it is extracted from, or what its various types and benefits are.
Therefore, we’ve gathered all of the valuable and worthy information in this article. So that, you’ll be aware of its benefits and why it’s important.
Ambergris is a gift of God. It has a unique odor that gives satisfaction and delight and finds beauty in everything a human sees.
Furthermore, it’s well-known for thousands of years. And also used in creating the most expensive and high-quality perfumes & Incense.
Ambergris is a solid waxy material, that is found in a specific species of whales called Cachalot. fresh ambergris has black color, thin texture and a stinky smell. However, it turns into a charming perfume with a grey or yellow color after exposure to sunlight. It may remain in Deep-Sea for years before it goes out. Not to mention that the longer it remains in Deep-sea, the better quality it gets.
Ambergris Locations
Ambergris is located in the southern part of Earth. It’s found in abundance in the Bahamas, Mozambique, and Ethiopia too. In addition to Somalia, Bermuda, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as Madagascar, the Maldives, the Philippine Islands, and the Pacific Islands
The Traits of natural Ambergris
Ambergris has a unique smell, shapes, colors, and various structures. Which are in brief:
Ambergris Color:
It is usually white, grey, black, or brown. However, sometimes it’s a mixture of all of its colors, that are dull and also dusty.
Ambergris Shape:
Ambergris looks like rough rocks or dry clay. it is formed while floating and rolling over the water's surface. This movement gives ambergris its soft and smooth texture. Thereby, its pieces have a spherical or oval formation that lasts for years before being extracted.
Ambergris Odour:
Ambergris has a unique odor that words are powerless to express. Especially the charming earthy smell that makes it incomparable to any other odors. The uniqueness of its odor is based on its special quality and colors.
Where is Ambergris extracted from?
Ambergris is extracted from the male Cachalot that lives in oceans. Although a lot of people believe that it’s formed by Cachalot’s vomit, mucose, or feces, the truth has nothing to do with this misconception. Because Ambergris is formed within Cachalot’s bowel that mainly digests giant squid - Cachalot’s main meal - therefore, Cachalot has a lot of battle scars against giant squid. On the other hand, giant squid's sharp hooks irritate cachalot’s bowels and can’t be digested.
The formation of ambergris within the colossal whale reflects God's marvelous creation, which represents ambergris as a protection of Cachalot’s bowels irritation. And as a product to digest large squid hooks.
Hallowed be Allah the creator and the magnificent!
Ambergris is also extracted from various plant resources and trees in different countries. Such as India, Iran, Sudan, Korea, and also New Zealand. Plant-extracted ambergris is used in producing soaps, moisturizers, and protective factors.
How does ambergris come out of Cachalot?
as time goes by, ambergris comes out of Cachalot’s bowels. However, there are different points of view on the way it happens. Some of them believe that ambergris is pathologically formed of frozen wax within Cachalot’s bowels. On the other hand, some claims that Cachalot is fed from a plant called Gaillardia pulchella. However, Oceanographers assure that Cachalot produces a waxy substance within its bowel to remove the black materials of - Cachalot’s main meal - squid. Therefore. parts of malacostracan are found in ambergris after being extracted.
Ambergris size is determined as it comes out of Cachalot’s bowels. But sometimes it keeps increasing within Cachalot’s bowel until it can’t come out normally. Thereby, it remains inside until the cachalot dies and decomposes. Afterward, ambergris floats over the seawater surface as a result of its relatively high density of water. Finally, ambergris may preserve its spherical formations or be crushed into pieces by waves.
However, sometimes it sinks to the ocean floor. Thereby, perfumers especially ambergris specialists dive deeply to find and collect Ambergris with modern and different methods.
Best of Ambergris Species
Ambergris quality is classified according to its color, which is determined by oxidation of long exposure to air and seawater. It usually varies from white to black.
1- white ambergris
it’s formed by the oxidation process. Because floating over seawater for a long time forms a white thin or thick outer layer that covers the ambergris pieces. Sometimes the color of it is a mixture of grey and white. It has also a unique and sharp odor.
what is ambergris and where is it extracted from?
2- standard Ambergris
It is lesser in quality than white ambergris. It has brown and dark grey colors, with a good smooth odor.
what is ambergris and where is it extracted from?
3- black Ambergris
Although It has the largest size among other types. Black ambergris can be broken down easily and unlike white ambergris which has a longer formation age. And in spite of Its fragrant and sharp odor, it can be counterfeit by adding waxy materials or plaster.
what is ambergris and where is it extracted from?
4- Grizzled Ambergris
It is the best and most high-quality of all types, but it’s also very expensive.
what is ambergris and where is it extracted from?
● Highclass Riyadh spirit Ambergris
It’s a mixture of woody and vanilla odor with a fragrant smell that gives more charm to the atmosphere.
Oudnna for high-quality odors proudly represents the Highclass Riyadh spirit Ambergris
what is ambergris and where is it extracted from?
5- Blue Ambergris
It’s one of the special and fresh fragrant types. However, it’s considered lower in quality than Grizzled Ambergris.
what is ambergris and where is it extracted from?
● Highclass Blue Cachalot Ambergris
It represents a smooth and soft touch of charming ambergris, that spreads its odor to refresh the universe with love.
Oudnna for high-quality odors proudly represents the Highclass Blue Cachalot Ambergris.
what is ambergris and where is it extracted from?
6- Yellow Ambergris
it is considered a medium-quality type of Ambergris. However, it has a smooth and light odor. With a more affordable price than other types.
what is ambergris and where is it extracted from?
Other types of Ambergris or “Amber”
Amber is a waxy plant-extracted fossil for millions of years. it has various types, including
Baltic Amber
It is one of the most spread ambers on Baltic Sea beaches for 44 million years.
Caribbean Amber
This species is extracted from the island of Hesse Banyola, which is from Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Caribbean amber is distinguished by its presence in various natural colors such as fluorescent green and blue, and it is transparent and contains fossil inclusions.
what is ambergris and where is it extracted from?
Blue Amber
Blue amber is found abundantly in the amber mines of the Santiago mountain ranges in the Dominican Republic, but also in the eastern parts of it.
Burmese Amber
Also called Burmite and up to 99 million years old, Burmese amber is found in the Hukaung Valley.
what is ambergris and where is it extracted from?
Green Amber
It’s distinguished by light and smooth odor when applied to skin. The addition of nitric oxide enhances the aroma of Green Amber, which dates back millions years ago. Furthermore, it’s used in jewelry making.
what is ambergris and where is it extracted from?
Cobal Amber
Cobal is the name of the resin tree, where amber is extracted from the fossils of the copal tree.
what is ambergris and where is it extracted from?
Mexican Amber
Mexican amber has a good smell and is found in Chiapas, Mexico. It is extracted from the fossils of certain trees and is similar to Caribbean amber.
what is ambergris and where is it extracted from?
White Amber
It is one of the rarest species of amber, characterized by its beautiful shape and decoration in different colors such as honey, gray, green or sometimes blue.
Red Amber
It is considered the second rare type of amber after white amber, and this amber is very expensive.
The Components of Ambergris
Physical traits
As we mentioned before, amber has different shapes and sizes, but the usual weight of a piece of amber is around 15 grams to 50 kilograms or more.Furthermore, Amber’s specific gravity ranges between 0.780 to 0.926, and it melts at about 62 degrees Celsius, which is what Approximately 144 Fahrenheit to a yellow, greasy liquid, and at 100 Celsius - 212 degrees Fahrenheit - amber volatilizes as white vapor.
Chemical traits
Amber does not react with acid,and it contains 25% ambrine. This substance has a very beautiful scents similar to musk, and it also plays a great role in stabilizing odor for a long period of time. For this reason, amber is considered as one of the most valuable and finest types of famous perfumes.
it is possible to separate amber from amber by heating raw amber in alcohol, and then cooling the resulting solution. Then it produces from ambrin by oxidation the main components of the smell of amber, namely ambroxan and amprinol. But now ambroxan is produced industrially only to be used in the perfume industry.
Amber is also considered one of the best and rarest animal sources that are used in the manufacture of the most expensive perfumes, because most of the ingredients from which perfumes are made are vegetable or chemical, but it is rare that the ingredients are animal.
Usage
Amber is broadly used in manufacturing most expensive perfumes and incense. it’s also used with food and drink, as it is claimed that amber and eggs were the main meal of the second King of England, Charles. Furthermore, is used in manufacturing several beverages, especially when used in the recipe for the rum bush, which was known in the middle of the nineteenth century. It is a thread of amber, almond and cloves with cassia and orange peel. Amber was also used as a flavoring agent in Turkish coffee, and in hot chocolate in Europe in the eighteenth century. It was used by the ancient Egyptians as incense, but now amber is used in Egypt in fragrant cigarettes, not to mention amber is also used to treat headaches, colds and epilepsy. It is also used in the spice industry.
How to use raw ambergris?
Raw amber can be used as incense, where it is placed over coals, or it can be ground over agarwood on the coals, (it can be rubbed with fingers to make it like powder). It is also possible to mix it with the Indian oud to smell the best and most beautiful scents in the place.
Ambergris benefits
Dental painkiller
Amber was used in the past as a remedy to relieve dental pain in children, due to the fact that it contains succinic acid. And it was massaged with the baby's gums, but it is not recommended unless a doctor prescribe it.
Skincare
Ambergris maintain and restore the epidermis, and it’s cosidered as an anti-aging factor the prevent wrenckles to grow. Furthermore, it treats the majority of dermatological issues, such as burns.
perfume manufacturing
Words are powerless to express the smell of Ambergris, that is used in perfume making. It also preserve odor as long as possible.
Digestive system maintenance
Amber boosts the digestive system and protect it from many different problems, such as constipation and chronic constipation. Amber also helps treat indigestion and get rid of intestinal gas.
libido booster
It plays a major role in boosting libido and treating impotence in both women and men. recent studies have confirmed that adding amber to saffron makes it a sexual tonic. On the other hand, don’t use it in large quantites in oreder to avoidso as not to produce negative symptoms such as headache, weakness and insomnia, and it also causes health damage if it is added to food in large quantities, without knowing the appropriate amount.
Other benefits
● Amberstimulates appetite and weight gain
● Reducing arthritis and rheumatism.
● Relieves nerve pain.
● Maintains neurological health and state.
● It improves the psychological state and helps to rest and a sense of calm and reassurance.
● Also reduces the problem of the seventh nerve.
● Treating high blood pressure.
● Treatment of diseases of the intestine, liver and bladder.
Amber can’t be used without medical prescription, in order to avoid any complications
Valuable information of Ambergris
Cachalot is considered one of the most famous and important whales in the world. It lives to the age of 70 years or more, but it is currently threatened with extinction and its hunting is prohibited internationally.
It is distinguished by being one of the largest and largest whales ever, with a large head, weighing up to 56 tons. While the length of the adult male is 20.5 meters, the female whale is smaller than the male. It is half the size of a male.
Cachalot is distinguished from other whales by its giant head with an oblong shape. It also has a blowing hole located at the front of the head in the direction of the left. As for the whale's tail, it is triangular in shape with high thickness, and it is larger than the tail of any other whale.
what is ambergris and where is it extracted from?
Cachalot feeding
Cachalot can eat up to 3.5% of their weight on a daily basis, feeding primarily on cephalopods. Octopuses and various types of fish and his favorite food is giant squid and colossal squid.
The whale has a skull that enables it to locate its prey by echo, and its sense of smell and taste is considered weak because it has a small olfactory system, so it depends on the sense of hearing.
Cachalot Sound
The sound of a Cachalot is called a squeak, as its sound is similar to the sound of a door screeching. The whale uses its voice to pounce on its prey. This sound also helps him to communicate with the rest of the other whales.
Cachalot reproducation and pregnancy
Unfortunately, scientists have not been able to know this until now, because sperm whales can dive in the depths of the ocean, up to 1,000 meters under water, and therefore it is difficult to monitor them.
While the sperm whale has a gestation period of 14 months to 16 months, and a female whale can give birth once from 4 to 20 years.
At the end of the article, we hope that this article has met your admiration and that you have obtained the greatest benefit by informing you of the valuable information about amber.