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Ambergris

Introduction:
The word ambergris is derived from old French “Ambere gris” or
grey amber and from Arab word “Anbar”. It is also called as “Floating
Gold”. The ancient Chinese also called it “Dragons Spittle Fragrance”
It is a solid ,waxy material produced in the sperm whale and also in
the pygmy sperm whale but it is not found in all types of whales,
only found in about 1.5% of these whales. So, it is not common a
substance and is very expensive e.g the best amber goes for $10,000
per pound.
Zoological origin: Physeter macrocephalus
Family: Physeteridae
Part used: Solid material from the intestine of sperm whale.

Collection:
It is primarily found in the Atlantic ocean and on the coasts of South
Africa, brazil, The Maldives, China, Japan, India, New Zealand etc.
It can be found floating on found floating on the sea or washed away
on the coast. After the death of sperm whale it can also be removed
from the abdomen of sperm whale.

Colors:
It comes in different colors, shapes
and textures most often white, grey,
black and brown color.
Texture and size:
Its texture is like rock or dry clay
and size ranges from 15gm to
450kg.

Formation:
It is formed in the second intestine of the sperm whale during the
digestion of squids. Squids are the staple part of the sperm whale diet.
The squid have hard and sharp “parrot like” beaks which are unable to
digest by the whale. In response the whale may produce ambergris as
a means of binding together and eliminating these indigestible beaks.
Squid beak pieces are found in the ambergris. However, the precise
function and mechanism for the production of ambergris is still
disputed but it may play some role in protecting the whales from the
sharp beaks of the squid

Chemical Constituents:
The three isolated major components are:
Amberein (a tricyclic triterpenoid alcohol) and a series of sterols of
the cholesterol type mainly epicorprostanol and coprostanone.

Quality Identification:
The ratio of the two types of terpenes determines the quality of
material.
 The best sample (grey amber) contain 80% of amberein
 Black amber contains up to 46%.
Ingredients Responsible For Fragrance:
Alpha ambrinol: mold, animal, fecal odor
Gamma dihydroionone: tobacco
Gamma coronal: sea water
Ambro: wet amber

Ambrein Ambrox

Uses:
Cosmetic Industry:
It is mainly used in creating perfumes and fragrance much like musk.
Perfumes can be still found with ambergris around the world.
It is used to fix the scent of various volatile oils.

Medicines:
In the past in China it was prescribed against the respiratory
disorders.
 It could also be administered to treat heart, brain, headaches,
tension, muscle spasms, nervous disorders, aphasia, facial
paralysis.
 It is also good for joints.
 In India it is used in “Ayurvedic medicines” prepared against
epilepsy and certain dysfunctions of the nervous system.
 In homeopathy, the strain “Ambra grisea” and prescribed
against the hypersensitivity, sleep disturbances.

Cooking:
Throughout the Middles Ages, it was used in stews, pies, creams and
jams. The hot chocolate with amber was popular drink in the history.
In morocco, it is a tradition to ambergris with tea. Indeed, a small
piece of ambergris is stuck in teapot and tea takes the aroma and
flavor of ambergris. It is considered an effective aphrodisiac as its
odor acts directly on the hormonal system.
Contents:

 Introduction
 Collection
 Colors
 Texture and sizes
 Formation
 Chemical Constituents
 Quality Identification
 Ingredients Responsible For Fragrance
 Uses

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