MISCELLANEA

Whale Vomit and Perfume — An Unlikely Pairing

Or… Generalised knowledge and the need to write about perfume and the science behind it

Image by Author :)

Table Of Contents

Have You Ever Wondered About What Goes Into Perfume?
  🐳.  Bottom Vomit
  🐳.  Ambergis (a much nicer term)
  🐳.  The Science Behind Ambergis
  🐳.  And now this…
  🐳.  Two final things
  🐳.  Colophon

Have You Ever Wondered About What Goes Into Perfume?

Premium perfumes use a substance called ambergris — this is a waxy substance ‘secreted’ by sperm whales, floats along in the ocean (which then ‘matures’ it) and is then used by the perfume industry.

Ambergis is made in the gastrointestinal tract to ease the passage of hard, sharp things (for example squid beaks). The bile duct secretes a waxy substance into the intestinal tract of whales which then forms around these indigestible things in the gut.

This is then expelled by the whale. Unfortunately, this is not done through the mouth. Oops.

Bottom Vomit

The perfume industry likes the term ‘Vomit’, however, it is just faeces — which doesn’t sound as pleasant — or do anything good…