AMBERGRIS.

Shannon News, 26 February 1929, Page 3

AMBERGRIS.

USED IN PERFUMERY.

The frequency with which ambergris has been found "on New Zealand beaches during the present sumnier serves ~s-an an excuse for refreshing the public memory as to what the substance is, .tnd to what it is put. Ambergris is a solid, fatty, inflammable substance of adnll .grey or blackish colour (the shades being variegated . like marble) possessing a peculiarly sweet earthy odour. It occurs as a biliary concretion in the intestines of the spermaceti whale, and is found floating on the .sea, on the seaeoast, or in sand near tlvs sea. It is found for the most part in the Atlantic Ocean, on the coasts of Brazil and Madagascar, on the coasts of Africa and also in the East Indies, China, Japan and the Molucca Islands. Ambergris is also found-in the abdomen of whales, in lumps varying from half an ounce, to 1001 b in weight. When taken from the intesUnal canal Of the sperm whale it is of a deep grey colour, soft consistence, and a disagreeable smell, but on exposure to the air it hardens, becomes pale, and develops a sweep odour. It melts at about 62 degrees C. to, a fatty yellow, resinouslike'liquid,' and at'loo degrees it is Volatilised into a white vapour. It is soluble in ether, volatile and fixed oils, and is only feebly acted upon;by acids. The use of ambargris in Europe, is now entirely confined to perfumery, though formerly it was attributed with medicinal qualities. In--.minute quantities its alcoholic colution is much used for giving a "floral" fragrance to scents, washes, and other perfumery. Ambergris is largely used in the East in perfumery and sometimes is utilised in cookery. The high price it commands makes it liable to adulteration, but its genuin-eness is easily tested by its solubility hr hot alcohol," by its fragrant odour, and its uniform fatty consistence on being penetrated by a hot wire. • __