Ambergris news

[ION-ONE]

A nice story about an Ambergris find in Yemen

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-middle-east-57288265

 

[PrinceRF]

That's one heck of a find!

 

[Andy the frenchy]

A nice story about an Ambergris find in Yemen

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-middle-east-57288265

That's the issue why ambergris is forbidden in many countries: the sperm whale probably wasn't a 'carcass' before crossing the path of the fishermen...
Anyways, here's a nice interview of a knowledgeable ambergris guy, Christopher Kemp, that you might be interested in watching:

 

[TT2450]

Wow, quite a story, thank you for posting!

 

[TT2450]

That's the issue why ambergris is forbidden in many countries: the sperm whale probably wasn't a 'carcass' before crossing the path of the fishermen...
Anyways, here's a nice interview of a knowledgeable ambergris guy, Christopher Kemp, that you might be interested in watching:

Interesting, will watch the video :thumbup:

 

[hednic]

Thanks for sharing the link.

 

[HabibiGotIt]

That's the issue why ambergris is forbidden in many countries: the sperm whale probably wasn't a 'carcass' before crossing the path of the fishermen...
Anyways, here's a nice interview of a knowledgeable ambergris guy, Christopher Kemp, that you might be interested in watching:

You have no basis whatsoever for this statement. It is just as likely that they stumbled upon a floating dead or nearly dead carcass.

 

[Birdboy48]

I thought that "fresh" ambergris, straight out of the whale was not of much use, and that the material that was worth thousands, and which is sometimes used in perfumery, was the sort that had decayed out of dead whales, and had floated around on the ocean's surface for decades if not longer.

 

[HabibiGotIt]

I thought that "fresh" ambergris, straight out of the whale was not of much use, and that the material that was worth thousands, and which is sometimes used in perfumery, was the sort that had decayed out of dead whales, and had floated around on the ocean's surface for decades if not longer.

Well, there appears to be a market for "fresh" (black) ambergris. Also, it is possible to age the fresh ambergris, I believe.

 

[Diamondflame]

I thought that "fresh" ambergris, straight out of the whale was not of much use, and that the material that was worth thousands, and which is sometimes used in perfumery, was the sort that had decayed out of dead whales, and had floated around on the ocean's surface for decades if not longer.

That’s what I thought too. The longer a piece of ambergris floats, exposed in the open sea, the whiter and more valuable it becomes. Black ambergris is kinda like whale poop, isn’t it? Hard to believe it sold for $1.5M. If that truly happened more people would be out hunting these whales...

 

[Birdboy48]

Black ambergris is kinda like whale poop, isn’t it? Hard to believe it sold for $1.5M.

I read "Floating Gold" and that's what they seemed to say. I suspect that there's more to this story.

 

[sjg3839]

Nice story

 

[woodnotes55]

Thanks for sharing. Sometimes the broke guy does win the lottery!!

 

[Opiate]

That’s what I thought too. The longer a piece of ambergris floats, exposed in the open sea, the whiter and more valuable it becomes. Black ambergris is kinda like whale poop, isn’t it? Hard to believe it sold for $1.5M. If that truly happened more people would be out hunting these whales...

All Ambergris is essentially whale poop. Well, it’s not actually poop but it’s emitted from the same place. The squid beaks dissolve and blend into the liquids & acids the sperm whale produces in its small intestine to break it down, and that’s what becomes Ambergris.

The black stuff is fresher and has a more funky/animalic smell. As it ages (and turns lighter in color), the smell evolves to a more salty smell and then sweeter. White ambergris almost smells like vanilla. It ages in the sea but IIRC it can be aged and cured once claimed as well.
The grey and white stuff is valued the highest but some like to use the black stuff too. I’ve read that it’s popular in the middle eastern markets.

 

[Andy the frenchy]

You have no basis whatsoever for this statement. It is just as likely that they stumbled upon a floating dead or nearly dead carcass.

I don't. If it is a 'carcass', it means that the body would have started decomposing inside, and I doubt it would be any good for the ambergris... but indeed I have no basis to state that, nor has the journalist any basis to state that the whale was dead before that. A bit of critical thinking is necessary nowadays.

This type of 'discoveries' makes me think at restaurants in Italy... every time there is an accident in restaurants's kitchen, it is 'the first day' of work of the cook, and 'unfortunately they didn't have had time to have them sign the contract'....

 

[Andy the frenchy]

That’s what I thought too. The longer a piece of ambergris floats, exposed in the open sea, the whiter and more valuable it becomes. Black ambergris is kinda like whale poop, isn’t it? Hard to believe it sold for $1.5M. If that truly happened more people would be out hunting these whales...

Indeed, in some countires (Iceland, Japan, Norway) whaling is still authorized, and in other places, many poachers do. It is not excluded that it was the case here, but I have no clue, just an hypothesis. As likely as the hypothesis that the whale was already dead.

 

[Birdboy48]

In regards to how old pieces of ambergris can be, I just read a paper on this subject, and among the samples that were tested, which were collected from documented locations, a number of the pieces tested out at more than 1000 years old.

As I understand, once cast ashore, ambergris can quickly deteriorate as a result of being beaten by waves, so that's a long time to be floating in the ocean.

https://sci-hub.do/https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2018.1523163