What happens if you find ambergris?

If you find ambergris, you should report the find to your state or territory environment department (listed below). Information on when and where you find the ambergris may assist us to better understand the life cycle and distribution of the sperm whale.

Can you keep ambergris if you find it?

You may not collect, keep, or sell ambergris because it is a part from an endangered marine mammal. Ambergris is a naturally occurring by-product of sperm whale digestive tracts sometimes found on beaches.

Is it illegal to have ambergris?

It is illegal to use ambergris in the U.S. because the sperm whale is protected; however, it is used often in foreign markets. The substance is also contraband in India.

What are the chances of finding ambergris?

Ambergris takes years to form. Christopher Kemp, the author of Floating Gold: A Natural (and Unnatural) History of Ambergris, says that it is only produced by sperm whales, and only by an estimated one percent of them. Ambergris is rare; once expelled by a whale, it often floats for years before making landfall.

Is fossilized ambergris worth anything?

(Modern science says the waxy substance is more like a whale gallstone, or whale poop.) Although it sounds pretty repellant, ambergris is actually worth big bucks — the chunk that these guys stumbled upon weighed 176 pounds (80 kilograms) and was allegedly worth nearly $3 million. But why was it so valuable?

The Truth About the Huge Demand for Whale Vomit

How do I know if I found ambergris?

Ambergris will have a slightly waxy feel to it and often appears grainy inside. It should be brittle and may look layered inside, you may be able to see this if your find has a broken edge, but remember that breaking apart pieces devalues them if they are ambergris!

How can I sell my ambergris?

In most countries, including the UK and the rest of the EU, it is currently perfectly legal to salvage a lump of ambergris from beaches and sell it, either at auction or on sites such as eBay. All whale and dolphin species are strictly protected under EU law and international trade in whale products is banned.

How much is a kilo of ambergris?

Substance made by sperm whales is known as ambergris and can be sold for up to $40,000 a kilogram.

What does fresh ambergris look like?

Soft black or fresh ambergris is normally jet black in colour though it may also develop a thin powdery white coating (oxidation) on the surface. It can be found in flat strips and in larger lumps which may resemble a flattened cow pat in appearance. It has a matching unpleasant odour of scented cow dung.

How much is ambergris per gram?

Known as "floating gold," ambergris is a waxy grayish substance formed in the intestines of sperm whales and is added to perfumes to slow evaporation. A gram of ambergris is worth up to $20.

How is ambergris harvested?

Sperm whales eject an intestinal slurry called ambergris into the ocean, where the substance hardens as it bobs along. Eventually it gets collected along shores—most often as sheer happenstance, as in the case of eight-year-old Charlie Naysmith in the U.K. a few days ago.

How much does ambergris cost per pound?

The main ingredient was ambergris, a rare rocklike substance that exudes a special scent all its own. The best ambergris goes for $10,000 per pound, and one lucky 8-year-old in England has very likely stumbled upon a large piece on his local beach.

Are sperm whales killed for ambergris?

When whaling was widespread, sperm whales were hunted for ambergris and other valuable products, such as oil. Sabin says, 'Whales are now protected worldwide, but could still be at risk in the future.

How can you tell if a beach has ambergris?

One test for ambergris is to poke it with a hot needle and a liquid should ooze out – try the “hot needle test” with a candle at home. But many waxy objects melt when exposed to heat. As for the white smoke, most objects immersed in water take on some of it.

How much can I sell ambergris for?

Ambergris is a surprisingly valuable substance that sells for roughly $20 a gram (gold sells for $30).

Is it illegal to take whale bones off the beach?

“To collect it off a U.S. beach is not legal,” Michael Moore, a senior biologist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, said. Moore works with the NOAA Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program, and is therefore privy to many whale skeletons and carcasses.

Where can I smell ambergris?

Chemist Gunther Ohloff once described ambergris as 'humid, earthy, faecal, marine, algoid, tobacco-like, sandalwood-like, sweet, animal, musky and radiant'. Others comment that it can smell a bit like the wood in old churches, or Brazil nuts.

What do I do if I find ambergris UK?

In most countries, including the UK and the rest of the EU, it is currently perfectly legal to salvage a lump of ambergris from beaches and sell it, either at auction or on sites such as eBay.

What does ambergris taste like?

Ambergris, the subject of a new book, “is aromatic—both woody and floral. The smell reminds me of leaf litter on a forest floor.” Herman Melville devoted an entire chapter of Moby Dick to the substance.

What perfumes still use ambergris?

This floating gold is actually the most important ingredient, bar none, in the perfume industry, and it's frequently used by luxury perfume houses like Roja Parfums, Amouage, and House of Creed.

Why is whale vomit illegal?

The quality is defined according to the colour and pure white varieties or lighter shades are preferred for making finest perfumes. The sale of ambergris is prohibited in India as sperm whale, an endangered species, is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Read more: What the puke!

How much is whale poop worth?

The waxy, rock-like substance is produced in the intestinal tract of one out of every 100 sperm whales. When expelled by the animal into the sea, ambergris can develop fragrant properties over time, which makes it a valuable ingredient in perfumes. The substance can fetch up to $25 per gram.

What is ambergris used for?

ambergris, a solid waxy substance originating in the intestine of the sperm whale (Physeter catodon). In Eastern cultures ambergris is used for medicines and potions and as a spice; in the West it was used to stabilize the scent of fine perfumes.

Can you find ambergris in Florida?

The Spanish never found the gold they expected in Florida, except for shipwreck treasures. But in a 1700 report to the King of Spain, a mission father said the Atlantic coast of South Florida was rich with some of the best ambergris to be found anywhere.

What is the price of whale vomit?

Is It Expensive? Ambergris or whale vomit is extremely expensive, so much so that it is called 'floating gold'. According to reports, 1 kg of this stuff can cost anywhere upward of Rs. 1 crore in international markets.