Ambergris

[Obsessed]

It seems that our friends over at Creed use ambergris (synthetic, presumably) in a lot of their fragrances. I have a feeling that's one of the reasons I tend to like Creed scents in general. My wallet, however, likes them less than my nose does, and I'm wondering if there are any other ambergris-centric fragrance houses I should consider.

Thanks.

 

[tsmba]

It is a very nice note. TPC offers an ambergris oil from Houbigant that gives one a good notion of just how it smells. I also discovered a manufacturer called "Ambergris" that sells a scent at the Ritz in Paris.....its great stuff!

 

[StylinLA]

I must admit I get a bit confused by ambergris. I believe its primary purpose in a scent is as a fixative, to extend the life of other notes.

But, clearly it does contribute to a scent. I think it's a common element in a lot of their stuff that I like. It seems like I remember reading that Ambre Canelle is one of their scents where ambergris is most prominent.

Le Labo's Boutique here has a kit you can buy that has tiny vials of about 60-80 vials of the major notes used in perfume. I smelled the ambergris (synthetic liquid; not the actual substance). It has a fairly rank sour smell.

I still want to know who the heck saw that junk floating in the ocean and said "Perfect! Let's put it in perfume and rub it all over ourselves."

But then, that makes one wonder about civet and castoreum too. Jeesh.

 

[Igor01]

I've tried a number of supposedly pure ambergris tinctures and oils and the most wearable to me is Agarscents Bazaar's White Ambergris oil, bright and fresh, almosts a citruis opening, a very engaging creamy ambergris mid-note and light musky drydown. Unfortunately, your wallet may like this even less than the Creed's offerings - this one one goes for $150 for 3ML of oil. It's actually not a bad deal though since you only need two tiny swipes of the oil to have enough of a personal fragrant aura for the entire day.

 

[Gaston]

IBut then, that makes one wonder about civet and castoreum too. Jeesh.

Actually, both the castor itself and the oil from the grooming glands (I'm not sure which perfumers are using) smell very nice to me when fresh, but I like the castor better. I'm surprised you don't see oil rendered from beaver fat in skincare products, there's probably not a princess anywhere with hands as soft as a beaver skinner's if he works without gloves.

 

[bylhoocom]

good!

 

[stewartmuir]

The Creeds in which I've most noticed a prominent ambergris note are:

Cuir de Russie
Fleurs de Bulgarie
Ambre Cannelle

The following cheaper scents have prominent ambergris notes:

Azzarro Pour Homme
YSL Live Jazz
YSL Kouros Cologne Sport

Would be interested to hear about other 'designer' scents where ambergris is prominent.

 

[herbnerd]

http://www.ambergris.co.nz/buy.htm

Only $20/g

 

[BCatl]

When real ambergris ages, it gets a sweet smell according to a Wikipedia I read.

It seems to have a side benefit of being a great fixative as mentioned above. So it appears to be a two-fer.

As I just read, it appears to be illegal to sell it or possess it in the USA. However, this is "internet law" so take it for what it's worth. So it appears to be illegal to harvest it off the beach in the USA even though it does the sperm whale no harm since the animal naturally expells this substance.

 

[The Nid Hog]

It seems that our friends over at Creed use ambergris (synthetic, presumably) in a lot of their fragrances. I have a feeling that's one of the reasons I tend to like Creed scents in general. My wallet, however, likes them less than my nose does, and I'm wondering if there are any other ambergris-centric fragrance houses I should consider.

Thanks.

I'm watching the beaches for you!

 

[Obsessed]

I'm watching the beaches for you!

As Sappho wrote, "if you are squeamish, don't prod the beach rubble."

 

[Dewaine]

Live Jazz has ambergris that is especially noticeable after a few hours.

 

[Aaron01]

Acier Aluminium has a prominent ambergris note as well

 

[Gaston]

Back in the 70's when whale products were mostly legal (if from old stock), I got some of both the real and the artificial ambergris. The results were predictable - the artificial was stronger and brighter but faded fairly quickly, the real thing more subtle, sweeter after a short bit and longer lasting. Neither smelled that great out of the bottle, but when mixing barehanded I invariably got at least a bit of it on my hands. When I was using the real thing, I found myself sniffing my fingers (that sounds awful, doesn't it?) hours later even after I'd scrubbed them.

Even though I feel sure that the artificials have improved drastically since, I'm guessing that the real thing is worth the difference in price.

I also bought some sperm oil (the sound of things isn't improving, is it?), I'd read that the Japanese and Russians used it for their far northern forces because it doesn't gum up or freeze at extremely cold temperatures. I'm hoping that at those temps they couldn't smell it. Wonders a wonder on guns, though, and is almost as hard to remove completely as cosmoline.

 

[DULLAH]

Back in the 70's when whale products were mostly legal (if from old stock), I got some of both the real and the artificial ambergris.

Ambergris is still legal. 99.9% of the time Ambergris is harvested, Whales are never even encountered, much less bothered or harmed. It's the products that harm whales during harvesting that are illegal.

 

[StylinLA]

Ambergris is still legal. 99.9% of the time Ambergris is harvested, Whales are never even encountered, much less bothered or harmed. It's the products that harm whales during harvesting that are illegal.

My understanding is it's only of value if it's been floating in the ocean for a long period of time after having been naturally regurgitated. Whales cannot be killed to obtain it. The "aging" effect plus exposure to salt water and sun is what makes it of value. The trick is finding it. The oceans are huge and a small amount of this goes a long way.

 

[Obsessed]

My understanding is it's only of value if it's been floating in the ocean for a long period of time after having been naturally regurgitated.

Before you got into fragrances, did you ever think you'd type a sentence like that?

Sounds like the Jonah of fragrance ingredients. . .

 

[StylinLA]

Before you got into fragrances, did you ever think you'd type a sentence like that?

Sounds like the Jonah of fragrance ingredients. . .

It's going to be just as odd to type this, but I remember my mom telling me about ambergris years ago when I was a kid-- remarking that a small amount found floating in the ocean was worth a fortune.