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Politics : Manmade Global Warming, A hoax? A Scam? or a Doomsday Cult?
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To: Alan Smithee who wrote (856)5/29/2014 1:01:24 PM
From: Bilow   of 4326
 
Hi Alan Smithee; Re: "And if whaling is outlawed, just where do you expect we'll get ambergris?";

Interestingly, ambergris is not a product or byproduct of whaling. The precursor to it shows up in sperm whale feces. It has to spend roughly a year in the ocean. When it washes up on a beach, someone finds it and sells it to the perfume makers. This is why the perfume makers pretty much got rid of it. Hard to control.

If you happen to be beachcombing, it might be useful to know how to recognize the stuff:


Ambergris has an unusual odour which is difficult to explain to anyone who has never had the pleasure of its sensual aroma. Ambergris is often described as being musky and having a sweet earthy aroma unlike any other, or a mossy fragrance reminiscent of the damp forest floor. Depending on the quality of the ambergris there can be a great variation in the fragrance. Poor quality or fresh ambergris (which is black and sticky) is fairly offensive in fragrance. If you can imagine scented cow dung you will be on the right track. Many people expect ambergris to have a very strong or foul odour, but this is not the case. In general, lighter coloured pieces of ambergris have a subtle, pleasant smell. The base animal (manure) odour fades as the ambergris cures. However, the white and grey varieties, in particular, possess the subtle, sweet addictive aroma that beachcombing dreams are made of.
ambergris.co.nz

If you're lucky enough to find any, you can sell it on eBay for a *lot* of money.

-- Carl
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