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Ambergris in dried form. Ambergris (/ ˈ æ m b ər ɡ r iː s / or / ˈ æ m b ər ɡ r ɪ s /; Latin: ambra grisea; Old French: ambre gris), ambergrease, or grey amber is a solid, waxy, flammable substance of a dull grey or blackish colour produced in the digestive system of sperm whales. [1] Freshly produced ambergris has a marine, fecal odor.
Ambergris is less dense than water and floats, whereas amber is too dense to float, though less dense than stone. [ 8 ] The classical names for amber, Ancient Greek ἤλεκτρον ( ēlektron ) and one of* its Latin names, electrum, are connected to a term ἠλέκτωρ ( ēlektōr ) meaning "beaming Sun".
Ambergris Caye (/ æ m ˈ b ɜːr ɡ r ɪ s ˈ k iː / am-BUR-gris KEE; Spanish: Cayo Ambergris), is the largest island of Belize, located northeast of the country's mainland, in the Caribbean Sea. It is about 40 kilometres (25 mi) long from north to south, and about 1.6 kilometres (1 mi) wide.
Police in Turkey’s Mersin province said on February 14 they had seized approximately 10 million lira ($733,000) worth of ambergris, describing the substance as “whale vomit”.Police said ...
BCNPMR's marine habitats include extensive tracts of mangrove and sea grass beds, patch and barrier reef, and the largest lagoon on the island of Ambergris caye, Laguna de Cantena. The reef lies within the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, the world's second longest barrier reef after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
Ambergris, named for "the most secret and valued part of the whale", is a fantastical urban milieu, explicitly modern and apparently pre-industrial (despite the presence of guns, bombs, and motor vehicles). Ambergris is characterized by grocery stores, post offices, cafés, and vendors (The "Borges Bookstore" bears note). The city was built ...
The island was named for ambergris, a waxy substance that migrating sperm whales regurgitate and is prized as a fixative for perfume and cosmetic products. Ambergris used to wash up along the 8 miles (13 km) of island's shoreline but is rarely found on the island today. Big Ambergris Cay is known for its shallow, turquoise waters.
My guess on why synthetic alternatives were sought is that the supply of quality ambergris was low and it is difficult to get a consistant and reliable harvest of ambergris. Combined with the high demand for the stuff and the prohibitive price tag, someone will seek (a have sough out) a cheaper and more reliable source.