A sperm whale shitting in the ocean. Photo by Strange Ones ; all other photos by Christopher Kemp. Between 7 billion human asses and countless bird, fish, and animal butts, our planet pumps out an ungodly amount of poop every day. Few of those turds—if any—are as valuable as the mysterious and rare fudge dragons dooked out by sperm whales.
Why whale poop is used in some expensive perfume - Business Insider
Perfumers covet a rare kind of whale poop known as ambergris. Though it develops in the intestine of sperm whales, it produces a prized scent used in high-end fragrances. This is ambergris. It might look like a rock, but it's actually a rare kind of whale poop.
It is produced by sperm whales and has been used for centuries, but for many years its origin remained a mystery. Ambergris has been a unique phenomenon for millennia. Fossilised evidence of the substance dates back 1. Where it comes from remained a mystery for years, during which several theories were proposed, including that it was hardened sea foam or the droppings of large birds.
It is the only living member of the genus Physeter and one of three extant species in the sperm whale family , along with the pygmy sperm whale and dwarf sperm whale of the genus Kogia. The sperm whale is a pelagic mammal with a worldwide range, and will migrate seasonally for feeding and breeding. The females cooperate to protect and nurse their young.