18.02.2026 21:41
Ambergris, known as whale vomit, reaches a value that rivals gold when it washes up on shores after storms. From the outside, it looks no different from an ordinary rock, but ambergris is a rare substance that brings fortune to those who find it, especially in the perfume industry.
After the stormy weather, ambergris, which washes up on the shores and resembles a mossy stone at first glance, hardens into a stone-like structure as it is carried by ocean currents.
TURNING INTO WEALTH FOR THOSE WHO CAN FIND IT
This substance, confirmed to be real through expert examination, can find a value of millions of liras in the markets. The most important factor that makes ambergris so valuable is the cosmetic industry. Especially world-renowned perfume manufacturers use this rare substance to enhance the longevity of scents and stabilize essences. For this reason, companies are willing to pay high amounts to find ambergris.
MILLION-DOLLAR OPERATION IN TURKEY
In previous years, striking events related to ambergris had also occurred in Turkey. In an operation conducted in Mersin, dozens of kilos of ambergris were seized, and it was announced that its market value reached millions of liras.
RESULTING IN HEAVY PENALTIES
Experts are issuing an important warning. The sperm whales, which are the source of ambergris, are among the protected species. While collecting pieces that form naturally in the sea and wash ashore is considered legal, causing harm to whales or intervening with them results in heavy penalties.
ACTUALLY A DEFENSE MECHANISM
Ambergris is produced in the digestive system of sperm whales and is actually a product of a defense mechanism. These whales produce a fatty and waxy secretion to prevent the hard beaks of the octopuses and squids they consume from damaging their intestines. Over time, the substance, which becomes solid by encasing the indigestible hard pieces, is eventually expelled from the whales' bodies.