What odours are emitted from ambergris found on beaches and how do they vary with age?

What is it about?

Ambergris from sperm whales is found (very rarely) on beaches all over the world. Our previous work showed that it can be in the sea for a thousand years. We thought this age might affect the smells that different ambergris pieces have. We were right: pieces of different ages produced different odour compounds.

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Why is it important?

Until our study no one appears to have made a scientific study of the odours coming from jetsam ambergris of different ages.It seems the odours chemicals are a combination of those produced by breakdown of ambrein and chemicals adsorbed from the sea.