7. Ambergris
Ambergris is a rare and valuable substance found along the shores of the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea, and the coastlines of East Africa. It comes from the digestive system of sperm whales and forms because whales cannot digest hard parts of their prey, like squid beaks. These materials get coated in a fatty substance inside the whale and are eventually expelled into the sea. As it floats, ambergris hardens and takes on a waxy texture with a unique, pleasant scent.
Ambergris floats on water, and people sometimes discover chunks washed ashore. There are even stories of pieces so large they could be the size of a house—though likely exaggerated, these tales add to the mystery of ambergris. Occasionally, decaying whale carcasses float in the sea, and it's possible to extract ambergris directly from the remains.
Ambergris is highly valued for several reasons. It is crucial in perfumery, where its scent and ability to stabilize other fragrances make it indispensable. It is also believed to have medicinal benefits, used to treat various ailments. Wealthy people prize it as a status symbol, and it is sometimes added to food and drink, believed to have aphrodisiac properties. For common people, finding ambergris not only promises wealth but also feels like an encounter with the mysterious power of the sea.