Is spermaceti a wax?

SPERMACETI is the solid wax obtained mainly from the head of the sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus L. (P. catodon L.).

What is spermaceti made of?

spermaceti, a wax, liquid at body temperature, obtained from the head of a sperm whale or bottlenose whale. Spermaceti was used chiefly in ointments, cosmetic creams, fine wax candles, pomades, and textile finishing; later it was used for industrial lubricants.

Is spermaceti a oil?

Spermaceti wax is extracted from sperm oil by crystallisation at 6 °C (43 °F), when treated by pressure and a chemical solution of caustic alkali.

What kind of lipid is spermaceti?

Abstract. The lipid structure of the spermaceti organ of the sperm whale (Physeter catodon) has been investigated in an attempt to clarify its possible function. The major lipid classes present were wax ester and triglyceride, and their fatty acid compositions have been determined by gas-liquid chromatography.

Why is it called spermaceti?

The head of the sperm whale contains an enormous fluid-filled organ (which whalers called the case). During whale harvests, this organ, now called the spermaceti organ, was discovered to contain a white liquid that whalers mistook for the sperm of the whale.

What is the function of spermaceti?

The spermaceti organ is an organ present in the heads of toothed whales of the family Physeteroidea, in particular the sperm whale. This organ contains a waxy liquid called spermaceti and is involved in the generation of sound.

Is ambergris the same as spermaceti?

Spermaceti solidifies in cool air to form a wax once used for candles and cosmetics. Sperm whales are also the source of ambergris, a secretion in the gut produced in response to irritation by the beaks of squids, an important prey.

Can you buy sperm oil?

With the 1987 international ban on whaling, sperm oil is no longer legally sold. The oil from bottlenose whales was sometimes called “Arctic sperm oil.”

Can you eat ambergris?

Of all the world’s feces, ambergris may be the only one prized as an ingredient in fragrances, cocktails and medicines. It’s eaten, too. Persian sherbets once included ambergris along with water and lemon.

How much is ambergris worth per kilo?

Substance made by sperm whales is known as ambergris and can be sold for up to $40,000 a kilogram.