First, the answer: the main chain of records on ambergris in ancient texts consists of three Song dynasty books — Zhou Qufei's Lingwai Daida records its origin and properties, Zhao Rushi's Zhufan Zhi records the trade, and Zhang Shinan's Youhuan Jiwen records the price and usage; in the Ming dynasty, Zhou Jiazhou's Xiang Cheng, Volume 9, 'Incense Grades 9 · Ambergris', compiled them into a single chapter. The ancients' explanation was that 'a dragon coils in the sea and spits saliva'; modern science classifies it as the intestinal secretion of the sperm whale, formed through long-term washing and oxidation by seawater. Most 'ambergris' on the market today is synthetic substitute; natural ambergris involves endangered species trade controls, and this must be made clear first.
Key Points
- The Song already recorded that ambergris is 'white when new, purple after a while, and black after a long time' — a fairly accurate empirical observation.
- Youhuan Jiwen states that ambergris costs 'no less than a hundred thousand per liang', establishing it as the supreme among incense; the price record is important evidence of the Song dynasty spice trade.
- The core function of ambergris in ancient formulas is 'gathering smoke': added to blended incense, it makes the smoke cohere and stay in unbroken threads.
- Xiang Cheng, Volume 9, compiles multiple sources and also includes authentication of forgeries; it is the most convenient entry point for this topic.
- Natural ambergris comes from the sperm whale and is regulated by CITES and national endangered species laws; the vast majority of commercial circulation is synthetic substitute, and procurement must verify compliance.
The ancients' explanation is hidden in the name itself. The account in Ye Tinggui's Mingxiang Pu (this site'sVolume 9 annotated translationquoted and compiled):
Ambergris comes from the land of Dashi. A dragon coils on a great rock in the ocean, lies down and spits saliva, which floats on the water's surface; whoever obtains it regards it as a supreme treasure.
Translated: ambergris comes from the Dashi (Arab) region; legend has it that a dragon coiled on a great rock at sea, lay down and spat saliva, which floated on the water and was picked up by people who regarded it as a supreme treasure.
'Dashi' was the Song term for Arabia. With the flourishing maritime trade of the Song dynasty, foreign merchants brought this exotic spice from the Western Sea (Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea) into China; the sellers told a story of 'a dragon spitting saliva', and the buyers recorded it as given.This is not ancient ignorance but a common 'origin narrative' in the spice trade— the place of origin was distant and unreachable, so legend filled the gap. Similar cases include 'fanhun xiang' (soul-returning incense) and 'jingjing xiang', all of the same kind.
Another more detailed record comes from Zhou Qufei's Lingwai Daida, 'Ambergris' entry (paraphrased, not a verbatim fixed text): in the Western Sea of Dashi there are many dragons; they sleep with their heads on rocks, their saliva floats on the water's surface, and after accumulating it can become hard; those who collect and pick it up regard it as a supreme treasure; newly collected is white, after a while it turns purple, and after a long time it turns black.
The ancients may not have seen the actual substance, but the color sequence 'white when new — purple after a while — black after a long time' matches today's observations: fresh ambergris is a dark, soft mass; after washing by seawater, sun exposure, and oxidation, the color gradually lightens, the texture hardens, and the odor turns from foul to clean.The empirical observation is quite accurate; only the explanation was wrong.
Lingwai Daida (Zhou Qufei, Southern Song)leans towards geography and natural history, recording origins, characteristics, and color changes, belonging to the 'natural history' tradition.
Zhu Fan Zhi (Zhao Rugua, Southern Song)leans towards trade, recording which countries produce it, how it is offered as tribute, and how it is traded, belonging to the 'maritime trade' tradition. Zhao Rugua served as the Superintendent of Maritime Trade for Fujian Circuit; the records on spice trade in the book carry an official perspective and are highly credible.
You Huan Ji Wen (Zhang Shinan, Southern Song)leans towards anecdotes and evaluations, preserving the two most crucial sentences:
Ambergris, the most supreme among aromatics, each tael costs no less than a hundred thousand [copper coins]; when blended in incense, it can gather smoke, remaining in continuous threads without dispersing.
(Quoted from the compiled annotations of Volume 9 of Xiang Cheng on this site, as an organized compilation.)
These two sentences are extremely informative. The first half is about price—'each tael costs no less than a hundred thousand'—a single tael often costs over a hundred strings of cash, which is the top tier of spice prices in the Song dynasty. The second half is about function—when blended in incense, it can gather smoke, remaining in continuous threads without dispersing. This sentence explains why ambergris is precious: it does not win by its own pleasant scent, but ratherchanges the performance of the entire incense burner. In blended incense with ambergris added, the smoke gathers without dispersing, and the lingering fragrance is greatly extended. In modern terms, it is a natural fixative.
Zhou Jiazhou's approach in Volume 9 is tocompile multiple sources and include authentication of forgeries. According to the collation notes for Volume 9 on this site, this volume frequently cites Lingwai Daida, Zhu Fan Zhi, and Baishi Huibian, and also includes Ye Tinggui's Mingxiang Pu; the evaluation of ambergris transforming from 'fishy' to 'clear' is found in multiple sources.
The section on authentication of forgeries deserves separate mention. Ambergris was expensive, and counterfeits existed as early as the Song dynasty. The verification methods devised by the ancients included observing color (white is superior, black is inferior), testing by burning (genuine ambergris smoke gathers without dispersing), and checking the scent (transforms from fishy to clear, remaining strong without becoming harsh over time).The criterion 'the fragrance transforms from fishy to clear' is especially important—natural ambergris indeed carries a fishy, musky odor when unprocessed; only after aging does it develop that special clear sweetness. If you encounter 'ambergris' that smells clean and fragrant from the start, that is precisely when you should be suspicious.
The modern explanation is completely different from ancient texts. Ambergris is a solid waxy substance formed in the intestines of sperm whales, expelled and floating on the sea surface for long periods; through salting, oxidation, and sunlight, it gradually hardens, fades, and develops a unique fragrance. Its main component is ambrein, which through oxidative degradation produces ambroxide—one of the most famous fixative molecules in the modern fragrance industry.
Here comes the problem.The sperm whale is a globally protected species, listed in CITES Appendix I, and assessed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. Most countries and regions prohibit or strictly restrict commercial trade in sperm whale products, and China likewise enforces an endangered species import and export management system.This means that natural ambergris can hardly circulate legally through official channels.
So what is labeled "ambergris" on the spice market today? Three cases:
First,learn to look at "functional descriptions" rather than "fame". The ancients valued ambergris because it gathers smoke, fixes fragrance, and prolongs longevity. If that is the effect you want today, synthetic fixatives or substitute blends in ancient formulas can achieve it, and there is no need to chase natural products.
Second,understand the logic of "blended incense". Ambergris is never the protagonist; it is an assistant. The structure of ancient incense formulas is usually agarwood and sandalwood as the bone, with ambergris and musk as the application—the main incense carries the scent, while the fixative is responsible for expression and longevity. When reading any ancient formula, look first at this skeleton, then at the fine materials.
Third,put compliance before aesthetics. There is nothing negotiable about this: for products involving endangered species, ask for certificates first, then discuss the fragrance.
If you have a piece in hand that claims to be natural ambergris and you want to figure it out, you can bring it to the store and we will help you look; if it is inconvenient to go out, call 400-809-1913 and send photos. Please note that identification and circulation of products involving endangered species have clear legal boundaries,we do not purchase or resell any endangered species products that cannot provide legal origin。
No. This is an origin legend formed in Song dynasty maritime trade; the ancients never saw the actual production process and explained its origin as "a dragon coiling on the sea and spitting saliva." Modern research considers ambergris to be a waxy substance formed in the intestines of sperm whales, which after being expelled is washed by seawater and oxidized. Empirical observations such as "the new is white, the old is black" are correct; the explanation is wrong.
Refers to ambergris's role in blended incense as a fixative and smoke-gathering agent—adding a small amount helps the incense smoke gather into strands, resist dispersing, and prolong retention. It is an auxiliary and guiding ingredient rather than the main fragrance; in ancient formulas the amount used is usually extremely small, as too much will suppress the primary scent.
Through legitimate channels, basically no. Sperm whales are a CITES Appendix I species, and most countries prohibit commercial trade in their products. The vast majority of products labeled "ambergris" on the market are synthetic fragrances with ambroxide as the main component, or blended incense products that retain the names of ancient formulas. Before purchasing any incense material involving endangered species, always confirm proof of legal origin.
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