Ambergris is a metabolite of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus L.) which accumulates as concretions in the gut of the animal. 1 After several years of aging, as a result of the action of sunlight, air, and water, the final ambergris combines a unique odor with fixative properties particularly prized by perfumers. Release of the ambergris fragrance is related principally to the presence of the (-)-norlabdane oxide 1, registered by Firmenich SA ...
[Snowden, Roger L.; Eichenberger, Jean-Claude; Linder, Simon M.; Sonnay, Philippe; Vial, Christian; Schulte-Elte, Karl H. Journal of Organic Chemistry, 1992 , vol. 57, # 3 p. 955 - 960]