Nabil Valiulla looking out of an aeroplane window

Our Story - Ambergris Canada in Australia

From a costly first loss in Madagascar to 4,678 specimens assessed across 56 countries. This is how I built Ambergris Canada.

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Years in ambergris20+
Countries56
Specimens assessed4,678
Reply within24 hours

Who is Nabil Valiulla?

I'm Nabil Valiulla, founder of Ambergris Canada. I have worked with ambergris since 2004 and assessed 4,678 specimens from 56 countries. Based in Vancouver, Canada, with a second hub in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. I review every photo and every assessment myself. Follow my finds on Instagram at @gris.whisperer and on YouTube at @ambergriscanada.

How did Ambergris Canada start?

The real story of Ambergris Canada, in six chapters.

01
Early days · Madagascar

The beginning: a costly lesson

My journey began with a costly loss in Madagascar. It was humbling, even discouraging. But it taught me what this work demands: authenticity, patience and learning from every mistake.
- Madagascar, 2006
02
Building from the ground up · India

Early days

I started with almost nothing. My car back then was a modest Maruti. I learned about ambergris from the ground up, building trust one person at a time.
- India, my first car
03
2009 to 2016 · Dubai, Singapore, Durban, Doha, Chicago

Building a global network

Seven years of travel across continents: Dubai, Singapore, the coast of Durban, then Doha and Chicago. Each city taught me something new, and each connection strengthened a network that became truly global.
- Dubai, 2009
- Singapore, 2010
- Durban, 2013
- Doha, 2014
04
2015 · Global

A partnership that changed everything

A seasoned private investor and mentor saw the potential in what I was building. Together we grew Ambergris Canada, a journey that took us across 56 countries.
05
The turning point · India to Canada

A new chapter

After years of building connections worldwide, it was time for a new beginning. Moving to Canada changed more than my address. It brought new opportunities, new challenges and a network that grew to 56 countries.
- Moving to Canada
- Chicago, 2016
06
20 years later · Canada

Growth and gratitude

Two decades in, the journey has changed my life. From that first loss in Madagascar to one of the most trusted ambergris networks in the world, the lifestyle changed, but the mission stayed the same: authenticity, fairness and trust.
- Today
- View the photo

Meet me on film

"Ambergris connects people, places and time. Every piece I collect carries the story of the ocean and the hands it has passed through."
- Nabil Valiulla

Nabil Valiulla crouching on a pebble beach to pick up a piece, from the founder film

The Scent of Success

The founder film · Watch it

What I stand for

Credibility and trust
Every assessment is backed by my 20-year reputation and an open, honest process.
Honest answers
I tell you what your find is, even when it isn't ambergris.
A global network
I've worked with beachcombers, marine scientists and perfumers in 56 countries.