Pumice
Looks like ambergris because:It's light, and grey, tan or white.
But check this:Very porous and full of holes. No waxy feel, no musky smell.
Photo: Mauro Cateb, Wikimedia Commons, cropped, CC BY-SA 3.0
Think You've Found Ambergris on a New Zealand Beach?
From Northland to Southland, New Zealand's beaches are a good place to look for ambergris. Here's how to tell if yours is real.
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7 simple ways to check your find
Have the piece in front of you and go through them in order. No single check proves it. Several together are a good sign.
1Look
Black, grey, tan or white, with a matte finish. Not glossy or marbled.
2Feel
Slightly waxy and soft when warm, harder in the cold.
3Weight
Lighter than a rock of the same size.
4Smell
Fresh pieces can smell fishy or fecal. Aged pieces smell sweet and earthy.
5Warm smell
Gently warmed, the scent gets stronger and more pleasant or musky.
6Inside
May hold squid beaks or other natural debris.
7Handle with care
Keep it dry. Never leave it soaking in seawater or freshwater.
Does your find match most of these? Send me photos for a free assessment.
What does ambergris look, feel and smell like?
Visual appearance
- Colour ranges from black to grey to white.
- The surface feels like running your fingers across a biscuit, not smooth, glassy or soap-like.
- It may have squid beaks or other debris embedded.
- It has a matte finish, not glossy or marbled.
- Soft black ambergris is gooey and sticky, with a strong, pungent smell.
Texture and temperature
- Feels slightly waxy and soft when warm.
- Becomes harder in cold temperatures.
- Should feel lighter than rocks of a similar size.
- May leave a waxy residue when rubbed.
Smell test
- Fresh ambergris may smell fishy or fecal.
- Aged ambergris has a sweet, earthy aroma.
- Gently warmed, it should smell pleasant and musky.
- The scent becomes stronger when warmed.
Density test
- Ambergris floats in saltwater.
- It should feel lighter than you expect.
- Its specific gravity is lower than seawater's, which is why it floats in the sea.
- Fresh water is less dense, so a genuine piece may sink in it. That is normal.
Three tips from me
- 1Real ambergris becomes more fragrant when gently heated.
- 2Genuine ambergris floats in saltwater but may sink in freshwater.
- 3Look for squid beaks or other sea debris embedded inside.
What is commonly mistaken for ambergris?
Many beach finds look like ambergris at first. Here's how to spot the difference.
Palm oil and wax
Looks like ambergris because:Pale, waxy and light, and it floats.
But check this:Greasy, and smells of a candle or cooking fat. It looks the same all the way through, with no layers.
Paraffin wax found on Wangerooge. Still from a video by Rhetos, Wikimedia Commons, cropped, CC BY-SA 4.0
Tar balls
Looks like ambergris because:Dark, and found on the beach.
But check this:Shiny or tacky black, stains your fingers, and smells of petroleum.
Photo: JLPC, Wikimedia Commons, cropped, CC BY-SA 3.0
Tree resin
Looks like ambergris because:Amber or brown, and natural.
But check this:Glassy and see-through at the edges. Fresh resin is sticky and smells of pine.
Kauri gum. Photo: NEON_ja, Wikimedia Commons, cropped, CC BY-SA 3.0
Seaweed balls
Looks like ambergris because:Round, brown, light lumps washed up with the tide.
But check this:Hairy, made of plant fibres you can pull apart. No waxy feel, and it smells of seaweed or dry grass.
Seagrass sea balls. Photo: Asma Ben Gharbi, Wikimedia Commons, cropped, CC BY-SA 4.0
Whale blubber
Looks like ambergris because:Pale, fatty, and from a whale.
But check this:Black skin over soft, oily, pinkish fat. It rots quickly, with a rancid smell.
Bowhead whale, Alaska. Photo: Alaska Jack, Wikimedia Commons, cropped, CC BY-SA 4.0
Common New Zealand lookalikes
New Zealand's volcanic geology and long, varied coastline produce several materials that are often mistaken for ambergris.
- Pumice. Very common on New Zealand beaches, especially in the North Island. Light and porous, but with no waxy feel and no scent. It won't leave a waxy residue when rubbed.
- Kelp and compressed seaweed. Dark and waxy-looking once dry. It smells strongly of the sea, but breaks apart easily and has no density.
- Whale blubber. Washes ashore in New Zealand now and then. Oily, it rots quickly and smells rancid. A completely different texture from ambergris.
- Palm oil from cargo spills. Turns up now and then on west coast beaches. Soft, pale and waxy, but it smells of vegetable fat, not the sea.
- Tar balls. Hard and black, with a petroleum smell. Common after shipping activity, and easy to tell apart once you know how ambergris smells.
When in doubt, check several signs together. Real ambergris is rare, light, slightly waxy, and has a complex, pleasant smell.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about identifying and selling ambergris.
How do I identify ambergris?
By its waxy texture, its musky, oceanic smell and its colour, from greyish-black when fresh to white when aged. Go through the 7 checks above, then send me photos and I'll confirm it.
Where can I sell ambergris I found?
To me, if the trade is legal where you found it. The rules differ from country to country, and I only buy where the trade is legal. Tell me where you found it and I'll tell you honestly what your options are. Send photos through my sell ambergris page, or email contact@ambergriscanada.com.
How much is ambergris worth?
It depends on quality, age, colour and purity. High grades are prized by perfume houses. There's no single price per gram, so send me photos and I'll quote for your piece.
Is what I found really ambergris?
Most beach finds are not. Compare yours with the lookalikes above, then send me photos for a free assessment.
What does ambergris smell like?
Fresh pieces smell strongly of the sea, and often fecal. As it ages, the smell turns sweet, earthy and musky, a little like old wood, tobacco or damp earth. Smell alone is not proof, because people describe it very differently.
Is ambergris whale vomit?
Not quite. It forms in the gut of sperm whales, around hard squid beaks, and most of it is passed out the other end, not vomited. It then floats at sea for years before it washes ashore.
Does real ambergris float?
Yes, in seawater. In fresh water a genuine piece may sink, because fresh water is less dense. A quick test is fine, but dry the piece straight away.
What is the hot needle test?
A heated needle touched to ambergris melts a small spot into a dark, resin-like liquid with a musky smell. It is a useful hint, not proof: wax, palm oil residue, rubber and grease can react in a similar way. Use only a tiny spot, and treat it as one check among several.
Where is ambergris usually found?
On beaches that face the open ocean, along the high-tide line, often after storms. Finders have sent me pieces from 56 countries.
How should I store ambergris I have found?
Keep it dry: damp causes mould and weight loss. Keep it out of direct sun and away from heaters, since heat breaks down the scent and can soften it. Wrap it in cotton cloth, or keep it in a canvas bag or wooden box so it can breathe, never sealed in plastic. Handle it with clean, dry hands, brush off loose sand and seaweed, and store it away from perfumes, incense and other strong smells.
Get professional evaluation
Still not sure? Send me clear photos and a few details. I'll tell you honestly what you have. The assessment is free, with no obligation.
- Call Nabil · Vancouver, Pacific time+1 (778) 713-5786
- Email Nabilcontact@ambergriscanada.com
See what I find, as I find it
I post new pieces, field trips and identification tips on Instagram.
Nabil Valiulla@gris.whisperer
Most of what washes up is driftwood and stone. I post the pieces that aren't, and how I tell them apart.
