To celebrate one of the hottest film launches of the year, the PAIRFUM team would like to offer their view on the which fragrance ingredient has “Fifty Shades of Grey”.
Ambergris
In our opinion, there is only one candidate: Ambergris !
‘Ambergris’ (French) or ‘grey amber’ (Physeter Macrocephallus) is a solid and waxy material of a dull grey colour produced in the digestive system of sperm whales and then excreted. Sperm whales produce it to protect their stomachs from the beaks of the cuttlefish they swallow. Ambergris is not to be confused with ‘Fossilised Amber’, which comes from plant resin.
Ambergris is one of the most valuable raw materials in perfumery. Historically, it was found at sea and collected on beaches. Fresh ambergris is black, matured ambergis is white. Inbetween are at least “Fifty Shades of Grey”. The longer it is in contact with seawater and exposed to sunlight, the more it ages and oxidises, the more it acquires a sweet, rich and sensuous quality to becomes a strong and very valuable perfume ingredient or scent with woody, earthy/mossy, animalic, marine (algae) and powdery notes. In perfumery, ambergris is used as a fixative and to impart ‘depth’ and ‘richness’ to a fragrance accord. Nowadays it is mostly replaced by a synthetic version.
In some cultures it is regarded as an aphrodisiac and offered for sale by herbalists in the fascinating souks of Marrakesh (Morocco) and Cairo (Egypt), where is frequently stirred into cups of sweetened tea.
Historically, Ambergris has been a sought-after product and has been traded in Africa since 1000 B.C. It was seen as one of North Africa’s luxury goods (along with gold). One of the biggest pieces of ambergris ever found was auctioned in London in 1913 and weighed more than 336 pounds.
Blush Rose & Amber
Here at PAIRFUM, we are proud to present our perfume ‘blush rose & amber’ which contains ambergris. The perfect fragrance for #fiftyshadesofgrey.
‘Blush Rose & Amber’ is available in the following luxury scented candles and natural reed diffusers:
- Reed Diffusers (petite, classic and large size and in the bell, cube and tower shapes)
- Reed Diffuser refill oil
- Snow Crystal Candles (classic, large and tin)
- Flower Wax Candle
- Message Candle
