Volatile and semi-volatile components of jetsam ambergris

Abstract

Volatile and semi-volatile compounds account for the odors, long valued in the perfumery industry, of the natural product, ambergris. Here we demonstrate application of solid phase micro extraction (SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to headspace analysis of the volatiles and semi-volatiles of jetsam ambergris. The samples collected in 2017/2018, ranged from a black, sticky material from New Zealand, likely recently ejected from a sperm whale, to a white solid found on a beach in Chile and radiocarbon-dated previously to be about 1000 years old. The traces of volatile/semi-volatile compounds extracted included, odorous γ-dihydroionone and odor-free pristane (2,6,10,14-tetramethylpentadecane), as the major constituents. The ratios of these to one another and to many other minor constituents, varied, depending on sample color and age.

Keywords:

• Ambergris
• volatiles
• SPME
• sperm whale
• jetsam
• ambrein

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to A. Wells and J. Smith (Ambergris Connect Ltd) for sample information and discussions and to Professor P. Monks (University of Leicester) for discussions and access to SPME resources. We thank R. Craig, P. Lillis, T. Helle Pessot, S. Mansilla Bastías and N. Wolff Reinarz (the latter three of the Universidad Austral de Chile), for sample collection and information. The UK sample was collected by ourselves. We thank CPL Aromas for samples of authentic aroma chemicals.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.