In perfumery, which base-note substance is derived from marine mammals?

In perfumery, which base-note substance is derived from marine mammals?

• A. Spermaceti
• B. Ambergris
• C. Musk
• D. Civet

Answer: (B)

Base notes are the heavy, long-lasting components that form the foundation of a perfume and linger on the skin. Ambergris fits here as a base-note fixative: it’s a waxy substance produced in the digestive system of sperm whales and has long been valued for its ability to slow evaporation and help other scents blend, especially as it ages into a rich, marine-tinged aroma. The other substances come from different sources: musk and civet are from land mammals, while spermaceti—also whale-derived—was used historically for texture and fixative properties rather than as a true base-note. In modern perfumery, ambergris is often substituted with safer, synthetic alternatives, but it remains the classic example of a base-note derived from marine mammals.

Base notes are the heavy, long-lasting components that form the foundation of a perfume and linger on the skin. Ambergris fits here as a base-note fixative: it’s a waxy substance produced in the digestive system of sperm whales and has long been valued for its ability to slow evaporation and help other scents blend, especially as it ages into a rich, marine-tinged aroma. The other substances come from different sources: musk and civet are from land mammals, while spermaceti—also whale-derived—was used historically for texture and fixative properties rather than as a true base-note. In modern perfumery, ambergris is often substituted with safer, synthetic alternatives, but it remains the classic example of a base-note derived from marine mammals.