AMBERGRIS – Smells like: manure, damp forest floor
This waxy ingredient secreted by sperm whales has played a big part in the perfume world for more than 1000 years. It’s a fixative, which means it has nifty properties that make fragrances last longer on skin. Ambergris smells absolutely horrific when fresh – like faecal matter, to be exact – but like a fine wine, it gets better with age. As it drifts through