AMBREIN

Ambrein itself is odourless. It is a major constituent of natural ambergris, but it is not the substance to which a warm, resinous or musky smell should be directly attributed. Its importance lies in what it can become.

As ambergris ages, oxidation of ambrein produces fragrant compounds, including ambroxide. These changes help explain the development of the material’s characteristic aroma. Ambrein should therefore be distinguished from both ambergris as a whole and the odorous molecules associated with it. When the name appears in fragrance descriptions, it does not by itself define a scent profile or prove that natural ambergris is present.