Which substance has been described as a base note for perfume derived from sperm whales?

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

Answer: (B)

Base notes are the scent ingredients that linger the longest on the skin, acting as fixatives that help the whole fragrance last beyond the initial, brighter top notes. Ambergris fits this role well because it’s a dense, complex substance produced in the digestive system of sperm whales and, once aged, releases a rich aroma that helps other notes persist. Its fixative property and longevity are why it’s described as a base note in perfumery and is specifically linked to sperm whales.

Spermaceti also comes from sperm whales, but it’s a waxy substance from the head oil rather than the fixative base note most associated with lasting fragrance. Musk and civet are traditional base-note ingredients in perfumery, but they originate from a musk deer and a civet cat (or their synthetics), not from sperm whales. Therefore, the whale-derived base note you’d associate with sperm whales is ambergris.