Ambroxide is a naturally occurring terpenoid and one of the main components responsible for the smell of ambergris (also known as amber ) (Zerbe P et al. 2015). It is an autoxidation product of amrein. Plant labdane diterpenes can serve as starting materials for ambroxide synthesis. Among these, the diterpene alcohol sclareol is the main industrial starting material obtained from cultivated clary sage(Salvia sclarea) (Zerbe P et al. 2015).
Ambroxide is used in perfumery to produce ambergris notes and as a fixative. Small amounts (< 0.01 ppm) are used as a flavouring agent in food. Ambroxide is now used instead of ambergris (Panten J et al. 2014).
Ambergris is a grey, waxy, pleasant-smelling substance from the digestive tract of sperm whales. The grey (ambergris) and black ambergris used to be of considerable importance in the manufacture of perfumes. The fragrance is described as woody, dry, balsamic, somewhat tobacco-like with an aphrodisiac note.