New Delhi, Feb. 10 -- Ambergris is a waxy substance produced by sperm whales to protect their digestive tract from indigestible debris. Once expelled, it floats to the surface, washing up as flotsam on beaches around the world. Ambergris also happens to be highly effective at stabilizing volatile perfume notes, significantly extending how long they remain active on human skin. As a result, it became one of the most sought-after substances in the fragrance industry.

As its commercial value grew, demand for this rare biological substance increased to the point where it cost $10,000 per pound. Rather than waiting for chance discoveries of ambergris, whalers began hunting sperm whales, killing a countless number in the process. Since only on...