During the whaling era harvesters and manufacturers found spermaceti to be a great chemical to be used for making candles, cosmetics, ointments, textiles and various other materials due to its lack of smell or taste when congealed. Information and translations of spermaceti in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. What is spermaceti? Definition of spermaceti in the Definitions.net dictionary. Corrections? Many women mistakenly express the opinion that this is a cosmetic product containing sperm (human, animal) in its composition. 5. Spermaceti, a wax, liquid at body temperature, obtained from the head of a sperm whale or bottlenose whale. The show, America: The Story of Us included the claim that, “Even today, whale oil is used by NASA. The spermaceti that was found in the whale’s skull was originally believed to be semen as its pearly white wax like substance and coloring resembled that of actual sperm. In fact, candles made of spermaceti were considered the best in the world, producing a bright clear flame without an excess of smoke. It also contains 50-63 percent of wax alcohols. Spermaceti wax is extracted from the spermaceti oil by crystallization method. A composite of paraffin and stearic acid became the basic candle stock.…. The spermaceti sack is located within the head of the sperm whale and measures approximately 1/4 of the length of the whale. … from the head cavity (spermaceti organ) and blubber of the sperm whale. A sperm whale may contain as much as 1,900 litres of this oil. The organ from which spermaceti wax is obtained may contain as much as 1900 liters of spermaceti. It is used in cosmetic creams, ointments, textile finishing, fine wax candles, pomades, and industrial lubricants. Whaling declined after when mineral oil and gas replaced spermaceti oil as a source of light: 3. The former official unit of illumination, the candlepower, was defined as the light given off by a candle of pure spermaceti burning at a rate of 7.776 grams (120 grains) per hour. Spermaceti was used chiefly in ointments, cosmetic creams, fine wax candles, pomades, and textile finishing; later it was used for industrial lubricants. ‘Other important waxes include carnauba wax and spermaceti.’ ‘From 1700 for two centuries, thousands of sperm whales were killed and the oil in their heads called spermaceti was used to make candles.’ ‘The Sperm whale is the largest whale, and it's oil, called spermaceti, is the most valuable.’
It is used in cosmetic creams, ointments, textile finishing, fine wax candles, pomades, and industrial lubricants. Due to its properties spermaceti has long been used for the preparation of creams and ointments. The substance was also used in making candles of a standard photometric value, in the dressing of fabrics, and as a pharmaceutical excipient, especially in cerates and ointments . Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). This single-use applicator contains a spermicide gel. Their heads also hold large quantities of a substance called spermaceti: 4. Because of its close resemblance to semen this whale’s oil producing organ and the waxy substance that came out of it were given the names “spermaceti organ” and “sperm oil” by those who hunted these marine mammals. During the whaling era harvesters and manufacturers found spermaceti to be a great chemical to be used for making candles, cosmetics, ointments, textiles and various other materials due to its lack of smell or taste when congealed. source for sperm oil. The oil was waxy, and was commonly used in making candles. Find patient medical information for Spermaceti on WebMD including its uses, side effects and safety, interactions, pictures, warnings and user ratings. As the whale ages the percentage of wax esters found in the spermaceti organ increases from around 40% to nearly 90% depending on the whales age and sex. Uses - Commonly used in the production of perfume, candles and cosmetics. The substance was also used in making candles of a standard photometric value, in the dressing of fabrics, and as a pharmaceutical excipient, especially in cerates and ointments. The spermaceti organ is unique to sperm whales. Spermaceti, which is a fat sperm whales store in a chamber in their heads, is what they use. Updates? Historically, the spermaceti oil found within it was used in a variety of products – including lamp oils, candles, and lubricants – providing the economic basis for the sperm whaling industry. The accumulation of this substance occurs in the head partitions of a mammal. Meaning of spermaceti. Spermaceti was used chiefly in ointments, cosmetic creams, fine wax candles, pomades, and textile finishing; later it was used for industrial lubricants. The global spermaceti wax market is witnessing remarkable demand avenues from the companies engaged in the manufacturing of fine wax candles. Het spermaceti-orgaan is een orgaan in de kop van potvissen (Physeter macrocephalus) dat de potvis zijn specifieke uiterlijk geeft.Het spermaceti-orgaan is gevuld met een witte, wasachtige substantie, spermaceti of walschot, waaraan het orgaan zijn naam dankt.Spermaceti-olie was vroeger een waardevol product, er werden kaarsen, zeep, cosmetica en machineolie van gemaakt. Spermaceti, a wax, liquid at body temperature, obtained from the head of a sperm whale or bottlenose whale. In this state the wax would form into a hard substance that still possessed a waxy feeling when touched by hand. The substance was also used in making candles of a standard photometric value, in the dressing of fabrics, and as a pharmaceutical excipient , especially in cerates and ointments . Echolocation works by producing a series of sounds and then listening to the echo that returns to the host from objects in the nearby environment. Cetyl palmitate, spermaceti main component is a compound of palmitic acid and an ester of cetyl alcohol. Spermaceti. In order to prevent the spermaceti oil from going rancid the whalers would boil the wax to eliminate impurities and then cool it using a method known as wintering which involved the whalers and/or harvesters leaving the purified wax out in the cold until it cooled into a congealed state. What does spermaceti mean? What made you want to look up spermaceti? Spermaceti forms brilliant white crystals that are hard but oily to the touch, and are devoid of taste or smell, making it very useful as an ingredient in cosmetics, leatherworking, and lubricants. It is mainly used in cosmetics and candle production, especially for making creams and cold creams. Spermaceti definition is - a waxy solid obtained from the oil of cetaceans and especially from a closed cavity in the heads of sperm whales and used especially formerly in ointments, cosmetics, and candles. Eventually as technology became more advanced and scientists were better able to examine this pearly white wax like substance they realized that this chemical produced by the spermaceti organ isn’t sperm and plays no role in the whale’s reproductive system. In fact, candles made of spermaceti were considered the best in the world, producing a bright clear flame without an excess of smoke. https://www.britannica.com/topic/spermaceti. The spermaceti was separated from the oil by chilling in a process whalers called wintering; it congealed as a white crystalline, waxy solid. Spermaceti (from Greek sperma, seed, and Latin cetus, whale) is a wax that is most often found in the head cavities of the sperm whale (small quantities of spermaceti can be found in the oils of other whales).Originally mistaken for the whale's sperm (hence the name), spermaceti is created in the spermaceti organ inside the whale's head. Spermaceti is a pearly white wax like material found in the head cavity of the sperm whale. There's no sperm in spermaceti. Spermaceti Wax Created by Global Safety Management, 1-813-435-5161 - www.GSMSDS.com SECTION 1: Identification of the substance/mixture and of the supplier Product name: Spermaceti Wax Manufacturer/Supplier Trade name: Manufacturer/Supplier Article number: S25795 Recommended uses of the product and restrictions on use: Manufacturer Details: Test Your Knowledge - and learn some … Omissions? Spermaceti also was used to lubricate machines throughout the industrial age. The substance was named in the mistaken belief that it was the coagulated semen of the whale. In addition, spermaceti contains some free alcohols - octadecyl, cetyl, and eicosyl. Spermaceti consists principally of cetyl palmitate (C1sH31.COOC16H33) with smaller quantities of cetyl myristate, cetyl laurate and cetyl stearate. Spermaceti wax has a wide variety of applications. The substance was also used in making candles of a standard photometric value, in the dressing of fabrics, and as a pharmaceutical excipient, especially in cerates and ointments. A peculiar oil found in the head of the sperm whale, spermaceti, was highly prized. Spermaceti was a godsend for all these human needs, but what function did it serve for the whale? Fortunately for whales, they can make this exact fat from jojoba plants. Apparently spermaceti–or Sperm whale oil–doesn't freeze in sub-zero temperatures (quite important given space's super-chilly temps) and man hasn't yet found a suitable substitute for the natural lubricant. It used to be made from "spermaceti," which is a fat you'll find in the head of a sperm whale. A whaler bailing spermaceti from the severed head of a sperm whale (1874 illustration). spermaceti. She has a Bachelor of Science in psychology. The returning echo’s can inform the sperm whale of the distance, direction, speed, density and size of the object it is inquiring about. Chemically, pure spermaceti consists principally of cetyl palmitate and other esters of fatty acids with fatty alcohols and melts at about 44 °C (111 °F). By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Spermaceti oil, extracted from the heads, "burned cleaner than any other illuminant in the eighteenth century." It was then that spermaceti, which is made from the oil of the sperm whale came on the scene. It is also used for textile finishing and industrial lubricants. 1. spermaceti is a waxy tasteless odorless substance separated from the oil of sperm whales that is used in cosmetics ointments and good-quality candles: 2. Spermaceti forms brilliant white crystals that are hard but oily to the touch, and are devoid of taste or smell, making it very useful as an ingredient in cosmetics, leatherworking, and lubricants. Spermaceti consists principally of cetyl palmitate (C1sH31.COOC16H33) with smaller quantities of cetyl myristate, cetyl laurate and cetyl stearate. Our latest episode for parents features the topic of empathy. Definition of spermaceti : a waxy solid obtained from the oil of cetaceans and especially from a closed cavity in the heads of sperm whales and used especially formerly in ointments, cosmetics, and candles Examples of spermaceti in a Sentence It was used for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and as a lubricant for clocks and watches. The head of the sperm whale is 1/3 the length of the whale itself. Another popular theory is that the waxy spermaceti substance found in the sperm whales head assists the whale with echolocation, since this wax like material makes an excellent sound conductor. Disclosure Policy | Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2020 WhaleFacts.org. Specification of Spermaceti … Spermaceti forms brilliant white crystals that are hard but oily to the touch, and are devoid of taste or smell, making it very useful as an ingredient in cosmetics, leatherworking, and lubricants. Spermaceti, a Highly Regarded Oil A peculiar oil found in the head of the sperm whale, spermaceti, was highly prized. Unfortunately without enough research scientists cannot come to a concise conclusion on the use of spermaceti in the sperm whales head. It can also be used as a raw material of lipsticks. [ spûr′mə-sē ′tē ] A white, waxy substance that is obtained from the head of the sperm whale and sometimes other whales, porpoises, and dolphins, and was once widely used to make candles, ointments, and cosmetics. Do not use natural whale oil for making creams. Although its melting point is relatively low, it can be used as a thickening agent for cosmetics. It also contains 50-63 percent of wax alcohols. The spermaceti oil found in the sperm whales head can greatly enhance the whale’s ability to pin point prey such as giant squid and octopus, which can be found at extreme depths in pitch black water. It has a volume as large as 2,000 litres (530 gallons) and can extend through 40 percent of the whale’s length.…, …other important sources were found: spermaceti, from the head cavity of the sperm whale, and paraffin wax, from petroleum. The organ from which spermaceti wax is obtained may contain as much as 1900 liters of spermaceti. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... …is located; sperm oil and spermaceti were extracted from this fluid for lighting and lubrication. ‘Other important waxes include carnauba wax and spermaceti.’ ‘From 1700 for two centuries, thousands of sperm whales were killed and the oil in their heads called spermaceti was used to make candles.’ ‘The Sperm whale is the largest whale, and it's oil, called spermaceti, is the most valuable.’ Spermaceti is a comparatively unimportant article of commerce; and of Chinese wax small quantities only are imported, as the home consumption takes up the bulk of the wax for the manufacture of candles, polishes and sizes. 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