Spermaceti
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Spermaceti is a waxy substance found in the head cavities of the sperm whale. Spermaceti is created in the spermaceti organ inside the whale's head. This organ may contain as much as 1,900 litres (500 US gal) of spermaceti. It has been extracted by whalers since the 17th century for human use in cosmetics, textiles, and candles.
Left to right: A sample of solid raw spermaceti, a spermaceti wax candle and a bottle of sperm oil.
1864 illustration captioned: "Removing the spermaceti from the head of the cachelot, or sperm whale"
A whaler bailing spermaceti from the severed head of a sperm whale (1874 illustration).
A jar of raw spermaceti
Sperm whale
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The sperm whale or cachalot is the largest of the toothed whales and the largest toothed predator. It is the only living member of the genus Physeter and one of three extant species in the sperm whale family, along with the pygmy sperm whale and dwarf sperm whale of the genus Kogia.
Image: Mother and baby sperm whale
Image: Sperm whale distribution (Pacific equirectangular)
Unusual among cetaceans, the sperm whale's blowhole is highly skewed to the left side of the head.
A sperm whale skeleton