What is spermaciti?

Spermaceti is a waxy substance that is found in the head of sperm whales. It was traditionally used in the production of candles, cosmetics, and ointments. Spermaceti is a unique and highly valuable product because it is a semi-liquid at body temperature, but solidifies at lower temperatures, making it easy to handle and process. Scientists believe that spermaceti helps sperm whales regulate their buoyancy while diving. Today, the use of spermaceti in commercial products has been largely phased out due to concerns about the impact of whale hunting on the environment. Additionally, synthetic alternatives have been developed for most of the applications once served by spermaceti.