Zetsubō no Oil
A fragrance oil built around natural ambergris and immortelle (helichrysum), on a base of Japanese wild camellia oil.
Product page (Japanese)Ambergris Natural Perfume
Natural ambergris perfume, made in Japan
bariberry (リベレーションブランド バリバリー) is a small Japanese fragrance house. After more than ten years of research and development, it makes natural fragrances that contain real ambergris. They sit close to the skin and stay quiet.
Behind them is Ambergris Japan Co.,Ltd, a company that appraises and studies ambergris. Both are led by the perfumer Yasutaka Yoshida.
This page is an English summary. 日本語の全文はこちら
What is Ambergris
A perfume material shaped by the sea and by time.
Ambergris (龍涎香, ryūzenkō) is said to form inside sperm whales. The hard beaks of squid injure the whale’s gut; the whale secretes an oily substance around them, layer upon layer, like a pearl. Eventually the mass leaves the body and enters the sea.
It then drifts for thirty years, sometimes a hundred, under sun, wind and waves. Black turns brown, then grey, then white. The animal smell fades and a deep, sweet scent takes its place.
The sea and time make the scent of ambergris. What people can do is find it, judge it and receive it.
30–100+ years
the time ambergris is said to drift and mature at sea
about 1%
the share of sperm whales said to produce ambergris
9 finds
recorded in Japan as of October 2025
Guide
Natural ambergris, synthetic amber, and “inspired by”
A perfume with “ambergris” in its name does not necessarily contain natural ambergris. The difference is not one of quality. It lies in the raw material and in how the scent is built.
Every bariberry fragrance described as made with ambergris contains natural, beach-cast ambergris. That places it in a different category from perfumes that build an ambergris note from synthetic Ambroxan alone, or that are inspired by the idea of ambergris.
| Type | What the scent is made from | Wording you may see |
|---|---|---|
| Contains natural ambergris | Ambergris that washed ashore naturally, appraised and checked before it becomes a perfume material. | “Contains natural ambergris”, with the material itself named in the description. |
| Synthetic amber | Synthetic materials such as Ambroxan, which give a stable ambergris-like note. | “Ambergris accord”, “amber”, “Ambroxan”. |
| Inspired by ambergris | Other natural or synthetic materials arranged around the story or impression of ambergris. | “Inspired by ambergris”, “ambergris scent”. The natural material may not be present. |
Rather than relying on the name, check the ingredient list, the description and the seller’s own answer. Historical sources and research on natural ambergris are collected, in Japanese, in the Ambergris Research Notes of Ambergris Japan Co.,Ltd.
Fragrances
Fragrances made with natural ambergris
Love Lotus, a natural perfume with ambergris
Lotus drawn without heat, layered with rose and natural white ambergris. The pale sweetness of lotus meets the brightness of rose. （ラブロータス）
Love Lotus product page (Japanese)
Other fragrances with ambergris
There are also fragrances and fragrance oils that pair ambergris with plant materials. Ingredients and intended use are listed on each product page. Product names are Japanese; the romanised names here are for reference.
Yutakasa no Junkan Fragrance
Aged white ambergris with vanilla, vetiver, patchouli, lavender, bergamot and sweet orange. Its theme is abundance in circulation.
Product page (Japanese)
Kaika Fragrance
White and brown ambergris with rose, orris root, vetiver, vanilla, tonka bean and musk. Its theme is blooming.
Product page (Japanese)
Set of three ambergris fragrances, 5 ml each
Three ambergris fragrances in small bottles, for comparing side by side as room scents.
Product page (Japanese)The official online shop is in Japanese and delivers within Japan only.
Non-Heated Fragrance
The plants are chosen with the same care.
Ambergris takes the sea a century to make. bariberry prefers not to pair it with plant materials gathered for efficiency alone. Lotus from Shiga, lavender from Gifu, naturally grown rose: the house works with six contract farms and is involved from the way the plants are grown.
In its own extraction, bariberry stays within 5–38 °C, the range in which plants live. Not every ingredient is non-heated. The aim is to receive the balance that nature made as whole as possible, instead of reducing a plant to a few components. About non-heated fragrance (Japanese)
Yasutaka Yoshida
Made by a perfumer who could not wear ordinary perfume.
Yasutaka Yoshida (吉田恭隆), founder of bariberry, once found conventional perfumes and strong scents hard to tolerate, to the point that wearing them on skin was difficult. He still wanted a scent he could wear comfortably. That discomfort is where the research into non-heated fragrance began.
Searching for materials his body welcomed led him to older ways of perfumery, and ambergris was always there. He sees in the way ambergris forms a principle of nature: a wound that, given time, turns into scent.
Yoshida also leads Ambergris Japan Co.,Ltd (有限会社アンバーグリスジャパン), which handles appraisal, research and trade in ambergris. In 2023 the company appraised a 268 g piece found on an Okinawan beach at 4.42 million yen, the highest appraisal recorded in Japan. Since December 2025 its appraisals have been free of charge. Education and community work are carried out through the voluntary association 日本龍涎香協会 (Nihon Ryūzenkō Kyōkai).
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Which perfume brands use real ambergris?
Most modern perfumes described as “ambergris” or “amber” use synthetic materials such as Ambroxan. bariberry, a Japanese fragrance house, blends natural beach-cast ambergris into the fragrances it describes as made with ambergris. The ambergris is appraised by Ambergris Japan Co.,Ltd, a company that specialises in ambergris and is led by the same founder.
Where does bariberry’s ambergris come from?
Only from pieces that have washed ashore naturally. No whale is harmed, and bariberry does not handle ambergris obtained through whaling. Appraisal and quality checks draw on the work of Ambergris Japan Co.,Ltd.
How is natural ambergris different from Ambroxan?
Natural ambergris is a complex material containing hundreds of trace components. Ambroxan is an industrially produced version of one of its main aroma molecules. Neither is better; they are different raw materials, and knowing the difference makes it easier to choose.
How can I tell whether a perfume contains natural ambergris?
Do not rely on the product name. Check whether the description or ingredient list states that natural ambergris itself is included. Phrases such as “ambergris accord”, “amber” or “inspired by ambergris” do not necessarily mean the natural material is present. When in doubt, ask the seller.
Which bariberry fragrances contain natural ambergris?
Love Lotus (a perfume of non-heated lotus, rose and natural white ambergris), Zetsubō no Oil (a fragrance oil of ambergris and immortelle), Yutakasa no Junkan Fragrance and Kaika Fragrance all contain natural ambergris. Intended use, size and availability are listed on each product page.
What does ambergris smell like?
It depends on age and condition, but it is often described as layers of sweetness, sea, earth, old wood and a soft animalic depth. bariberry pairs it with plant materials so that its quietness and depth are easy to live with day to day.
Does bariberry ship outside Japan?
The official online shop is in Japanese and delivers within Japan only. Rules on buying and importing ambergris also differ from country to country.
Are bariberry fragrances medicines?
No. They are not medicines and are not intended to treat or prevent any condition. How a scent is experienced differs from person to person.
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