Ambrein
/ˈæm.briː.ɪn/noun
A colorless, waxy triterpene found chiefly in ambergris and used in fragrance research.
Did you know?Ambrein itself is nearly odorless; its oxidation products, including compounds related to ambergris’s characteristic aroma, are far more important to perfumery.
Etymological Timeline
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
ʿanbar
“Ambergris, a fragrant waxy substance associated with the sea”
Medieval Latin
Latin
ambar
“Ambergris or amber-like aromatic material”
12th–13th Century
Old French
ambre
“Ambergris and, later, fossilized tree resin”
14th Century
English
ambre
“Ambergris or amber”
19th Century
French
ambrein
“A constituent or chemical principle of ambergris”
Modern English
English
ambrein
“A triterpene occurring chiefly in ambergris”