25. Floating Gold

Humans have used animal byproducts in their everyday lives for thousands of years. This has to be one of the weirdest. Ambergris is a highly valuable waxy substance that is essentially “whale vomit.” This substance forms in a sperm whale’s intestines and when it’s naturally secreted by the whale, it washes up to shore for humans to eagerly collect. Gross.

Ambergris has been an extremely valuable animal byproduct since ancient times. It was used as incense by Ancient Egyptians, medication during the Middle Ages in Europe, and even a popular food among the British royalty. King Charles II supposedly loved some eggs and ambergris in the morning. We even still use naturally harvested ambergris today! (No poaching involved). Ambergris is still used to create many musk fragrances and scented cigarettes.