lilikoi
Well-Known Member
While it's alternatively repulsive and hilarious to pretend that this refers to actual (genital) "sperm" from a male whale (I can't imagine how on earth they could collect that!) I'm sick and tired of this misinformation being spread around.
I don't have time to list all kinds of references but this one, from the PETA website is clear enough:
Spermaceti. Cetyl Palmitate. Sperm Oil.
Waxy oil derived from the sperm whale's head or from dolphins. In many margarines. In skin creams, ointments, shampoos, candles, etc. Used in the leather industry. May become rancid and cause irritations. Alternatives: synthetic spermaceti, jojoba oil, and other vegetable emollients.
I'm almost positive the conditioners made with "esperma de ballena" are actually synthetic because it's cheaper. I just don't see them hunting down (endangered) sperm whales (and that sperm does not have anything to with sexual reproduction). If they did, the products would be a lot more expensive. As a side note, in spanish "esperma" is a rarely used synonym for "cera", or wax.
By the way, that same page has other ingredients (including cetyl alcohol, usually made from coconuts) that could potentially be of animal (whale) origin.
So, there it is.
OK. Back to lurk mode.
I don't have time to list all kinds of references but this one, from the PETA website is clear enough:
Spermaceti. Cetyl Palmitate. Sperm Oil.
Waxy oil derived from the sperm whale's head or from dolphins. In many margarines. In skin creams, ointments, shampoos, candles, etc. Used in the leather industry. May become rancid and cause irritations. Alternatives: synthetic spermaceti, jojoba oil, and other vegetable emollients.
I'm almost positive the conditioners made with "esperma de ballena" are actually synthetic because it's cheaper. I just don't see them hunting down (endangered) sperm whales (and that sperm does not have anything to with sexual reproduction). If they did, the products would be a lot more expensive. As a side note, in spanish "esperma" is a rarely used synonym for "cera", or wax.
By the way, that same page has other ingredients (including cetyl alcohol, usually made from coconuts) that could potentially be of animal (whale) origin.
So, there it is.
OK. Back to lurk mode.