Spermaceti, << `spur` muh SEHT ee or `spur` muh SEE tee, >> is a waxy material obtained from the enormous head of the sperm whale. Some spermaceti also comes from the bottlenose whale. Spermaceti once was used to make candles. It also has been used as a lubricant and as an ingredient of some salves and face creams.
Scientists are not certain exactly how the whale uses spermaceti. The substance probably focuses the sounds that the whale produces to locate prey.
