Amber oil is a product of the dry distillation of amber, and consists, in its crude state, of a mixture of water, succinic acid, and oil of amber. On standing, it separates into three layers, the lowest consisting of water, the next containing the bulk of the succinic acid, while the top layer contains the oil of amber. This oil, when drawn off, is found to be a dirty brown, nuorescent liquid, possessing a nauseating odour. It is insoluble in water, but is soluble in alcohol, ether, benzene, and many other solvents. The oil is scarcely acted upon by dilute mineral acids, but concentrated sulphuric and nitric acids react violently with it. By the action of nitric acid much succinic acid is produced, and an orange-coloured resin possessing a strong odour of musk is produced; this is used as an artificial musk, deducing agents do not affect amber oil, and treatment with animal charcoal and other decolorising agents does not in the least improve its colour. In distilling oil of amber, first water is obtained, then a yellow oil, followed by a green oil, and lastly a dark green oil. The temperature during distillation ranges between 150° and 360° C. A tarry matter remains behind amounting to about 15 per cent, of the crude oil used.

The distillates obtained still possess the repugnant odour of the original oil. By carrying out the distillation, however, in a current of steam, almost odourless distillates are obtained. These distillates can be bleached by adding to them about 8 per cent, of permanganate of potash or bichromate of potash, together with the required quantity of dilute sulphuric acid. The oil is then left to separate from the water, the latter drawn off, the oil completely dehydrated by the addition of common salt or plaster-of-Parls, and then filtered. In the bleaching from 7 to 9 per cent, of the oil is lost.