 From the early eighteenth century through the late 20th , the species was a prime target of whalers . The head of the whale contains a liquid wax called spermaceti , from which the whale derives its name . Spermaceti was used in lubricants , oil lamps , and candles . Ambergris , a waste product from its digestive system , is still used as a fixative in perfumes . Occasionally the sperm whale 's great size allowed it to defend itself effectively against whalers . The species is now protected by a whaling moratorium , and is currently listed as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources ( IUCN ) . 
