I haven't been to Morocco, and I don't have a reference for these beads. I repeated what I was told about the beads I acquired from their previous owner. This was about thirty years ago. I don't even remember who told me the story.

The beads I have are relatively soft. I could even imagine they might be gummy or rubbery, if allowed to become heated. I might also describe the material as being sort of "cheese-like." I hot-needled them way back when, but right now I could not characterize their aroma (except to say it was not conventionally plastic-like, and was not amber-like).

I would be inclined to compare these beads to the custom of making scented-paste beads, including danq beads (the beads that are wrongly called "myrrh" beads by the majority of sellers and collectors). This tradition and similar ones are regional in Mauritania, Senegal, and Mali. Possibly also Morocco, for all I know. It also makes me think of the use of cloves (the spice pod or seed), used by all sorts of nomadic people across N. Africa and the Near East. Al these beads are intended to smell nice.

Remember, the name "amber" comes to us from the Spanish "ambar," (or "ambra") related to the Arabic "anbar"—meaning incense or perfume.

I'll see if I can dig out the beads I have, and post them. It's been a while since I last saw them....

Jamey