KNOWLEDGE GRAPH · MOLECULES
Molecules named in the evidence.
86 odorant and volatile molecules are named in 34 of SmellBook’s 56 VERIFIED claims, for 36 Atlas entries. Each is listed only where a claim names it, in the role that claim states.
How a claim can name a molecule
- Key odorant
- The claim identifies the molecule as a key, primary or most potent odorant of what was studied, or as making the largest or an important contribution to its aroma. These findings usually come from sensory methods such as gas chromatography–olfactometry, odour activity values or recombination tests.
- Linked to the odour
- The claim names the molecule as one potent or aroma-active compound among many, as linked to or correlated with an odour note, or as possibly responsible for part of the aroma. This is weaker than a key odorant.
- Major component
- The claim names the molecule among the most abundant compounds of what was measured, such as an essential oil or the air around living flowers. Abundance alone does not mean the molecule drives the smell.
- Reported volatile
- The claim names the molecule among the volatiles detected or released, without stating its role in the smell.
Named for more than one smell
- linaloolJasmine, Lavender, Cinnamon, Black Tea, Gardenia, Church Incense
- limonenePine Needles, Mint, Cinnamon, Rosemary, Black Pepper
- α-pinenePine Needles, Church Incense, Pine Resin, Rosemary, Black Pepper
- 2,3-butanedioneFresh Bread, Wood Smoke, Butter, Vinegar
- β-caryophyllenePine Needles, Mint, Clove, Black Pepper
- (E)-2-nonenalFresh Bread, Cardboard, Watermelon, Wet Cardboard
- guaiacolWood Smoke, Cardboard, Popcorn, Wet Cardboard
- 1,8-cineoleRosemary, Sage, Thyme
- δ-decalactoneButter, Cardboard, Wet Cardboard
- hexanalFresh Laundry, Cinnamon, Banana
- methionalFresh Bread, Cheese, Popcorn
- γ-nonalactoneCardboard, Fresh Milk, Wet Cardboard
- β-pineneBasil, Pine Resin, Black Pepper
- thymoquinoneCedar, Pencil Shavings, Oak Wood
- acetic acidCheese, Vinegar
- 2-acetyl-1-pyrrolineFresh Bread, Cooked Rice
- butanoic acidButter, Cheese
- camphorRosemary, Sage
- δ-3-carenePine Needles, Black Pepper
- eugenolBasil, Clove
- α-farneseneJasmine, Gardenia
- geraniolRose, Black Tea
- germacrene DPine Needles, Basil
- β-iononeBlack Tea, Peach
- myrcenePine Needles, Church Incense
- nonanalFresh Laundry, Cinnamon
- 1-octen-3-oneMushroom, Cheese
- vanillinCardboard, Wet Cardboard
- verbenoneOak Wood, Rosemary
All 86 molecules, A to Z
- acetic acid2 entries · C2H4O2
- 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline2 entries · C6H9NO
- 2-acetylpyrrole1 entry · C6H7NO
- anethole1 entry · C10H12O
- benzyl acetate1 entry · C9H10O2
- benzyl tiglate1 entry · C12H14O2
- borneol1 entry · C10H18O
- 2,3-butanedione4 entries · C4H6O2
- butanoic acid2 entries · C4H8O2
- γ-cadinene1 entry · C15H24
- camphor2 entries · C10H16O
- δ-3-carene2 entries · C10H16
- carvacrol1 entry · C10H14O
- β-caryophyllene4 entries · C15H24
- 1,8-cineole3 entries · C10H18O
- cinnamaldehyde1 entry · C9H8O
- cis-3-hexenyl tiglate1 entry · C11H18O2
- cis-thujone1 entry
- citronellol1 entry · C10H20O
- δ-decalactone3 entries · C10H18O2
- γ-decalactone1 entry · C10H18O2
- dihydro-β-ionone1 entry · C13H22O
- dimethyl trisulfide1 entry · C2H6S3
- γ-dodecalactone1 entry · C12H22O2
- (E,E)-2,4-nonadienal1 entry · C9H14O
- (E,E)-2,6-nonadienal1 entry · C9H14O
- (E,Z)-2,6-nonadienal1 entry · C9H14O
- (E)-2-hexenal1 entry · C6H10O
- (E)-2-nonenal4 entries · C9H16O
- (E)-β-damascenone1 entry · C13H18O
- eugenol2 entries · C10H12O2
- eugenyl acetate1 entry · C12H14O3
- α-farnesene2 entries · C15H24
- 2-furfurylthiol1 entry · C5H6OS
- geraniol2 entries · C10H18O
- germacrene D2 entries · C15H24
- guaiacol4 entries · C7H8O2
- heptanal1 entry · C7H14O
- hexanal3 entries · C6H12O
- 1-hexanol1 entry · C6H14O
- hexyl hexanoate1 entry · C12H24O2
- α-humulene1 entry · C15H24
- β-ionone2 entries · C13H20O
- isoamyl acetate1 entry · C7H14O2
- jasmine lactone1 entry · C10H16O2
- limonene5 entries · C10H16
- linalool6 entries · C10H18O
- linalyl acetate1 entry · C12H20O2
- menthol1 entry · C10H20O
- menthone1 entry · C10H18O
- menthyl acetate1 entry · C12H22O2
- methional3 entries · C4H8OS
- 3-methylbutanal1 entry · C5H10O
- 3-methylbutanoic acid1 entry · C5H10O2
- 4-methylguaiacol1 entry · C8H10O2
- 2-methylpropanal1 entry · C4H8O
- 4-methylsyringol1 entry · C9H12O3
- myrcene2 entries · C10H16
- naphthalene1 entry · C10H8
- nerol1 entry · C10H18O
- γ-nonalactone3 entries · C9H16O2
- nonanal2 entries · C9H18O
- octanal1 entry · C8H16O
- octane1 entry · C8H18
- 1-octen-3-ol1 entry · C8H16O
- 1-octen-3-one2 entries · C8H14O
- p-cresol1 entry · C7H8O
- p-cymene1 entry · C10H14
- pentanal1 entry · C5H10O
- 2-pentylfuran1 entry · C9H14O
- 2-phenylethanol1 entry · C8H10O
- α-pinene5 entries
- β-pinene3 entries · C10H16
- propanoic acid1 entry · C3H6O2
- sabinene1 entry · C10H16
- sotolon1 entry · C6H8O3
- γ-terpinene1 entry · C10H16
- tetramethylpyrazine1 entry · C8H12N2
- thymol1 entry · C10H14O
- thymoquinone3 entries · C10H12O2
- 2,4,5-trimethyloxazole1 entry · C6H9NO
- vanillin2 entries · C8H8O3
- verbenone2 entries · C10H14O
- 4-vinylguaiacol1 entry · C9H10O2
- (Z)-2-nonenal1 entry · C9H16O
- (Z)-6-nonenal1 entry · C9H16O
Where the evidence names no specific molecule yet
These VERIFIED claims name kinds of compounds, count compounds without naming them, or are not about compounds. Their sources may identify specific odorants that a new, narrow claim could record. This is a research agenda, not a finding.
Names kinds of compounds
The claim names classes of compounds, such as esters or pyrazines, but no single molecule. Open question: Which specific odorants in these classes does the source identify?
- Cut Grass, Tomato Leaf: “Green leaf volatiles; six-carbon compounds” CLM-GREEN-001 ↗
- Orange Peel, Lemon Zest, Bergamot: “volatile essential-oil compounds; terpene-rich compositions” CLM-CITRUS-001 ↗
- Dark Chocolate: “furanones, pyranones, lactones, a pyrrole and a pyrazine; secondary alcohols, acids and esters” CLM-CHOCOLATE-001 ↗
- Strawberry: “esters, furans, terpenes, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones and sulfur compounds; terpenoids, furanones and sulfur compounds” CLM-STRAWBERRY-001 ↗
- Apple: “esters, alcohols, aldehydes and terpenoids” CLM-APPLE-001 ↗
- Coconut: “saturated δ-lactones with 8, 10 and 12 carbon atoms” CLM-COCONUT-001 ↗
- Garlic: “thiosulfinates and their breakdown products” CLM-GARLIC-001 ↗
- Brown Sugar: “ketones, pyrazines, alkanes, phenols and alcohols” CLM-BROWNSUGAR-001 ↗
- Gasoline: “aromatic hydrocarbons” CLM-GASOLINE-001 ↗
- Fresh Wood: “monoterpenes and monoterpenoids; aliphatic aldehydes, alcohols, acids and phenolic compounds” CLM-PINEWOOD-001 ↗
- New Car: “esters, saturated and unsaturated aldehydes, unsaturated ketones, rose ketones, phenolic and benzene derivatives and pyrazines” CLM-NEWCARODOUR-001 ↗
- New Furniture: “tertiary amines, fatty acid oxidation products, short-chain aldehydes and pyrazines” CLM-POLYURETHANE-001 ↗
Counts compounds without naming them
The claim says compounds were found or matter, but names none. Open question: Which compounds does the source name as the key odorants?
- Old Book, Library: “volatile organic compounds” CLM-OLDBOOK-001 ↗
- Coffee: “volatile compounds” CLM-COFFEE-001 ↗
- Mango: “multiple odor-active volatile compounds” CLM-MANGO-001 ↗
- Pineapple: “a smaller subset identified as key contributors” CLM-PINEAPPLE-001 ↗
- Ginger: “several especially potent odorants” CLM-GINGER-001 ↗
- Caramel: “volatile compounds responsible for characteristic caramel aroma” CLM-CARAMEL-001 ↗
- Vanilla Bean: “the aromatic compounds freed from their bound forms” CLM-VANILLA-001 ↗
Not a chemical claim
The claim is about a term, a method or how people experience a smell, not about compounds. Open question: Is there registered research on the compounds behind this smell?
- Rain, Petrichor, Soil, Garden After Rain: “has used the term petrichor” CLM-PETRICHOR-001 ↗
- Museum: “participatory smell walks and a survey” CLM-MUSEUM-001 ↗
- Library, Old Book: “producing a Historic Book Odour Wheel” CLM-HISTORICBOOK-001 ↗
SmellBook lists a molecule only where a VERIFIED claim names it, in the role and scope that claim states. A molecule reported in a smell's evidence is not the whole smell: most smells come from many compounds together, and the studies measured particular samples, such as one cultivar, an essential oil or a cooked product.