Analytical Studies of Fragrant Raw Materials. A Quest for Their Odor Active Constituents

Abstract

The determination of the most important olfactory contributors of a fragrant natural raw material can be an extremely long and complex task which requires the combination of very efficient analytical techniques. Consequently, there is still a lack of accurate knowledge about the main odoriferous constituents for many natural raw materials, even those widely used for their odorant properties in the flavor and fragrance industry. This presentation will describe several examples of analytical investigations based on Gas Chromatography-Olfactometry (GC-O) and focused on the determination of the main odorant contributors of some fragrant raw materials. Hence, the key odorants of the most characteristic facets of frankincense and Helichrysum italicum essential oils were shown to be respectively olibanic acids and 4,6-dimethyloctan-3,5-dione. These constituents are contained in very low amounts (<1%), and this is another example of the fact that the main olfactory contributors are often strongly potent odorants contained only in trace amounts.