1-octen-3-ol, octenol (also known as mushroom alcohol) is a kind of secondary alcohol. It can emit special smell that can attract the biting insects such as mosquitoes. It is contained in the breath and sweat of mammals, and seems to be appreciated by insects such as mosquitoes. It is mainly produced by some plants and fungi including mushrooms and lemon balm through oxidative breakdown of linoleic acid. It can be used in combination with carbon dioxide to attract the insects to kill them. In addition, it can also be used as a food additive and used in certain perfumes. However, in animal study, it could disrupt dopamine homeostasis, and might be potentially involved in Parkinsonism.
1-Octen-3-Ol is a colorless to yellow liquid with a mushroom, green, vegetable, and fatty odor. It is used in edible flavor blends such as mushroom, tomato, potato, milk, and nut.It is a secondary alcohol derived from 1-octene. It is an unsaturated alcohol that exists as two enantiomers, the (R)-(–)-form and the (S)-(+)-form. It is found most often as the racemic mixture.
Common Applications
- cheese
- lavender
- potato
- savoury
- asparagus
- carrot
- cucumber
- mushroom
Natural occurrence: Clover, cooked artichoke, fish, mushroom, peas, soybeans, wheat bread, tea, and beef.
Originally reported found in the mushroom Armillaria matsutake, a parasite growing on the radical hairs of
Pinus densiflora in the forests of Japan; it has been isolated also in the essential oils of Mentha pulegium L., lavender and Mentha timjia.
Also reported found in over 160 foods and beverages including banana, kumquat peel oil, berries, currants, guava, grapes, raisin,
melon, pineapple, asparagus, potato, tomato, Mentha oils, thyme, wheat bread, cheeses, buttermilk, boiled egg, fish, cooked meats,
hop oil, beer, cognac, rum, grape wines, cocoa, coffee, tea, pecans, plum, oats, soybean, olive, cloudberry, plums, beans, mushroom,
marjoram, starfruit, sesame seed, fig, kelp, rice, beans, litchi, calamus, dill, licorice, pumpkin, buckwheat, sweet corn, corn tortilla,
malt, rice, wort, krill, rosemary, Bourbon vanilla, mountain papaya, endive, lemon balm, shrimp, oyster, crab, clam, scallop, truffle,
winter savory, anise hyssop and maté.
