The characterisation of some mushroom volatiles

Abstract A steam‐volatile extract, possessing a strong mushroom‐like odour, has been isolated from Agaricus bisporus, the cultivated white mushroom of the mushroom grower. The major volatile components present, viz., 3‐methylbutanal, 3‐octanone, oct‐1‐en‐3‐one, 3‐octanol, oct‐1‐en‐3‐ol, furfural, benzaldehyde, phenylacetaldehyde and benzyl alcohol, were identified by combined gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry, and several other components were either positively or tentatively identified. The properties of the mushroom‐like odour of oct‐1‐en‐3‐one and of the corresponding alcohol in dilute aqueous solution were examined.