Characterization of key aroma compounds in Xinjiang dried figs (Ficus carica L.) by GC–MS, GC–olfactometry, odor activity values, and sensory analyses

Xinjiang is the main production area of figs in China. In this work, three different methods (SDE, SAFE, and SPME) were employed to extract the volatile compounds from Xinjiang dried figs. The exactions were then analyzed using aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA) based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC−MS) and gas chromatography–olfactometry (GC−O). Seventy-five aroma-active compounds were identified with flavor dilutions (FD) factors ranging from 1 to 2187. Aroma compounds with odor activity value (OAV) greater than 10 were subsequently used in aroma reconstitution and omission experiments. Based on instrumental analysis and sensory evaluation, 22 compounds were identified as the key aroma compounds and eight of these were evaluated as the most important aroma contributors of Xinjiang dried figs, including heptanal, nonanal, linalool, benzyl benzoate, styrene, eugenol, 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol, and vanillin. Moreover, three volatile components, including 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol, 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol and ortho-guaiacol, were identified as key aroma compounds of dried figs and have not been reported previously.