Organic Chemistry
Table of organic compounds and their smells
ALKANES
meth1 carbon
eth2 carbons
prop3 carbons
but4 carbons
ALKENES
-ane
cyclo
-ane
-ene
none
doesn’t exist
carbene is
too unstable
to smell
none
ALCOHOLS
-anol
ALDEHYDES
-an-2-ol
doesn’t exist
doesn’t exist
doesn’t exist
RUBBING
ALCOHOL
none
hex6 carbons
STARTING
FLUID
PLEASANT
STARTING
FLUID
SWEET
n/a
STRONG
SWEET
SICKENINGLY
SWEET AND
TARRY
-an-2-one
methyl
-an-2-one
doesn’t exist
doesn’t exist
doesn’t exist
doesn’t exist
doesn’t exist
WET
CEREAL
doesn’t exist
ATTRACTS
SPERM
doesn’t exist
BURNED
GREASE
doesn’t exist
NAIL VARNISH
REMOVER
PENETRATING,!
SWEET
?
PUNGENT NUTS
& CHOCOLATE
FRESHLY
CUT
GRASS
FRESHLY
CUT
GRASS
FRESHLY
CUT
GRASS
?
doesn’t exist
PUNGENT &
SUFFOCATING
doesn’t exist
doesn’t exist
-anoic acid
PUNGENT &
PENETRATING
VINEGAR
SLIGHTLY
RANCID
-enoic acid
doesn’t exist
doesn’t exist
SHARP
(S)- and (R)enantiomers
(S)- and (R)enantiomers
STRONG,
CITRUSLIKE
(2,6-dimethylheptanal)
?
LIKE NAIL
VARNISH
REMOVER
RANCID
BUTTER
HALOALKANES
THIOLS
chloro
-ane
bromo
-ane
iodo
-ane
TOXIC &!
MILDLY SWEET
LIKE
CHLOROFORM
SWEET, ACRID
MILDLY
SWEET
MILDLY
SWEET
(4-methyl-)
ATTRACTS
MICE
doesn’t exist
ALMOND
BUTTER
DISGUSTING
GOATS
ATTRACTS
MOSQUITOES
?
ETHEREAL
JET FUEL
CITRUS
FLOWERS
MILK
?
BUCKWHEAT
?
SWEET
?
dodec12 carbons
(3-methyl-)
pentadec15 carbons
-anenitrile
-anolide
doesn’t exist
SKUNK
doesn’t exist
SHARP,
UNIQUE
none
ETHEREAL
PLEASANT,
SWEET
SHARP,
UNIQUE
MUSTY
CITRUS
FLOWERS
?
FLOWERS
?
MAKES SPERM
UNABLE TO
FIND THE EGG
STINK-BUG
PHEROMONE
KAPOK
WITCH
WAXY
BUSH
HAZEL
FLOWERS
LEAVES
TAMARIND
(ANT-CALMING
PHEROMONE)
UNIQUE;
FOUND IN
ROSES
none
?
PLEASANT
?
?
?
KUMQUATS
ROASTED
?
FRESH
DEAD
ANIMALS
& URINE
BURNED
Acetophenone
BALSAMIC
BAD
RANCID
AROMATIC
ARMPITS (WHEN 3METHYLATED)
ARMPITS
?
none
SLIGHTLY
SWEET
?
RANCID
HERBAL
ROTTING
FISH
Aniline
TOXIC,
AROMATIC
&
doesn’t exist
Benzonitrile
CARAMEL
none
&
&
SEAWEED
none
&
STENCH
ARMPITS
?
ARMPITS
none
none
none
none
none
none
OBNOXIOUS
?
ALGERIAN
OIL OF RUE
?
?
?
?
WAXY
?
?
?
?
WAXY
?
PUNGENT &
PENETRATING
UNIQUE &
UNPLEASANT
FATTY
UNIQUE &
UNPLEASANT
BAY OIL
?
?
?
?
WAX & NUTMEG
?
SUFFOCATING
&
?
GRAPEFRUIT
PEEL
DEAD
ANIMALS
2-methyl
butan-2-thiol!
natural gas
odorant
ROASTED
GARLIC
PLEASANT,
SWEET
SLIGHTLY
SWEET
skunk
doesn’t exist
&
tetradec14 carbons
LACTONES
OBNOXIOUS
?
NEW JET FUEL
ALSO ANT ‘PANIC’
PHEROMONE
tridec13 carbons
diamino
-ane
NITRILES
ETHEREAL
TALLOW
undec11 carbons
-anamine
SWEET, ACRID
OLD PEOPLE
dec10 carbons
-anethiol
AMINES
?
(6-methyl-)
-3-one!
herb butter
?
ARMPITS (WHEN 3METHYLATED)
AROMATIC
doesn’t exist
&
SHARP
MILD
-2-one!
petrol
?
BROWN
SUGAR
MINT
&
?
STRONG,
FRUITY
COGNAC
CITRUS
DIESEL
PUNGENT
BANANA
BUTTERSCOTCH
Phenol
FRESHLY
CUT
GRASS
PETROL
(S)- and (R)enantiomers
FRESHLY
CUT
GRASS
n/a
hept7 carbons
non9 carbons
-enal
LILY
Benzene
oct8 carbons
3-(4-t-butylphenyl)
-anal
none
benzene
different naming
system is used
2-methyl
-anal
FRUITY,
doesn’t exist
ETHEREAL
IRRITATING
GREEN COFFEE
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
butanethiol!
WINE
pent5 carbons
-anal
KETONES
?
?
CORIANDER
?
CELERY
BIOMARKER
FOR DAIRY
CONSUMPTION!
(No smell)
UNIQUE &
UNPLEASANT
UNIQUE &
UNPLEASANT
none
none
none
MOUSE
PHEROMONE
OBNOXIOUS
&
OBNOXIOUS
&
?
?
none
ANGELICA
ROOT
none
CEDAR
WOOD
OBNOXIOUS
none
?
OBNOXIOUS
MUSK
?
Version 1.2 Produced by James at jameskennedymonash.wordpress.com. Visit website for more infographics. Free to use!
UNIQUE &
UNPLEASANT
none
?
none
OBNOXIOUS