Aroma Chemicals

Abstract

Abstract Aroma chemicals are an important group of molecules used as ingredients in flavor and fragrance compositions. Aroma chemicals consist of natural, nature‐identical, and artificial molecules. Natural products are obtained directly from the plant or animal sources by physical procedures. Nature‐identical compounds are produced synthetically, but are chemically identical to their natural counterparts. Artificial flavor substances are compounds that have not yet been identified in plant or animal products for human consumption. There are about 3000 different molecules that find use in the production of flavor and fragrances compositions. Synthetic ingredients play a major part as components due to their convenient availability and the relatively lower costs compared to natural molecules from isolation of relatively limited natural sources. The odors of single compounds are very difficult to describe. Complex mixtures are often impossible to describe unless one component has a very characteristic odor or flavor. Terms to describe odors are given. General production routes to these aroma chemicals are described. These production routes are usually by isolation from natural sources, from petrochemicals, raw materials or by synthesis using cyclic and aromatic precursors. Economic data and analytical methods are included.