The characterisation of some mushroom volatiles

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.