Skatole

Skatole (also spelled skatol) or 3-methylindole is an organic compound belonging to the indole family. It occurs naturally in the feces of mammals and birds and is the primary contributor to fecal odor. At high to moderate concentrations, its aroma is described as "animal, fecal, naphthyl, civet". In low concentrations, it has a flowery smell and is found in several flowers and essential oils, including those of orange blossoms, jasmine, and Ziziphus mauritiana. It has also been identified in certain cannabis varieties. Skatole is one of the volatile compounds in human breath associated with halitosis. It is used as a fragrance and fixative in many perfumes and as an aroma compound. It is also used in low concentrations in some ice cream as a flavor enhancer. Its name derives from the Greek root skato-, meaning feces. Skatole was discovered in 1877 by the German physician Ludwig Brieger (1849–1919). Ich habe mich zuerst mit der Untersuchung der flüchtigen Bestandtheile der Excremente aus sauerer Lösung beschäftigt. Es wurden dabei die flüchtigen Fettsäuren: Essigsäure, normale und Isobuttersäure, sowie die aromatischen Substanzen: Phenol, Indol und eine neue dem Indol verwandte Substanz, die ich Skatol nennen werde, erhalten. [I was occupied initially with the investigation of the volatile components of excrement in acidic solution. One obtained thereby volatile fatty acids: acetic acid; normal and isobutyric acid; as well as the aromatic substances: phenol, indole and a new indole-derived substance which I will name "skatole".]