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Inferred Primary Odors (57)

The following aroma perceptual notes can be associated with specific olfactory receptors. Many of these notes are associated with more than one receptor; in some cases, such as the musky note, activation of any one of the receptors is probably sufficient to produce the perceptual note, while in other cases, a combination of listed receptors may be necessary. Some notes were identified by smelling receptor agonists with and without an antagonist. This list is neither exhaustive nor final and may change (and hopefully grow) over time.

Aroma Note Receptors Example agonists
acetic OR51E2acetic acid, beta-ionone
allium-winey OR4Q3, OR4X2diallyl disulfide, 2-aminoacetophenone, butyl anthranilate
ambery OR2L8, OR7C1, OR7E24(-)-ambroxide, ysamber K, ambermax, timberol
balsamic OR10G3, OR10G4, OR10G6, OR10G7, OR10G9vanillin, eugenol, creosol, guaiacol, para-anisaldehyde, 1-butanol, n-amyl acetate
burnt-caramellic OR8D1sotolone, p-cymene
celery-jasmin OR5B12, OR5B17, ???dihydrojasmone, (Z)-jasmone*, jasmonyl, floralozone
citrus-zesty OR2W3citralva, geraniol, lilial
coconut-husky OR5AU1(no data, see https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.04.21.649882)
creamy OR56A4undecanoic acid, delta-decalactone, butyric acid
earthy-humus OR14J1patchoulol, geosmin, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol
earthy-musty-chalky OR11A1geosmin, 2-ethyl fenchol, 2-methylisoborneol, patchoulol
estery-ethereal OR52D1isoamyl acetate, acetophenone, beta-ionone, estragole
faenous OR8B3(no data, see https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.04.21.649882)
floral-apple-rosy OR8K3beta-damascenone, pomarose, ethyl safranate
floral-full-bodied OR10A6melafleur, cinnamyl alcohol, gamma-dodecalactone, cyclamal
floral-waxy-petaly OR1G1vanillin, 2-undecanone, gamma-decalactone
fluffy OR2B11quinoline, coumarin, coffee difuran, d-limonene
fresh-shiny OR1D2bourgeonal, floralozone, gamma-undecalactone, tetrahydromyrcenol
goaty OR52A54-ethyloctanoic acid, 4-methyloctanoic acid, caprylic acid
greasy OR10H1, OR10H2, OR10H5sandranol, azurone, cinnamaldehyde, calone
green-stemmy OR2AG1, OR2AG2(Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, bean pyrazine, isoamyl acetate, cinnamyl alcohol
ketonic OR10A3, OR10C1, OR10D32-butanone, gamma-undecalactone, isoeugenol
minty OR8B8, OR8B12, OR5R1, OR11H12, OR10X1, OR2Y1(-)-menthol, (R)-carvone, acetophenone, coumarin
muguet OR10J5bourgeonal, lyral, nympheal, alpha-cedrene, (E,Z)-2,6-nonadienal
musky OR5A2, OR5AN1muscone, musk ketone, tonalide
musty-hyacinth OR6P1phenylacetaldehyde, para-anisaldehyde, benzaldehyde
naphthyl-shiny OR8H11,1,6-trimethyl-1,2-dihydronaphthalene, vanillin, indole, (R)-carvone, oranger crystals
newspapery OR3A1, OR3A4, OR5V12,4,6-trichloroanisole, bean pyrazine, cyclamal, 2-methylisoborneol, methyl salicylate
peppery OR7A10rotundone, pepperwood
plasticky OR2F1, OR2T34cyclohexanone, floralozone, geranyl acetate, fructone
plushy OR4K2, OR4K5, OR4M1, OR4P4, OR5L1benzaldehyde, isobutyraldehyde, muscone, ethylene brassylate, gamma-nonalactone, acetophenone, habanolide, ysamber K
powdery OR11H4, OR11H6isovaleric acid, phenethyl alcohol, oranger crystals
prawny TAAR5trimethylamine, N-methylpiperidine
pruny OR1A13-methyl-2,4-nonanedione
pyrazinic OR5K1hazelnut pyrazine, furaneol, methyl eugenol, hexanal
rancid OR56A1citronellic acid, caprylic acid, 2-methylundecanoic acid
salicylic OR52I2benzyl salicylate, hexyl salicylate, delta-decalactone
sandalwood OR2AT4, ???alpha-santalol*, sandalore, sandranol
sour-milky OR51E1isovaleric acid, caprylic acid, butyl butyryl lactate, propanal
sour-tart OR12D2acetic acid, propionic acid, isovaleric acid
spermous TAAR6, TAAR8cadaverine, putrescine
spicy OR9G1cinnamaldehyde, eugenol
stinkbug OR4N5, OR6A22-decenal*, octanal, decanal
sulfurous-thiolic OR2T1, OR2T2, OR2T4, OR2T6, OR2T11, OR2C1hydrogen sulfide, diallyl disulfide, octanethiol
sulfurous-vegetal OR2M2, OR2M3, OR2M7nootkatone, (S)-(-)-citronellol, 3-mercapto-2-methylpentan-1-ol, geraniol
sweaty-cuminic OR52E83-hydroxy-3-methyl hexanoic acid
sweaty-podal OR11H7isovaleric acid
sweet-fruity OR2G2, OR2L3, OR2L5, OR2M4, OR2T10, OR5AC2alpha-damascone, vanillin, maltyl isobutyrate, fructone, cinnamaldehyde
sweet-honeyed OR51L1allyl phenylacetate, phenylacetaldehyde, phenoxyacetic acid, caproic acid
sweet-sugary OR5M3maltol, furaneol, sotolone
tabagique-dried-rosy OR2A25geranyl acetate, (S)-(-)-citronellol, peony acetonitrile, quinoline
terpenic OR2A1, OR2A7, OR2L3alpha-pinene, alpha-terpineol, farnesol
urinous OR7D4, OR9Q2androstenone, p-cresol, p-cresyl isobutyrate
warm-pointy OR2J3(Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, cinnamaldehyde, hexanal, coumarin, citral
warm-smooth OR2J2methyl eugenol, phenylacetaldehyde, cinnamaldehyde, coumarin, butyl anthranilate
waxy-fatty OR56A4, OR56A5undecanal, citronellic acid, gamma-undecalactone, 2-methylheptanoic acid
woody ???, OR7A17guaiacol*, arborone, cedryl acetate, vetynal, cedramber
* = a receptor has not been identified for this note in this aroma compound.