Geruchstoff

Geruchstoff, in English commonly referred to as an odorant or odor-producing substance, denotes a chemical compound with a detectable odor or capable of imparting an odor to a mixture. Odorants are typically volatile organic compounds that can originate from natural sources such as essential oils, fruits, and fermentation processes, or can be synthesized for the fragrance and flavor industries. Their primary role is to create or modify scent, or to provide an olfactory cue in consumer products and industrial applications.

Common uses include perfumery and cosmetics, where odorants form the basis of fragrances; in the food and beverage industry as flavor compounds; and in safety contexts such as odorizing otherwise odorless gases (for example natural gas) to enable leak detection. Odorants are also studied in olfaction research to understand human scent perception.

Measurement and regulation: Analysis of odorants combines chemical techniques like gas chromatography with sensory evaluation (olfactometry) to characterize odor quality and threshold. Regulatory frameworks manage the use of Geruchstoffe due to allergenicity, toxicity, and environmental concerns. In cosmetics, for instance, certain fragrance substances must be disclosed on product labels. In addition, many odorants have hazard classifications and require safety data sheets.

See also: Duftstoff, fragrance, flavor, aroma compounds, allergenic fragrance substances.