Identification and Quantitation of Potent Odorants in Spearmint Oils

Potent odorants in Native spearmint, Scotch spearmint, and Macho mint oils were determined by the combined use of gas chromatography-olfactometry (GCO), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA). Of the 85 odorants detected, (R)-(-)-carvone was the most potent odorant in all three spearmint oils. Additional predominant odorants in all spearmint oils included eugenol, ethyl (S)-(+)-2-methylbutanoate, (E)-β-damascenone, and (3E,5Z)-1,3,5-undecatriene. Forty-six compounds were quantitated using various methods, including 19 by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID), 20 by stable isotope dilution analysis (SIDA), and 14 by GCO dilution analysis. Concentrations were used to calculate the odor activity values (OAVs) for predominant odorants in the oils. Among the compounds quantitated, those with the highest OAVs were (R)-(-)-carvone, 1,8-cineole, (E,Z)-2,6-nonadienal, (E)-β-damascenone, and (3E,5Z)-1,3,5-undecatriene.