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. 2026 Feb 17;14:1755255. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2026.1755255

TABLE 3.

Key odor-active compounds identified in cigar tobacco leaves (PY-GC-O-MS).

Odor description Compound RT RI Odor threshold (μg/L) Relative content (%) OAV VIP Possible origin
Sweet, caramel, buttery, toasted/Nutty (almond-like), and toasty/Bready, with a slight sourness/Tang 2-Propanone, 1-hydroxy- 4.492 665 ND 3.499 0 1.185 Maillard reaction
2-Propanone, 1-(acetyloxy)- 8.658 870 ND 0.989 0 1.332 Maillard reaction
1,2-Cyclopentanedione, 3-methyl- 13.683 1,043 0.026 0.502 10.318 0.523 Maillard reaction
Furaneol 15.074 1,070 0.0015 0.128 41.517 0.373 Maillard reaction
Floral, black tea, herbal, fruity Indole 21.239 1,295 0.04 0.685 9.566 0.744 Shikimate pathway
7-Oxabicyclo [4.1.0]heptan-3-ol, 6-(3-hydroxy-1-butenyl)-1,5,5-trimethyl- 29.854 1,674 ND 1.902 0 1.003 Chlorophyll degradation
Neophytadiene 33.243 1837 ND 1.80 0 0.797 Chlorophyll degradation
Phytol 38.377 2,114 0.64 0.823 0.705 1.228 Chlorophyll degradation
Sour, medicinal, amine-like odor Acetic acid 4.032 610 0.013 2.653 114.36 0.62 Maillard reaction
Phenol 12.707 980 0.021 2.113 54.987 0.923 Lignin degradation
Phenol, 2-methoxy- 15.183 1,090 0.0015 0.174 61.97 0.555 Lignin degradation
Pyrrolidine, 1-(1-pentenyl)- 19.423 ND 0.530 0 1.072 Maillard reaction
Typical fatty, cucumber peel, and waxy notes 2-Nonen-1-ol, (E)- 15.551 1,176 0.209 1.120 2.985 1.123 Lipoxygenase pathway
Smoky/Unknown flavor 4-Pyridinol 17.272 1,154 ND 2.448 0 1.417 Hydroxylated pyridine derivatives
3-Pyridinol 17.433 ND 1.937 0 1.358 Hydroxylated pyridine derivatives
Catechol 19.176 1,205 8 1.217 0.076 1.853 Pyrolysis products of lignin
Pyridine, 2-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)- 21.92 1,354 ND 22.07 3.091 Tobacco alkaloids and their metabolites
Pyridine, 3-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)-, (S)- 22.523 1,361 470 30.659 0.035 3.257 Tobacco alkaloids and their metabolites
Pyridine, 3-(3,4-dihydro-2h-pyrrol-5-yl)- 24.309 1,427 ND 3.274 0 2.128 Tobacco alkaloids and their metabolites
2H-1,2-oxazine, tetrahydro-2-methyl-6-(3-pyridinyl)-, (−)- 25.523 ND 0.344 0 1.007 Tobacco alkaloids and their metabolites
1,2,3,6-Tetrahydro-2,3′-bipyridine 26.52 ND 0.275 0 1.120 Tobacco alkaloids and their metabolites
2,3′-dipyridyl 26.858 1,556 ND 2.133 0 1.129 Tobacco alkaloids and their metabolites
Cotinine 30.824 1721 ND 1.211 0 1.284 Tobacco alkaloids and their metabolites
n-Hexadecanoic acid 35.624 1968 ND 1.078 0 1.18 Fatty acids
Thunbergol 37.852 2073 ND 0.386 0 1.002 Fatty acids
4,8,13-Cyclotetradecatriene-1,3-diol, 1,5,9-trimethyl-12-(1-methylethyl)- 37.878 ND 0.447 0 1.009 Degradation products of cembranoids
Octadecanoic acid 39.261 2,172 ND 0.291 0 0.694 Degradation products of cembranoids