The Odor Molecule and Odor Recognition Mechanism

Abstract

The reason why we can sense odor is the existence of odor molecules. We distinguish many kinds of odors because odor receptors recognize various structural changes of odor molecules. We experience a variety of odors though the kind of receptors is only about 400. Furthermore, the odors of many materials are composed of a large number of odor ingredients. Understanding of the complicated odor recognition mechanism is necessary for knowing how the odor of a material is made from the odor characteristics of individual odor molecules. Knowledge about what kinds of change in the structure of those molecules can be captured by the receptors is necessary for understanding the reception mechanism. From the analysis of the properties of fragrances such as a sandalwood or frankincense, which are representative incense materials, it was shown that the coexistence of odor molecules with a similar structure is important to the expression of the fragrance characteristic of the material. Research into the structure-odor relationships of odor molecules such as santalol or anethole was done to obtain information on what kind of structure of odor molecules can be recognized.