Is present and at what concentration relative to everything else. O_O
Prenylthiol or 3-methyl-2-butene-1-thiol… who comes up with these names man… O_o is the primary compound responsible for classic skunk aroma in cannabis. It’s detectable by the human nose at concentrations as low as parts per trillion because human olfactory sensitivity to sulfur compounds is extraordinarily high from evolutionary threat detection.
Prenylthiol : is an organosulfur compound with the formula (CH3)2C=CHCH2SH. It is a derivative of prenyl alcohol and hydrogen sulfide. ←Dictionary
Organosulfur Compound : are organic molecules containing at least one carbon-sulfur bond. ←Dictionary
Prenylthiol belongs to the same chemical family as the defensive spray compounds in actual skunks 😀 not identical molecules but similar enough that the same olfactory receptors respond.
Fruity cannabis profiles are dominated by esters compounds formed when alcohols (including some terpene alcohols) react with organic acids during plant development and curing.
Esters : are chemical compounds formed by replacing the acidic hydrogen of an acid (like a carboxylic acid) with an organic group (an alcohol or alkyl group).
Ethyl acetate produces nail-polish and sweet fruit notes. Isoamyl acetate produces banana character. Ethyl butyrate produces pineapple and tropical notes.
These ester compounds form through enzymatic reactions during late flowering and continue forming during cure :O which is partly why proper curing develops fruity profiles more fully than fresh harvest expresses them.
Skunky and fruity profiles aren’t just different terpene combinations.
They’re different chemical classes entirely O_o sulfur compounds versus oxygen containing esters being processed by completely different receptor systems in your nose.
When your tongue says ‘this is fruity’ and your nose says ‘this is skunky’ on the same strain, both are right.
They’re reading different chapters of the same chemical biography.
Now I got nothing to wrap this up with in a funny way.
Usually I have some dumb ending ready, but my brain is fried O_O so all I got is this joke…
What do you call a fish with no eyes?
A FSH…
Alright I’m leaving now.
Keep on Growing O_O
