2-Phenylethyl Mercaptan is legendary in the world of aroma chemistry for one primary reason: its incredibly powerful and challenging odor.
Primary Aroma: Skunk, Garlic, and Burnt Rubber.
Secondary Descriptors: It is described as putrid, sulfurous, pungent, and gassy. The smell is instantly recognizable and overwhelmingly unpleasant at even moderate concentrations.
This molecule is, in fact, one of the key components of the defensive spray secreted by skunks. Along with other thiols like 3-methyl-1-butanethiol, it is responsible for one of the most persistent and potent stenches in the natural world.