Skatole vs. Indole — What's the Difference?

Found in coal tar and used in manufacturing perfumes.

A solid at room temperature.

A compound with a strong fecal odor, derived from tryptophan.

A compound with a pleasant floral scent, derived from tryptophan.

Present in trace amounts in some flowers.

Plays a role in plant fragrances and as a flavoring agent.

A white crystalline solid at room temperature.

Commonly found in jasmine and orange blossoms.

Used to enhance flavor profiles in very low concentrations.

Used in the synthesis of various pharmaceuticals.

Skatole or 3-methylindole is an organic compound belonging to the indole family. It occurs naturally in the feces of mammals and birds and is the primary contributor to fecal odor.

Indole is an aromatic heterocyclic organic compound with formula C8H7N. It has a bicyclic structure, consisting of a six-membered benzene ring fused to a five-membered pyrrole ring. Indole is widely distributed in the natural environment and can be produced by a variety of bacteria.

A white crystalline organic compound, C9H9N, with a strong fecal odor, found naturally in feces, civet, coal tar, and certain plants or produced synthetically, used as a fixative in the manufacture of perfume.

A white crystalline compound, C8H7N, obtained from coal tar or various plants and produced by the bacterial decomposition of tryptophan in the intestine. It is used in perfumes and as a reagent.

(organic chemistry) A mildly toxic white crystalline organic compound of the indole family, occurring naturally in faeces and coal tar.

Any of various derivatives of this compound.

(organic compound) An organic compound, C₈H₇N, found in coal tar, and produced in the gut by the bacterial decomposition of tryptophan; it is an aromatic bicyclic heterocycle having a benzene ring fused with a pyrrole ring; indole and its derivatives occur widely in nature and have many industrial applications.

(organic chemistry) Any of the derivatives of indole₁.

Guileless

A white, crystalline substance, C8H7N, obtained from blue indigo, and almost all indigo derivatives, by a process of reduction; chemically, it is 2,3-benzopyrrole, a bicyclic heterocyclic compound, having a benzene ring fused to a pyrrole ring. It is also formed from proteinaceous matter, together with skatol, by putrefaction, and by fusion with caustic potash, and is present in human excrement, as well as in the intestinal canal of some herbivora. It is produced in rich growth media by the intestinal bacterium Escherichia coli.

Indole is present in many plants, especially in jasmine and orange blossoms, and is produced by bacterial breakdown.

Skatole is a chemical compound known for its strong fecal odor and is a byproduct of protein digestion in the intestines.

Indole is an aromatic heterocyclic organic compound with a pleasant floral scent, derived from the amino acid tryptophan.

Skatole is found in feces, certain flowers, and coal tar.

Indole acts as a signaling molecule in plants and animals and contributes to the aroma of flowers.

Skatole can be irritating in higher concentrations but is generally safe in the low levels used in industry.

Both skatole and indole are derived from tryptophan and share a similar indole ring structure.

Indole is used in perfume manufacturing and as a precursor in pharmaceutical synthesis.

Skatole can be synthesized through various chemical reactions including from indole itself.

In very low concentrations, skatole adds depth and complexity to fragrances.

The methyl group in skatole's structure contributes to its distinct odor and chemical behavior.

Indole provides a sweet, floral scent that enhances the quality of perfumes.

Indole is generally considered safe but should be handled with care in concentrated forms.

Skatole is commonly found in mammalian feces as a result of protein decomposition.

Its pleasant, jasmine-like scent makes indole ideal for floral perfumes.