Aroma molecule · alcohol
2-methyl-2-butanol
Smells ofpungent
Found in 5 ingredients. We hold no measured concentration for it in any of them yet, so we cannot say where it is strong enough to smell.
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01How little it takes
- in a foodpapers disagree 320
ppb, log scale · tick = median of published values, bar = full range, from open-access paper tables (not reviewed)
02Where it turns up
- Fruit3
- Vegetables1
- Herbs & spices1
of the 5 ingredients that contain it, by food group
03What it travels with
line weight = ingredients carrying both, of 5 · only molecules found with it at least 1.5× as often as across all foods
What does 2-methyl-2-butanol smell like?
Sources describe it as pungent.
Which foods contain 2-methyl-2-butanol?
We list 5 ingredients that contain it, but presence is not the same as smell. What matters is how much is there compared with how little it takes to notice it. That ratio is the odour activity value (OAV): above 1, you can smell it.
Found in
Measured foods first, then real food profiles, then thin or composite records (marked). The figure beside each is how many compounds that ingredient has in total, not the amount of 2-methyl-2-butanol in it. ✓n = sources that recorded the link.
How strong is 2-methyl-2-butanol?
Our working odour threshold is 25690.47 ppb.
Thresholds in published tables
| Medium | Median | Range | Values | Papers | Papers agree? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| air | 2.65e+04 µg/L air | 2.65e+04–2.65e+04 | 3 | 1 | one paper |
| food matrix | 320 ppb | 320–320 | 1 | 1 | one paper |
Numbers printed in open-access papers, grouped by the medium the table states. Median and full range; “agree” means two or more papers whose middle 80% of values sit within 100×. Not reviewed.
- Volatility
- high
What is it found with?
Of the 5 ingredients that carry 2-methyl-2-butanol, 5 also carry (+)-delta-cadinene, 5 (+)-neomenthol and 5 (-)-matairesinol. These are the most frequent companions among molecules that turn up with 2-methyl-2-butanol at least 1.5 times as often as they do across all foods; the very common molecules found nearly everywhere are left out because they say nothing about it.
Is 2-methyl-2-butanol safe to eat?
A substance matching this name is listed by FEMA as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use as a flavoring: FEMA number 5030, published in GRAS 32. Check current FDA and EFSA guidance for your market and use level.
- FEMA number
- 5030 ? partial match
- Publication
- GRAS 32
- FEMA name
- 4-(l-Menthoxy)-2-methyl-2-butanol
| Food category | Typical | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| beverages type i, non-alcoholic | 1 | 5 |
| beverages type ii, alcoholic | 1 | 5 |
| chewing gum | 1 | 10 |
| gravies | 1 | 5 |
| instant coffee and tea | 1 | 5 |
| soft candy | 1 | 5 |
| soups | 1 | 5 |
Typical vs maximum reported addition levels in finished food. A regulatory ceiling reference; verify against the current GRAS publication for your product category.
Source: FEMA GRAS publications 1–33.
2-methyl-2-butanol questions
What does 2-methyl-2-butanol smell like?
Sources describe 2-methyl-2-butanol as pungent.
Which foods contain 2-methyl-2-butanol?
We list 5 ingredients that contain 2-methyl-2-butanol.
How strong is 2-methyl-2-butanol?
Our working odour threshold for 2-methyl-2-butanol is 25,690 ppb.
What molecules are found with 2-methyl-2-butanol?
The molecules most often found in the same ingredients are (+)-delta-cadinene, (+)-neomenthol, (-)-matairesinol and (e)-β-farnesene.
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Cite this analysis
Compound Kitchen (2026). 2-methyl-2-butanol compound data sheet. https://compkitchen.com/compound/2-methyl-2-butanol. Accessed 2026-11-03.
@misc{compkitchen_compound_2_methyl_2_butanol_compound_data_sheet_2026,
title = {2-methyl-2-butanol compound data sheet},
author = {{Compound Kitchen}},
year = {2026},
url = {https://compkitchen.com/compound/2-methyl-2-butanol},
note = {Accessed: 2026-11-03}
}
Methodology DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19719459 · CC BY 4.0 · Citations are a request, not a requirement.