Methanethiol

Apparently the body metabolizes a sulfur-containing substance, asparagusic acid, a close chemical relative of the essence of skunk spray called methanethiol. ❋ Harold McGee (2004)

The team had participants eat six grams of raw garlic and then tested not only for this VSC but others as well, including allyl mercaptan, methanethiol, allyl methyl disulfide and allyl disulfide. ❋ Dr. Harold Katz (2011)

In addition, the normal bacterial population of our colon (large bowel) produces a tiny amount of hydrogen gas and methane by fermenting the carbohydrates left over from the small intestinal digestive process and forming hydrogen sulfide (like the smell of rotten eggs), methanethiol (like the smell of decomposing vegetables), and dimethyl sulfide (a heavy sweetish odor). ❋ Steve Carper (2007)

To figure out exactly who could smell the manly-man scent of androstenone, researchers presented 400 participants with 66 different odors, including woodsy scents like pine, strong scents like garlic, and esoteric odors like methanethiol, a man-made scent that is similar to the smell of urine after a person has eaten asparagus. ❋ Unknown (2007)

Dried, the red seaweeds tend to develop a deeper sulfury aroma from hydrogen sulfide and methanethiol, as well as flowery, black-tea-like notes from breakdown of their carotene pigments. ❋ Harold McGee (2004)

They make fish inedible in a fraction of the time they take to spoil beef or pork, by consuming the savory free amino acids and then proteins and turning them into obnoxious nitrogen-containing substances (ammonia, trimethylamine, indole, skatole, putrescine, cadaverine) and sulfur compounds (hydrogen sulfide, skunky methanethiol). ❋ Harold McGee (2004)

It now appears that thanks to genetic differences, most but not all people do produce methanethiol after eating asparagus, and most but not all are able to smell it. ❋ Harold McGee (2004)

One major component of garlic breath appears to be various chemical relatives of skunk spray e.g., methanethiol that persist in the mouth. ❋ Harold McGee (2004)