he mushroom’s distinctive odour can be identified from the belowground mycelium and experienced pine mushroom pickers can smell the fungus in a stand even when there are no mushrooms. Scientists have isolated 78 volatile flavour compounds, of which 22 have been identified, from Tricholoma matsutake. Methyl cinnamate, (a pleasant sweet odour) in combination with 1-octen-3-ol, (a musty or spicy odour) isolated from T. matsutake are the prime contributors in giving this mushroom its distinctive odour.