Artificial compounds, aroma chemicals

Aroma chemicals are an important group of organic molecules used as ingredients in flavor and fragrance composition. Aroma chemicals consist of natural, nature-identical, and artificial molecules. Natural products are obtained directly from the plant or animal sources by physical procedures. Nature-identical compounds are produced synthetically, but are chemically identical to their natural counterparts. Artificial flavor substances are compounds that have not yet been identified in plant or animal products for human consumption. 

Volatile esters are often pleasant in both aroma and flavor. Natural fruit flavors are complex mixtures of many esters and other organic compounds. Chemists can isolate these mixtures and identify the chemical components. With this information they are able to synthesize artificial fruit flavors, using just a few of the esters found in the natural fruit. As a result, the artificial flavors rarely have the full-bodied flavor of nature s original blend. 

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