skatole

chemical compound

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

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Skatole is a chemical compound with the molecular formula C₉H₉N. It is known for its foul odor and is found in feces, civet, and some plants. Skatole can also be synthesized and is used in perfumes as a fixative.1

The compound is related to indole, which has the molecular formula C₈H₇N and occurs in flower oils, coal tar, and fecal matter. Indole is used in perfumery and in the creation of tryptophan, an essential amino acid, and indoleacetic acid, a plant hormone.2

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heterocyclic compound
Five-membered rings with one heteroatom
Skatole, a degradation product of tryptophan that retains the indole unit, contributes much of the strong odour of mammalian feces. Indole-3-acetic acid (heteroauxin or β-indolylacetic acid) is a plant-growth regulator and the most important member of the auxin family of plant hormones (see hormone: The…
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Skatole, a degradation product of tryptophan that retains the indole unit, contributes much of the strong odour of mammalian feces. Indole-3-acetic acid (heteroauxin or β-indolylacetic acid) is a plant-growth regulator and the most important member of the auxin family of plant hormones (see hormone: The…
Read More