Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 12:43 am Post subject: Azaleas - Skunk Smell
Hi,
My mother-in-law who lives in Pittsburgh PA has an azalea bush which stinks - it smells like a skunk!!!! Anyone have any ideas on why this is or how to change the smell? Thanks. Stephanie
The malodor that skunks produce is due to a chemical called n-butyl
mercaptan (reference 1). I could not find any information stating that
azaleas produce this compound. However, it is possible that they produce a
related compound, as certain plants (e.g., onions) do produce mercaptans
(reference 2). Also, decaying plants and animals produce mercaptans; thus,
it is possible that what you smell is a product of decaying azaleas.
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