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Grapefruit mercaptan is the common name for a natural organic compound found in grapefruit. It is a monoterpenoid that contains a thiol (or mercaptan) functional group. Volatile thiols typically have very strong, often unpleasant odors which can be detected by humans in very low concentrations. Grapefruit mercaptan has a very potent, but not unpleasant, odor and it is the chemical constituent primarily responsible for the aroma of grapefruit. This characteristic aroma is a property of only the R-stereoisomer.