Searching for What Makes a Lime a Lime

A Penn State chemist has identified a previously unnoticed component of what makes limes smell like limes. According to an Associated Press report, Mary Chisholm, associate professor of chemistry, has identified a balsamic, woodsy scented material, 7-methoxycoumarin, as an unexpected part of the lime fragrance.

''It's a surprise because it doesn't come from the same class of chemicals, the terpenes, from which many lime odorants do and is less volatile" says Chisholm.

While limes are not a major part of the human diet, they are important to the beverage industry. Lime or lemon flavor or fragrance is used in many popular soft drinks. Other applications include perfumes and the confectionery industries. By identifying all of the constituents in the lime aroma, Chisholm hopes to eventually to be able to duplicate it precisely in the laboratory.