Headspace analysis of hyacinth flowers

The volatiles of white hyacinths were isolated by dynamic headspace trapping. More than 70 constituents could be identified by GC and GC‐MS. The principal constituents were benzyl acetate and (E, E)‐α‐farnesene. Beside these, sensorily important substances like indole, oct‐1‐en‐3‐ol and phenylacetaldehyde were identified. Minor traces of three substituted pyrazines could be detected by GC‐sniffing. The advantages of the simultaneous “closed‐loop stripping” technique using various adsorbing agents at the same time were demonstrated. By this means artefact formation and discrimination of individual components could be determined.