Smell

Pleasant

When mycologists describe a mushroom as having a "pleasant smell," they usually mean aromas that bring positive culinary or aesthetic associations but don't fall into the category of the classic "mushroomy" or "mealy" smell. These can be notes of fruit, flowers, perfume or freshness.

24 species in the database.

Fruity and floral aromas

In her "Key to the Fungi of Ukraine," M.Ya. Zerova often uses the phrase "smell pleasant, fruity" for a whole range of valuable edible species.

Roger Phillips and David Arora describe the best-known "pleasant" aromas in detail:

1. Chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius): Its smell is the benchmark of a pleasant fruity aroma. Most mycologists describe it as a distinct scent of fresh apricots or peaches. This trait helps tell it apart from some inedible lookalikes.

2. Fragrant funnel (Clitocybe fragrans) and other species: Many funnels have a pleasant, sweet, perfumy or aniseed aroma. However, there are toxic species among them too.

3. Verdigris agaric (Stropharia aeruginosa): This very unusual "cosmic" mushroom is often described as having a faint pleasant smell reminiscent of freshly cut grass or flowers.

The deadly trap of a pleasant smell

The greatest danger in mycology lies in a false belief: "If it smells nice, it must be edible." David Arora devotes a lot of attention to this mistake in "Mushrooms Demystified."

The deadly poisonous death cap (Amanita phalloides), both young and mature, has a very subtle, delicate, sweetish and absolutely PLEASANT smell. Many poisoning victims noted that the mushrooms not only looked like brittlegills but also smelled wonderful. Only in very old age does the death cap start to give off an unpleasant smell of raw potato or rot.

Questions and answers

Why does a chanterelle smell of apricots?

Chanterelle mycelium synthesizes certain volatile esters whose chemical structure is very close to those formed in apricot fruit as it ripens. This aroma survives even light freezing of the mushrooms.

Are there amanitas with a pleasant smell?

Yes. Besides the death cap, many other amanitas (for example, the fly agaric) have a very pleasant, sweetish mushroomy smell without any repulsive notes. A pleasant smell in an amanita is the rule, not the exception (except for the destroying angel, which smells awful).

How should you use a pleasant smell when foraging?

A pleasant smell is a confirming trait (for example, an apricot smell confirms that you have found a chanterelle). But it should NEVER be used as the main or only criterion for whether an unknown mushroom is edible.

Sources

1.Зерова М.Я. та ін. Визначник грибів України. 1979
2.Roger Phillips. Mushrooms (Roger Phillips)
3.David Arora. Mushrooms Demystified
4.Index Fungorum