3-Mercaptohexan-1-ol: Aroma, Smell and Safety | PatientsCann UK

3-Mercaptohexan-1-ol

3-mercaptohexanol, 3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol, 3-MH

pronounced: three mer-KAP-toh-HEX-an-ol

The grapefruit molecule. A tropical, citrus thiol also famous in wine and beer.

Tropical & fruityFormula: C6H14OSExtremely potent
Aroma family
Tropical
Formula
C6H14OS
Mass
134.24 g/mol
Main note
Grapefruit

3-Sulfanylhexan-1-ol · 134.24 g/mol

The molecule

Chemical structure

This is the accurate skeletal structure of 3-Mercaptohexan-1-ol, drawn from PubChem data. Each corner and line-end is a carbon atom. The yellow S marks sulphur, the atom that gives this whole family its powerful smell.

GrapefruitCitrusTropicalPassion fruit

About

What is 3-Mercaptohexan-1-ol?

3-Mercaptohexan-1-ol, or 3-MH, is a very different kind of sulphur compound. Instead of skunk or garlic, it smells of grapefruit, citrus and tropical fruit.

It is well known outside cannabis. It is one of the molecules that give Sauvignon Blanc wine and certain hoppy beers their zesty, tropical lift.

What the research says

The Science

A 2023 follow-up study reported that thiols like 3-MH help explain the fruity, tropical smell of some prized 'exotic' cannabis, a smell that terpenes alone could not account for.

It is astonishingly powerful. The nose can detect it at parts per trillion, far below the level needed for most terpenes.

Aroma snapshot

How 3-Mercaptohexan-1-ol Smells

Tropical & fruity family
GrapefruitCitrusTropicalPassion fruit
Smell strength: Extremely potent

One of the most powerful smells known, detectable at parts per trillion.

You might also smell it in: Sauvignon Blanc wine, tropical craft beers, grapefruit and passion fruit.

Its role in the smell

Part of the Whole

Brings the bright, juicy, tropical top-notes to fruity cultivars, working hand in hand with citrus terpenes like limonene.

Good to know

A Note on Safety

3-Mercaptohexan-1-ol is an aroma compound, present in cannabis in trace amounts. It is not a medicine and has no dose of its own. What matters for you is the whole product and how it is prescribed.

Always choose and adjust your medicine with your prescriber and pharmacist, never by smell alone.

Questions

3-Mercaptohexan-1-ol: Common Questions

Why does some cannabis smell of tropical fruit?
Thiols such as 3-mercaptohexan-1-ol smell strongly of grapefruit and tropical fruit. A little goes a very long way, so even trace amounts can make a plant smell juicy and exotic.
Is this the same molecule found in wine?
Yes. 3-MH is one of the compounds that give Sauvignon Blanc wine and some tropical beers their grapefruit and passion fruit character.
Back to full Sulphur Compounds Guide
Important: This page is for education only. It is not medical advice. Research into cannabis sulphur compounds is very new, and most work so far is about smell, not treatment. The garlic comparison is about chemistry, not proven health effects. Always speak to your prescriber before changing your treatment. PatientsCann UK does not recommend any specific cannabis product.

References

  1. Oswald, I.W.H., Ojeda, M.A., Pobanz, R.J., Koby, K.A., Buchanan, A.J., Del Rosso, J., Guzman, M.A. and Martin, T.J. (2021) 'Identification of a new family of prenylated volatile sulfur compounds in cannabis revealed by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography', ACS Omega, 6(47), pp. 31667-31676. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.1c04196.
  2. Oswald, I.W.H. et al. (2023) 'Minor, nonterpenoid volatile compounds drive the aroma differences of exotic cannabis', ACS Omega, 8(36), pp. 39203-39216.
  3. Russo, E.B. (2011) 'Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects', British Journal of Pharmacology, 163(7), pp. 1344-1364. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01238.x.
  4. National Center for Biotechnology Information (2025) PubChem Compound Database. Bethesda: U.S. National Library of Medicine. Available at: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (Accessed: 3 August 2026).