1-Octen-3-ol, octenol for short and also known as mushroom alcohol,[1] is a chemical that attracts biting insects such as mosquitoes.
[5][6] A recent study on volatiles of this mushroom has shown this compound is only produced upon tissue disruption.
[8] Octenol is produced by several plants and fungi, including edible mushrooms and lemon balm.
[13][14] Octenol is used, sometimes in combination with carbon dioxide, to attract insects in order to kill them with certain electrical devices.
[15] In an animal study, octenol has been found to disrupt dopamine homeostasis and may be an environmental agent involved in parkinsonism.