In low concentrations, it has a flowery smell and is found in several flowers and essential oils, including those of orange blossoms, jasmine, and Ziziphus mauritiana.

In a manner similar to noise-cancelling headphones, the scent produced by the resultant concentrations of skatole and indole relative to other substances in the freshener is thus "in-phase" and perceived as pleasant.

[13] The release of skatole by certain parasitic wasps in the family Bethylidae is used to determine which subfamily the species belongs to.

It appears to selectively target club cells, which are the major site of cytochrome P450 enzymes in the lungs.

These enzymes convert skatole to a reactive intermediate, 3-methyleneindolenine, which damages cells by forming protein adducts (see fog fever).

[17] High amounts of skatole stored in the fat tissue of pigs corresponds with boar taint.

[18] Another method used to address skatole concentration in fat tissue is supplementing the pig's diet with 3% chestnut wood extract.