Flavor← the wheel
Nutmeg
Spice & roots· spice
What it is
Nutmeg is the dried seed of Myristica fragrans, a tree native to Indonesia's Banda Islands.
What it tastes like
On the nose: sassafras, pine, citrus. Among its measured molecules: elemicin, myristicin, safrole, α-terpinene, α-thujene.
What goes with it
- Maceboth carry safrole, sassafrascite
- Limeboth carry terpinen-4-ol, pinecite
- London dry ginboth carry terpinen-4-ol, pinecite
Salt and acid
Salt
0 mgAsian pear10 mgCinnamon100 mgFennel seed1,000 mgOlive10,000 mgFish sauce
Sodium 16 mg per 100 g — USDA FoodData Central 171326.
Acid
Acid not measured yet.
Unusual pairings
Pairs the library can cite that almost nobody makes.
- Nutmeg + Mace
both carry safrole, sassafras (11 of 338 carry it)
- Nutmeg + Lime
both carry terpinen-4-ol, pine (75 of 338 carry it)
- Nutmeg + Saffron
both carry limonene, lemon (126 of 338 carry it)
15 of 155 compounds on file carry a paper the library can cite.
myristicinaromaacidMeasured in 4 of 338 ingredients.cite
33.0 ± 1.59% relative abundance — the single largest constituent, and reported in the nutmeg column only — Parichanon et al. 2025, Molecules (Table 1 (Complete chemical composition of EOs obtained from Myristica fragrans (nutmeg), Cinnamomum verum (cinnamon), and Syzygium aromaticum (clove)), row 'myristicin', column 'Nutmeg')safrolearomareads as sassafras odor (PubChem)Measured in 4 of 338 ingredients.cite
4.28% of the seed oil, against 1.996% in PMC7037852 whole-oil control — Muchtaridi et al. 2010, (Table 1, row 20 'Safrole')alpha-pinenearomaterpenoidreads as odor of turpentine (PubChem)Measured in 71 of 338 ingredients.cite
17.0 ± 0.60% of the nutmeg oil — Parichanon et al. 2025, Molecules (Table 1, row 'α-pinene', column 'Nutmeg')γ‑terpinenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 44 of 338 ingredients.cite
0.8 ± 0.04% of the nutmeg oil — Parichanon et al. 2025, Molecules (Table 1, row 'γ-terpinene', column 'Nutmeg')α-terpinenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 16 of 338 ingredients.cite
0.4 ± 0.01% of the nutmeg oil — Parichanon et al. 2025, Molecules (Table 1, row 'α-terpinene', column 'Nutmeg')p-cymenearomaterpenoidreads as mild pleasant odor (PubChem)Measured in 42 of 338 ingredients.cite
4.0 ± 0.10% of the nutmeg oil — Parichanon et al. 2025, Molecules (Table 1, row 'p-cymene', column 'Nutmeg')elemicinaromaacidMeasured in 2 of 338 ingredients.cite
1.8 ± 0.10% of the nutmeg oil; reported in the nutmeg column only — Parichanon et al. 2025, Molecules (Table 1, row 'elemicin', column 'Nutmeg')terpinen-4-olaromaalcoholreads as pine (PubChem)Measured in 41 of 338 ingredients.cite
5.0 ± 0.02% of the nutmeg oil — Parichanon et al. 2025, Molecules (Table 1, row '4-terpineol', column 'Nutmeg')terpinolenearomaterpenoidreads as terpene taste (PubChem)Measured in 38 of 338 ingredients.cite
0.5 ± 0.01% of the nutmeg oil — Parichanon et al. 2025, Molecules (Table 1, row 'terpinolene', column 'Nutmeg')beta-pinenearomaterpenoidreads as terpene odor (PubChem)Measured in 55 of 338 ingredients.cite
13.4 ± 0.42% of the nutmeg oil — Parichanon et al. 2025, Molecules (Table 1, row 'β-pinene', column 'Nutmeg')α-thujenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 19 of 338 ingredients.cite
1.1 ± 0.02% of the nutmeg oil — Parichanon et al. 2025, Molecules (Table 1, row 'α-thujene', column 'Nutmeg')sabinenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 32 of 338 ingredients.cite
14.1 ± 0.45% of the nutmeg oil — Parichanon et al. 2025, Molecules (Table 1, row 'sabinene', column 'Nutmeg')limonenearomaterpenoidreads as pleasant lemon-like (PubChem)Measured in 91 of 338 ingredients.cite
4.2 ± 0.09% of the nutmeg oil — Parichanon et al. 2025, Molecules (Table 1, row 'limonene', column 'Nutmeg')3-carenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 19 of 338 ingredients.cite
1.0 ± 0.03% of the nutmeg oil — Parichanon et al. 2025, Molecules (Table 1, row 'δ-3-carene', column 'Nutmeg')myrcenearomaterpenoidreads as pleasant (PubChem)Measured in 68 of 338 ingredients.cite
1.0 ± 0.03% of the nutmeg oil — Parichanon et al. 2025, Molecules (Table 1, row 'myrcene', column 'Nutmeg')
On file, no cited source yet ✳
These molecules are on record for it from the library's earlier sources. We are buying and requesting the papers; each one that lands moves its molecule up into the cited list.
- Malabaricone Cketone
- Austrobailignan 7
- Fragnasol A
- 2beta-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3alpha-methyl-4alpha-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl)tetrahydrofuran
- 2beta-(3-Methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-3alpha-methyl-5-allyl-7-methoxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran
- 4-[(S)-2-(2-Hydroxy-3-methoxy-5-allylphenyl)propyl]-2-methoxyphenol
- 2-Methoxy-4-[(S)-2-(2,6-dimethoxy-4-allylphenoxy)propyl]phenol
- carvacrolphenolreads as thymol odor (PubChem)
- macelignan
- o-cymeneterpenoid
- Verrucosin
- syringic acidphenol
- myristic acidacid
- trimyristinester
- galbacin
- (+)-Talaumidin
- Talaumidin
- (+)-guaiacin
- 1-(2-Hydroxy-3-methoxy-5-prop-2-enylphenyl)ethanoneacid
- cis-4-(Isopropyl)-1-methylcyclohex-2-en-1-olterpenoid
- Heminordihydroguaiaretic acid
- 7-Methoxy-5-(3-hydroxy-1-propenyl)-1,3-benzodioxoleacid
- 5-((2r,3s)-4-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-methylbutan-2-yl)-3-methoxybenzene-1,2-diol
- Fragransin D3
- palmitic acidacidreads as slight characteristic taste (PubChem)
- Malabaricano
- 4-[(2S,3S,4S,5S)-5-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3,4-dimethyloxolan-2-yl]-2-methoxyphenol
- Tetrahydrofuroguaiacin B
- Fragransin B1
- 4-[(2S,3S,4S,5S)-5-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-3,4-dimethyloxolan-2-yl]-2,6-dimethoxyphenol
- 4-[(2S,3S,4S,5R)-5-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-3,4-dimethyloxolan-2-yl]-2,6-dimethoxyphenol
- 4-[(2S,3S,4R,5R)-5-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3,4-dimethyloxolan-2-yl]-2,6-dimethoxyphenol
- 4-[(2S,3S,4S,5S)-5-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3,4-dimethyloxolan-2-yl]-2,6-dimethoxyphenol
- 4-[(2S,3S,4S,5R)-5-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3,4-dimethyloxolan-2-yl]-2,6-dimethoxyphenol
- 4-[(2R,3S,4S,5S)-5-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3,4-dimethyloxolan-2-yl]-2,6-dimethoxyphenol
- stearic acidacidreads as taste suggesting tallow (PubChem)
- (Z)-p-menth-2-en-1-olterpenoid
- nectandrin A
- 1-(2-Hydroxy-6-methoxyphenyl)-9-(4-hydroxyphenyl)nonan-1-one
- 1-(2-Hydroxy-6-methoxyphenyl)-9-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-nonanone
- 1-(2,6-Dimethoxyphenyl)-9-(4-methoxyphenyl)nonan-1-one
- Fragransol Afuran
- Fragransin D2
- (2E)-3-[(2S,3S)-2-(3,4-Dimethoxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydro-7-methoxy-3-methyl-5-benzofuranyl]-2-propen-1-ol
- (2E)-3-[(2R,3R)-2,3-Dihydro-7-methoxy-2-(7-methoxy-1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-3-methyl-5-benzofuranyl]-2-propen-1-ol
- (1R,2S)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-[4-[(E)-3-hydroxyprop-1-enyl]-2,6-dimethoxyphenoxy]propan-1-ol
- 4-[(2R,3R)-4-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2,3-dimethylbutyl]benzene-1,2-diol
- (7R,8S)-8-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-methoxy-6,7-dimethyl-7,8-dihydronaphthalen-2-ol
- 4-[(2R,3R,4R,5R)-5-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3,4-dimethyloxolan-2-yl]-2,6-dimethoxyphenol
- rel-(alphaS)-alpha-[(1R)-1-[4-[(1E)-3-Hydroxy-1-propen-1-yl]-2,6-dimethoxyphenoxy]ethyl]-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzenemethanol
- rel-(alphaS)-alpha-[(1R)-1-[4-[(1E)-3-Hydroxy-1-propen-1-yl]-2,6-dimethoxyphenoxy]ethyl]-3,4-dimethoxybenzenemethanol
- 4-[(2R,3S,4S,5R)-5-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3,4-dimethyloxolan-2-yl]-2,6-dimethoxyphenol
- 4-[(2S,3R,4S,5S)-3,4-dimethyl-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)oxolan-2-yl]-2-methoxyphenol
- Nectandrin-B
- rel-(2R,3R)-2,3-Dihydro-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-7-methoxy-3-methyl-5-benzofuranethanol
- 4-[(2R,3R,4R,5R)-5-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3,4-dimethyloxolan-2-yl]-2-methoxyphenol
- 5-[(1R,2R)-2-(2,6-dimethoxy-4-prop-2-enylphenoxy)-1-hydroxypropyl]-2,3-dimethoxyphenol
- (2R,3R)-4-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethyl)-3-methylbutan-1-ol
- 4-[(1R,2R,3R)-4-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-1-methoxy-2,3-dimethylbutyl]-2-methoxyphenol
- 4-[(1S,2R,3S)-4-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-1-methoxy-2,3-dimethylbutyl]-2-methoxyphenol
- 4-[(2R,3S,4S,5S)-3,4-dimethyl-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)oxolan-2-yl]-2-methoxyphenol
- rel-(+)-2-Methoxy-4-[(2R,3R,4S,5S)-tetrahydro-3,4-dimethyl-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-furanyl]phenol
- Malabaricone B
- 4-[(2S,3S)-5-[(1S,2S)-2-hydroxy-1-methoxypropyl]-7-methoxy-3-methyl-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-2-yl]-2-methoxyphenol
- 2-methoxy-4-[(1S,2S)-1-methoxy-2-[2-methoxy-4-[(E)-prop-1-enyl]phenoxy]propyl]phenol
- (1R,2R)-2-[4-[(E)-3-hydroxyprop-1-enyl]-2,6-dimethoxyphenoxy]-1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)propan-1-ol
- alpha-terpineolalcoholreads as floral, lilac (PubChem)
- Austrobailignan 5
- 4-[(1R,2S)-2-[2,6-dimethoxy-4-(prop-2-en-1-yl)phenoxy]-1-hydroxypropyl]-2-methoxyphenol
- 2,6-Dimethoxy-4-[(1R,2S)-1-hydroxy-2-(2,6-dimethoxy-4-allylphenoxy)propyl]phenol
- 4-[(1R,2S)-1-hydroxy-2-(2-methoxy-4-prop-2-enylphenoxy)propyl]-2-methoxyphenol
- Myrifralignan C
- 4-coumaric acidacid
- eugenolphenolreads as odor of cloves (PubChem)
- salicylic acidacid
- gallic acidacid
- (1S,2R)-1-(3,4-Dimethoxyphenyl)-2-(2,6-dimethoxy-4-allylphenoxy)-1-propanol acetate
- 4,4'-[(3beta,4alpha-Dimethyltetrahydrofuran)-2beta,5alpha-diyl]bis(2-methoxyphenol)
- 5-Hydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxycyclohexyl)decan-3-one
- gingerolphenol
- 4-[4-(1,3-Benzodioxol-5-yl)-1-methoxy-2,3-dimethylbutyl]-2-methoxyphenol
- 4-[(1S,2R,3R)-4-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-1-hydroxy-2,3-dimethylbutyl]-2-methoxyphenol
- Isootobaphenol
- (1S,2S,3R)-1,4-bis(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2,3-dimethylbutan-1-ol
- (1S,2R)-1-(3,4-Dimethoxyphenyl)-2-(2,6-dimethoxy-4-allylphenoxy)-1-propanol
- 1-(2,6-Dimethoxyphenyl)-9-(4-hydroxyphenyl)nonan-1-one
- 2-[1-Hydroxy-9-(4-hydroxyphenyl)nonyl]benzene-1,3-diol
- 2-[9-(4-hydroxyphenyl)nonyl]benzene-1,3-diol
- 1,3,4,9,10,10AS-Hexahydro-5,6-dihydroxy-1,1-dimethyl-7-iso-propyl-2H-9S,4AR-(epoxymethano)phenanthren-12-oneterpenoid
- meso-dihydroguaiaretic acidphenol
- (-)-(8R,8'S)-3,3',4-trimethoxy-4'-hydroxylignanphenol
- Isolicarin A
- 4-[(1S,2S)-2-(2,6-dimethoxy-4-prop-2-enylphenoxy)-1-methoxypropyl]-2-methoxyphenol
- quercetinflavonoid
- kaempferolflavonoid
- petroselinic acidacid
- caryophylleneterpenoid
- (R)-rosmarinic acidacid
- Licarin Afuran
- Surinamensin
- Isoelemicinacid
- rel-(-)-(7S,7'R,8S,8'R)-4,4'-dihydroxy-3,3',5'-trimethoxy-7,7'-epoxylignanphenol
- Dehydrodiisoeugenol
- 5-[(3S)-7-methoxy-3-methyl-5-[(E)-prop-1-enyl]-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-2-yl]-1,3-benzodioxole
- (s)-4-(1-Hydroxy-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propyl)benzene-1,3-diol
- (s)-4-(3-(Benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)-1-hydroxypropyl)benzene-1,3-diol
- (1R,2R)-2-(2,6-dimethoxy-4-prop-2-enylphenoxy)-1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)propane-1,3-diol
- 2,5-bis(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3,4-dimethyloxolane
- Piperitenone Oxideterpenoid
- p-coumaric acidacid
- anetholetherreads as sweet taste (PubChem)
- cis-sabinene hydrate acetateterpenoid
- 3,4,5-trimethoxy cinnamyl alcoholalcohol
- 5-[(2R,3R)-7-methoxy-3-methyl-5-[(1E)-prop-1-en-1-yl]-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-2-yl]-2H-1,3-benzodioxole
- (-)-Acuminatin
- (-)-Licarin A
- carnosic acidphenol
- (1R,2S)-1-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-[2-methoxy-4-(1-propenyl)phenoxy]-1-propanol
- linaloolalcoholreads as spicy, citrus taste (PubChem)
- campheneterpenoidreads as camphor-like (PubChem)
- trans-caffeic acidphenol
- 6-tert-butyl-m-cresol
- 2',6'-dihydroxyacetophenoneketone
- thymolphenolreads as aromatic odor (PubChem)
- methyl eugenolacidreads as bitter, burning taste (PubChem)
- eugenol acetatephenol
- protocatechuic acidacid
- (-)-Rosmadialterpenoid
- isoeugenolacid
- 3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-olacid
- anetholacid
- isoeugenolacidreads as spice-clove odor (PubChem)
- 3,4-Methylenedioxy-5-methoxycinnamyl alcoholacid
- estragoleetherreads as sweet taste reminiscent of anise (differing from anethole) (PubChem)
- beta-Terpinyl acetateterpenoid
- Odoratisol B
- 4-[(1S,2R)-1-hydroxy-2-(2-methoxy-4-prop-1-enylphenoxy)propyl]-2-methoxyphenol
- (+)-catechinflavonoid
- 4-[(2R,3S,4R,5R)-5-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-3,4-dimethyloxolan-2-yl]-2,6-dimethoxyphenol
- Epirosmanollactone
Sources
- Parichanon et al. 2025, Molecules
- Muchtaridi et al. 2010,