Anethole (or trans-anethole) is an aromatic compound that accounts for the distinctive “licorice” flavor of anise, fennel, and star anise.

It may also be referred to as p-propenylanisole, anise camphor, isoestragole, or oil of aniseed. The chemical structure is shown at right. Chemically, it is an aromatic, unsaturated ether. Anethole appears as white crystals at room temperature. Its melting point is 21 °C. Anethole is distinctly sweet as well as having its flavoring properties and is measured to be 13 times sweeter than sugar. It is perceived as being pleasant to the taste even at higher concentrations.

3-Octanol is not considered an aromatic chemical. Aromatic chemicals, in the context of organic chemistry, refer to compounds that contain one or more benzene rings or other cyclic systems with alternating single and double bonds. These compounds exhibit a characteristic stability due to the delocalization of electrons in the ring system.

On the other hand, octanol is an aliphatic alcohol with the chemical formula C8H18O. It belongs to the class of aliphatic compounds, which are open-chain hydrocarbons that do not contain any benzene rings or aromatic systems.