COMPOSITION USEFUL TO SIMULATE TOBACCO AROMA

1 . A synthetic composition comprising at least one compound from each of components A, B, C, and D wherein:

A is at least one compound of formula I

wherein R 11 is a saturated —C 1 -C 6 hydrocarbon group; and

wherein at least one compound of component A is acetic acid;

B is at least one compound of formula II

wherein Y is a group selected from —R 9 (C═O)R 10 , or a saturated or unsaturated —C 1 -C 6 hydrocarbon group optionally substituted with one or more hydroxyl groups;

R 9 is a bond or a saturated or unsaturated —C 1 -C 6 hydrocarbon group;

R 10 is —H or a saturated or unsaturated —C 1 -C 6 hydrocarbon group;

Z and X are both independently selected from —H and —R 3 ;

R 3 is selected from a saturated or unsaturated —C 1 -C 6 hydrocarbon group, a keto group, or -L-(C═O)R 13 ,

L is either a bond or —C 1 -C 6 hydrocarbon group,

R 13 is a saturated or unsaturated —C 1 -C 6 hydrocarbon group;

C is at least one compound of formula IIIb

R 1 is —OH, —C 1 -C 6 -alkoxy, or —OCOR 12 ;

R 12 is a saturated or unsaturated —C 1 -C 6 hydrocarbon group;

R 2 and R 14 are independently selected from H and an optionally substituted saturated or unsaturated —C 1 -C 6 hydrocarbon group;

R 17 is H or a saturated or unsaturated —C 1 -C 6 hydrocarbon group;

D is at least one compound of formula IV

wherein W is —OH, —C 1 -C 6 —OH, —(C═O)H, —C 1 -C 3 —(C═O)H, —O(C═O)H, —O(C═O)CH 3 , C 1 -C 6 alkoxy or —R 15 (C═O)OR 16 ;

R 15 is a saturated or unsaturated —C 1 -C 6 hydrocarbon group;

R 16 is —H or a saturated or unsaturated —C 1 -C 6 hydrocarbon group;

R 4 to R 8 are each independently —H, —OH, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, or a saturated or unsaturated —C 1 -C 6 hydrocarbon group; and

wherein at least one compound of component D is a compound of formula IV, wherein W is —OH, —C 1 -C 6 —OH, —C 1 -C 3 —(C═O)H, —O(C═O)H, —O(C═O)CH 3 , C 1 -C 6 alkoxy or —R 15 (C═O)OR 16 .

2 . The synthetic composition according to claim 1 , wherein R 11 is a linear —C 1 -C 6 hydrocarbon group, or a branched —C 1 -C 6 hydrocarbon group.

3 . (canceled)

4 . The synthetic composition according to claim 1 , wherein A a) is at least two different compounds of formula 1; or b) is at least three different compounds of formula I; or c) is at least acetic acid and/or 2-methylbutanoic acid and/or 3-methylbutanoic acid.

5 .- 6 . (canceled)

7 . A The synthetic composition according to claim 1 , wherein B a) is at least of formula IIa

or b) is of formula IIa, X is R 3 , Z is —H, and R 13 is an unsaturated —C 3 hydrocarbon group; or c) is of formula IIa, Z is R 3 , X is —H, and R 13 is an unsaturated —C 3 hydrocarbon group; or d) is at least of formula IIa and Y is an unsubstituted saturated or unsaturated —C 1 -C 6 hydrocarbon group substituted with one or more hydroxyl groups, X is —R 3 where —R 3 is a keto group, and Z is —H.

8 . The synthetic composition according to claim 1 , wherein B a) is at least of formula IIb

or b) is of formula IIb, X is R 3 , Z is —H, and R 13 is an unsaturated —C 3 hydrocarbon group; or c) is of formula IIb, X is R 3 , Z is —H, and R 13 is a —CH═CHCH 3 group; or d) is of formula IIb, Z is R 3 , X is —H, and R 13 is an unsaturated —C 3 hydrocarbon group.

9 . The synthetic composition according to claim 1 , wherein B a) is at least of formula IIc

or b) is of formula IIc, X is R 3 , Z is —H, and R 13 is an unsaturated —C 3 hydrocarbon group; or c) is of formula IIc, Z is R 3 , X is —H, and R 13 is an unsaturated —C 3 hydrocarbon group.

10 . The synthetic composition according to claim 1 , wherein B a) is at least of formula IId

or b) is of formula IId, X is R 3 , Z is —H, and R 13 is an unsaturated —C 3 hydrocarbon group; or c) is of formula IId, X is R 3 , Z is —H, and R 13 is a —CH═CHCH 3 group; or d) is of formula IId, Z is R 3 , X is —H, and R 13 is an unsaturated —C 3 hydrocarbon group.

11 . A The synthetic composition of claim 1 , wherein a) X is —R 3 and Z is —H; or b) Z is —R 3 and X is —H; or c) both Z and X are —H.

12 .- 13 . (canceled)

14 . The synthetic composition according to claim 1 , wherein R 13 is a —CH═CHCH 3 group.

15 .- 22 . (canceled)

23 . The synthetic composition according to claim 1 , wherein Y a) is —R 9 (C═O)R 10 , R 9 is a bond and R 10 is an unsaturated —C 1 -C 6 hydrocarbon group; or b) is a saturated or unsaturated —C 1 -C 6 hydrocarbon group substituted with one or more hydroxyl groups; or c) is an unsubstituted saturated or unsaturated —C 1 -C 6 hydrocarbon group.

24 .- 26 . (canceled)

27 . The synthetic composition according to claim 1 , wherein B is at least two different compounds of formula II.

28 . The synthetic composition according to claim 1 , wherein R 1 is —OCOR 12 , wherein R 12 is a C 2 alkyl or C 3 alkyl, and R 2 is —CH 3 .

29 . The synthetic composition according to claim 1 , wherein component C is at least two different compounds of formula III.

30 . The synthetic composition according to claim 1 , wherein W is —R 15 (C═O)OR 16 .

31 . The synthetic composition according to claim 1 , wherein W is —OH.

32 . The synthetic composition according to claim 9 , wherein B is of formula IIc, Z is R 3 , X is —H, and R 13 is an unsaturated —C 3 hydrocarbon group and W is —OH, and at least one of R 4 to R 8 is C 1 -C 6 alkoxy.

33 . The synthetic composition according to claim 1 , wherein the ratio of component A:B for those component A components where R 11 is not methyl, is from 1 to 25:1.

34 . A method of simulating tobacco aroma comprising producing a composition as defined in claim 1 and simulating a tobacco aroma.

35 . A formulation comprising the synthetic composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the formulation further comprises at least one of:

nicotine; and/or

a carrier.

36 . The formulation according to claim 35 , wherein formulation comprises nicotine and a carrier, and the carrier is a solvent selected from glycerol, propylene glycol and mixtures thereof.

37 . A container comprising a formulation as defined in claim 35 .

38 . The container of claim 37 , wherein the container is a bottle.

39 . The container of claim 37 , wherein the container is a component of an aerosol delivery device.

40 . A method of preparing a synthetic composition as defined in claim 1 , the method comprising the step of combining at least one compound from each of components A, B, C, and D as defined herein, wherein at least one of the compounds did not originate from a tobacco extract.

41 . A method of producing an aerosol, said aerosol simulating a tobacco aroma, the method comprising the step of aerosolising a composition selected from the group consisting of the composition as defined in claim 1 , or a formulation of claim 35 .