Abstract: In a method for the production of an agent for modifying a smoke-flavor, ambroxide is contacted with a microbial culture to effect a transformation of at least a proportion of the ambroxide to a product comprising at least one oxygenated derivative of ambroxide. The said product may comprise at least one of the compounds A, B and C, each as defined in the specification. The respective Compound, (particularly Compound A), may be extracted from said product for incorporation with a smoking material. Thus a smoke-flavor modifying agent produced by the aforesaid method for incorporation with, or included in, a smoking material or smoking article may comprise at least one compound of the aforesaid group.The loading level of the said agent may be within a range of 0.1 to 100 parts per million or, suitably, of 0.5 to 10 parts per million, of the said smoking material.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for enhancing the smoke flavor of a smoking material by treating the said material with an agent comprising 3-hydroxysclareol, particularly with the compound 3.beta.-hydroxysclareol. The invention further relates to the smoke-enhancing agent and a method by which it can be obtained by subjecting sclareol to a microbial transformation process. Finally it extends to smoking material incorporating the said agent.