Linen term for volatile; see there.
Volatile" refers to the tendency of a substance to change into a gaseous state. All aromatic substances in wine are volatile aromatic substances, because otherwise it would not be possible to perceive them olfactorily through the nose. However, the distinction from taste sensations (bitter,...
The glossary is a monumental achievement and one of the most important contributions to wine knowledge. Of all the encyclopaedias I use on the subject of wine, it is by far the most important. That was the case ten years ago and it hasn't changed since.
Andreas Essl
Autor, Modena