This invention pertains to a method for flavoring an ingestible composition with a flavoring agent in organoleptically purified form, unaccompanied by substances of natural origin present in mango. The flavoring agent may be used in a wide variety of ingestible vehicles such as chewing gum compositions, hard and soft confections, dairy products, beverage products including juice drinks and juice products, green vegetable and chicken products, and the like. The present invention also pertains to an ingestible composition comprising an ingestible vehicle and an organoleptically effective amount of the purified flavoring agent. The present invention further pertains to ethyl 3-mercaptobutyrate represented by the formula, CH.sub.3(SH)CHCH.sub.2COOCH.sub.2CH.sub.3, in purified form, unaccompanied by substances of natural origin present in mango. The present invention still further pertains to a method to confer, enhance, improve, or modify the odor properties of a perfuming composition or a perfumed article, which comprises adding to the perfuming composition or perfumed article, ethyl 3-mercaptobutyrate represented by the formula, CH.sub.3(SH)CHCH.sub.2COOCH.sub.2CH.sub.3. The present invention still further pertains to a perfuming composition or a perfumed article containing as an active perfuming ingredient, ethyl 3-mercaptobutyrate represented by the formula, CH.sub.3(SH)CHCH.sub.2COOCH.sub.2CH.sub.3. The present invention also pertains to a method for preparing ethyl 3-mercaptobutyrate which comprises reacting ethyl crotonate with sodium hydrogen sulfide and sodium bicarbonate to form the disulfide dimer of ethyl 3-mercaptobutyrate followed by reducing the disulfide dimer to yield ethyl 3-mercaptobutyrate.