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Bisabolene

Q: Is Bisabolene natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Isolated from natural essential oils (chamomile, myrrh, bergamot) via fractional distillation. Also produced semi-synthetically from farnesol or other terpene precursors. CAS number varies by isomer (alpha: 17627-44-0, beta: 495-61-4)..

TERPENES / warm · woody · amber

Bisabolene

Category	TERPENES
Subcategory	warm · woody · amber
Origin
Volatility	Base Note
Botanical	Found in Matricaria chamomilla, Myoporum crassifolium, Commiphora myrrha
Appearance	colorless to pale yellow clear oily liquid
Odor Strength	Medium
Producing Countries	Brazil, Egypt, Germany, India, Nepal, Somalia
Pyramid	Base

Warm, woody-balsamic, faintly sweet. Bisabolene smells like the background hum of chamomile and myrrh — soft, resinous, unobtrusive.

Scent
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery

Scent

Soft, warm, woody-balsamic. Gentler than cedrene, less sharp than caryophyllene. A quiet, resinous warmth — the kind of background note you feel rather than consciously smell. Faintly sweet, slightly herbal, similar to of chamomile's woody undertone.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Faint warm-woody impression, mild balsamic sweetness

After a few hours

Soft resinous warmth, chamomile-like herbal undertone

After a few days

Gentle woody persistence, clean and unobtrusive

The Full Story

Bisabolene is a sesquiterpene hydrocarbon (C15H24) existing in several isomeric forms: alpha-bisabolene, beta-bisabolene, and gamma-bisabolene. It occurs naturally in the essential oils of many plants, notably German chamomile, myrrh, bergamot, and ginger.

The scent is warm, faintly balsamic-woody, with a mild sweetness. It lacks the impact of stronger sesquiterpenes like patchoulol or cedrene — bisabolene is a supporting player rather than a lead. Its primary olfactory contribution is textural: warmth, softness, roundness.

In perfumery, bisabolene functions as a base-note modifier. It adds subtle warmth and helps extend the longevity of compositions. It is not typically used as a standalone ingredient but appears naturally in many essential oils that perfumers employ — chamomile, frankincense, opoponax.

Alpha-bisabolol (the alcohol form) is better known in cosmetics for anti-inflammatory properties. Bisabolene itself (the hydrocarbon) is less odorous but contributes to the overall olfactory profile of the oils containing it.

This note in Première Peau. Nuit Elastique · Albâtre Sépia. Sample all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.

Did You Know?

Did you know?

Bisabolene is being investigated as a biofuel precursor — genetically engineered E. coli and yeast can produce bisabolene from sugar, and its hydrogenated form (bisabolane) has properties comparable to D2 diesel fuel.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Isolated from natural essential oils (chamomile, myrrh, bergamot) via fractional distillation. Also produced semi-synthetically from farnesol or other terpene precursors. CAS number varies by isomer (alpha: 17627-44-0, beta: 495-61-4).

Molecular Formula	C15 H24
CAS Number	495-62-5
Botanical Name	Found in Matricaria chamomilla, Myoporum crassifolium, Commiphora myrrha
IFRA Status	No known restrictions
Synonyms	Α-BISABOLENE · Β-BISABOLENE
Physical Properties
Odor Strength	Medium
Lasting Power	104 hours at 100.00%
Appearance	colorless to pale yellow clear oily liquid
Boiling Point	148.00 °C. @ 18.00 mm Hg
Flash Point	230.00 °F. TCC ( 110.00 °C. )
Specific Gravity	0.87900 to 0.88500 @ 25.00 °C.
Refractive Index	1.48900 to 1.49500 @ 20.00 °C.

In Perfumery

Base-note sesquiterpene functioning as a subtle warmth-builder and fixative component. Not used standalone but present naturally in chamomile, myrrh, frankincense, and bergamot oils. Adds roundness and softness to compositions. Semi-synthetic forms available for consistency. Supports balsamic, woody, and herbal families.