Terpene Atlas · Monoterpene alcohol

/lih-NAL-oh-ol/ · Linalool (3,7-dimethyl-1,6-octadien-3-ol)

Linalool

The soft floral monoterpene alcohol behind lavender · carrying the most suggestive calm-and-sleep preclinical story of the ten, still not proven in whole cannabis.

LavenderFloral sweetnessCitrus blossomCorianderSoft spice

Formula

C₁₀H₁₈O

Weight

154.25 g/mol

Class

C10 · acyclic (open-chain, one hydroxyl)

Form

Clear and colorless

Meet the molecule

One open chain, not a cage

Molecular class

Monoterpene alcohol · C10 · acyclic (open-chain, one hydroxyl)

Formula · weight

C₁₀H₁₈O · 154.25 g/mol

Biosynthetic origin

An acyclic monoterpene alcohol derived from geranyl diphosphate (GPP).

Structural trait

An open chain like Myrcene, but capped with a hydroxyl (·OH) group · the oxygen that makes it heavier, less volatile, and water-friendlier.

Reported simply as linalool; its two enantiomers have measurably different odor profiles, and labs rarely separate them.

Aroma spectrum

A qualitative sensory map

Relative prominence is illustrative, not a measured profile. Aroma is never produced by one molecule alone.

Lavender

Floral sweetness

Citrus blossom

Coriander

Soft spice

floral herbal spice

Physical identity

The isolated compound

Appearance

Clear and colorless.

Texture

Oily liquid.

Volatility

Less volatile than the pure C10 hydrocarbons · the hydroxyl group raises its boiling point, so it lingers a little longer than Myrcene or Limonene.

This describes the isolated chemical. It does not predict whether flower will be dense, sticky, purple, or frosty.

Extreme close-up of the Linalool resin, its glassy interior in detail

The resin, up close

Where it appears in nature

Beyond cannabis

Botanical sources of Linalool: Lavender, Coriander, Basil, Bergamot, Rosewood, Cinnamon

Lavender The signature source. Coriander Basil Bergamot Rosewood Cinnamon

grams per mole

154.25

Heavier than the C10 hydrocarbons like Myrcene and Limonene · the single oxygen it carries (its hydroxyl group) adds mass and raises its boiling point. PubChem

Evidence ladder

What's known · and how well

Research is ranked by strength, not promised as effects. Isolated-compound findings are separated from whole-cannabis evidence throughout.

Established mechanism1 claim

Linalool is an acyclic C10 monoterpene alcohol made from geranyl diphosphate · its open-chain, hydroxyl-bearing structure is established.

established isolated terpene PubChem PMC

Brain research2 claims

Animal and inhalation studies suggest sedative, anxiety-reducing, anticonvulsant, and analgesic activity involving glutamate- and GABA-related systems for isolated linalool.

animal isolated terpene reference DOI

Preclinical, isolated-compound findings; dose and route matter and do not transfer directly to a cannabis product.

A 2024 mouse inhalation study found exposure-dependent behavioral effects for linalool and myrcene · illustrating that dose and route matter.

animal isolated terpene DOI

Body research1 claim

Isolated linalool has shown preclinical anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, and local-anesthetic-like effects.

animal isolated terpene reference

Preclinical only; not demonstrated for a cannabis product in humans.

Recognized non-cannabis use1 claim

One of the world’s most important fragrance ingredients in perfume, soap, detergent, and cosmetic products.

approved use non-cannabis product reference

Unproven / insufficient1 claim

No approved isolated-linalool medication exists. It is being studied for anxiety, sleep, pain, epilepsy, and stress, with much of the evidence still preclinical.

unproven isolated terpene reference

Myth vs evidence

The “lavender guarantees calm” myth

The claim

Linalool has the most suggestive calm-and-sleep preclinical evidence of the ten, so lore treats a lavender-heavy product as a guaranteed relaxer. It is not proven.

The evidence

Sedative and anxiety-reducing effects for isolated linalool come from animal and inhalation studies. That a lavender-forward cannabis product will reliably relax a given person is not established; THC and dose usually matter more.

unprovenwhole cannabisreference

Where it sits

Linalool against the field

Objective chemistry and how often it shows up · not effects. Every authored terpene is plotted on each track; Linalool is lit, the rest stay faint. The picture fills in as the Atlas grows (10 plotted so far).

Dominant aroma family

Its strongest sensory class, brightest to deepest.

citrus earthy

Linalool

Prevalence in cannabis

How often it leads a profile. Qualitative, not measured.

rare common

Linalool

Volatility · boiling point

Lower boils off sooner, reading as an earlier top note.

more volatile less volatile

Linalool

Molecular weight

C10 monoterpenes are lighter than the C15 sesquiterpenes.

lighter heavier

Linalool

Read as a table

Terpene	Dominant aroma family	Prevalence in cannabis	Volatility · boiling point	Molecular weight
Myrcene	Earthy	very common	167 °C	136 g/mol
Limonene	Citrus	very common	176 °C	136 g/mol
Pinene	Pine	common	155 °C	136 g/mol
Linalool this page	Floral	common	198 °C	154 g/mol
Beta-Caryophyllene	Spice	very common	262 °C	204 g/mol
Alpha-Humulene	Herbal	moderate	270 °C	204 g/mol
Terpinolene	Fresh	moderate	186 °C	136 g/mol
Ocimene	Fruity	uncommon	177 °C	136 g/mol
Alpha-Bisabolol	Floral	uncommon	314 °C	222 g/mol
Nerolidol	Woody	uncommon	276 °C	222 g/mol

Prevalence is a qualitative ordinal, not a measured concentration. Boiling points are approximate atmospheric-pressure values; the heavier sesquiterpenes are usually distilled under vacuum, so those figures are extrapolated.

Terpene neighborhood

Sensory & structural relatives

Ocimene Sibling open-chain monoterpene from the same GPP origin. Geraniol Open-chain monoterpene alcohol. Nerol Geometric-isomer alcohol relative. Linalool oxides Its air-oxidation products.

On a certificate of analysis

How it shows up on a COA

Name variants a lab may print

Linalool · Linalol · β-Linalool · Linalyl alcohol

Isomer note

Labs report one ‘linalool’ value; the two enantiomers are rarely separated.

Reading it

Reported as a percentage of product mass; absence from a panel can reflect the lab’s method or detection limit, not true absence. Batch values swing widely.

A terpene’s absence from a panel can reflect the panel’s method or detection limit · not true absence. Values swing batch to batch.

In products

Commonly reported · never guaranteed

Soft, floral lavender-leaning chemovars

strainCommonly reported as linalool-forward · but a strain name does not guarantee the profile across growers, harvests, or batches.

Find products rich in Linalool Search live TerpAlerts menus for this terpene Compare terpene profilesPut two products side by side

Safety & handling

Read this before you trust a label

Pure terpene isolates are concentrated industrial chemicals · not the trace amounts in flower. Do not ingest undiluted isolates or apply them to skin without an appropriate dilution.

safety non-cannabis product reference

A product’s terpene panel cannot reliably predict an individual’s response, sedation, or anxiety. Cannabinoid dose, route, tolerance, other medications, and personal biology usually matter more.

safety whole cannabis reference

Linalool oxidizes in air, and its oxidation products are more likely than fresh linalool to trigger fragrance contact allergy.

safety non-cannabis product reference

As a volatile compound, linalool is altered by heat, air, and prolonged storage; heating can create products a terpene label never shows.

established isolated terpene reference

◆THC and other cannabinoids usually influence intoxication more than any single terpene.

◆A terpene panel cannot reliably predict an individual patient’s response.

◆Pure isolates are concentrated industrial chemicals · not the trace amounts in flower.

◆Oxidation, heat, storage, and processing alter terpene chemistry.

◆Strain names do not guarantee a stable terpene profile across growers, harvests, or batches.

◆Discuss any cannabis decision, and other medications, with a qualified clinician.

Explore

Linalool, three ways

Same molecule, three lenses. The information is identical in every mode.

Keep exploring

Where to next

← Terpene Atlas indexAll terpenes Find productsLive menus rich in Linalool Compare profilesTwo products, side by side

Previous
← Pinene Next
Beta-Caryophyllene →

Sources (4)

TerpAlerts Cannabis Terpene Reference Guide reference
PubChem CID 6549 · Linalool PubChem
Terpene synthases from Cannabis sativa (PMC5371325) PMC
Sex differences in the anxiolytic properties of common terpenes (2024) DOI

Last reviewed 2026-07-22 · TerpAlerts editorial

Educational information only · not medical advice, and not a claim that any cannabis product treats, cures, or prevents any condition. Evidence labels describe the strength and scope of research on the isolated compound. See the full site disclaimer and Privacy Policy.