Terpene Atlas · Sesquiterpene alcohol

/neh-ROL-ih-dol/ · Nerolidol (cis and trans)

Nerolidol

The slow, jasmine-and-bark sesquiterpene alcohol perfumers use to make a scent last · a persistence often misread as a lasting effect.

Fresh barkFloral woodJasmineGreen appleLemongrass

Formula

C₁₅H₂₆O

Weight

222.37 g/mol

Class

C15 · acyclic (open-chain, one hydroxyl)

Form

Clear to pale yellow

Meet the molecule

One open chain, not a cage

Molecular class

Sesquiterpene alcohol · C15 · acyclic (open-chain, one hydroxyl)

Formula · weight

C₁₅H₂₆O · 222.37 g/mol

Biosynthetic origin

An acyclic C15 sesquiterpene alcohol derived from farnesyl diphosphate (FPP).

Structural trait

A long open chain capped with a hydroxyl · fifteen carbons make it heavy and slow to evaporate, so perfumers use it as a base-note fixative.

A family of cis- and trans-nerolidol; the two smell alike and are often reported together as one ‘nerolidol’ value.

Aroma spectrum

A qualitative sensory map

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

Fresh bark

Floral wood

Jasmine

Green apple

Lemongrass

woody floral fruity fresh

Physical identity

The isolated compound

Appearance

Clear to pale yellow.

Texture

Viscous oily liquid.

Volatility

Very low volatility · it evaporates much more slowly than monoterpenes such as limonene, which is exactly why it lingers as a base note.

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

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

The resin, up close

Where it appears in nature

Beyond cannabis

Botanical sources of Nerolidol: Jasmine, Lemongrass, Tea tree, Ginger, Neroli, Flowers

Jasmine A signature floral source. Lemongrass Tea tree Ginger Neroli Flowers

carbons · a sesquiterpene

Half again the size of a C10 monoterpene · those extra carbons make nerolidol heavy and slow to evaporate, so perfumers use it as a base-note fixative. 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

Nerolidol is an acyclic C15 sesquiterpene alcohol derived from farnesyl diphosphate · established chemistry.

established isolated terpene PubChem PMC

Brain research1 claim

Animal research suggests sedative, anxiety-modulating, and anticonvulsant activity for isolated nerolidol.

animal isolated terpene reference

Preclinical, isolated-compound findings; not demonstrated for a cannabis product in humans.

Body research1 claim

Isolated nerolidol has been studied for antiparasitic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and skin-penetration-enhancing effects.

animal isolated terpene reference

Preclinical only; the penetration-enhancing work is about topical drug delivery, not cannabis potency.

Recognized non-cannabis use1 claim

Valued as a perfume fixative and used in cosmetics and flavoring; also studied in agricultural pest research.

approved use non-cannabis product reference

Unproven / insufficient1 claim

No established medical use exists. Nerolidol is investigated as a topical drug-delivery enhancer and antiparasitic compound.

unproven isolated terpene reference

Myth vs evidence

The “lingering scent means lingering effect” myth

The claim

Nerolidol makes a fragrance last · that is literally its perfumery job. Lore then assumes its effects must last too. The nose is not the clock.

The evidence

Nerolidol’s slow evaporation (a physical property) is established and is why it works as a fixative. That a nerolidol-rich product produces a longer or stronger effect is not established; sedative signals are animal-only.

unprovenwhole cannabisreference

Where it sits

Nerolidol against the field

Objective chemistry and how often it shows up · not effects. Every authored terpene is plotted on each track; Nerolidol 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

Nerolidol

Prevalence in cannabis

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

rare common

Nerolidol

Volatility · boiling point

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

more volatile less volatile

Nerolidol

Molecular weight

C10 monoterpenes are lighter than the C15 sesquiterpenes.

lighter heavier

Nerolidol

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	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 this page	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

Alpha-bisabolol A fellow sesquiterpene alcohol with a soft, floral character. Farnesene Its open-chain sesquiterpene sibling. Nerol A related open-chain alcohol.

On a certificate of analysis

How it shows up on a COA

Name variants a lab may print

Nerolidol · cis-Nerolidol · trans-Nerolidol · (E)-Nerolidol · Peruviol

Isomer note

Panels may report cis- and trans-nerolidol separately or as one value.

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

Woody, jasmine-leaning chemovars

strainCommonly reported with nerolidol present · but a strain name does not guarantee the profile across growers, harvests, or batches.

Find products rich in Nerolidol 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 or sedation. Cannabinoid dose, route, tolerance, other medications, and personal biology usually matter more.

safety whole cannabis reference

Nerolidol evaporates slowly, but heat, air, and long storage still alter it and its aroma over time.

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

Nerolidol, 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 Nerolidol Compare profilesTwo products, side by side

Previous
← Alpha-Bisabolol Next
Myrcene →

Sources (3)

TerpAlerts Cannabis Terpene Reference Guide reference
PubChem CID 5284507 · (E)-Nerolidol PubChem
Terpene synthases from Cannabis sativa (PMC5371325) PMC

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.