All Terpenes

Citronellol

Citronellol is the softer half of the rose terpene pair, a terpene alcohol with a rosy aroma leaning toward citrus and green leaf. It occurs in rose, citronella, and geranium oils, and next to geraniol it reads as the gentler, waxier side of rose.

Floral Citrus Sweet

Citronellol, sometimes called dihydrogeraniol, is a minor (secondary) terpene of cannabis. It conveys an attractive and popular floral aroma that mixes with delicate undertones of citrus and rose.

Citronellol is produced by approximately 70 plant species, including basil, cannabis, chamomile, citronella, geranium, lavender, lemongrass, neroli, and rose. It is related to the popular terpene geraniol, both of which are produced by geranium. It is unique in that it enhances other fragrances, specifically rose. In commercial applications, citronellol is used as an aroma ingredient in cosmetics and personal care products. It has been employed as a mosquito repellant for millennia.

Citronellol
Chemical Structure
At a glance
floralrosecitrussweetgreenwaxy
CAS number
106-22-9
Formula
C10H20O
Molecular weight
156.26 g/mol
Boiling point
225 °C
Flash point
96 °C
FEMA number
2309
PubChem
CID 8842

Common questions

What does citronellol smell like?

Rose with a citronella freshness: gentler, greener, and waxier than geraniol.

How does citronellol differ from geraniol?

Citronellol is geraniol with one double bond hydrogenated, which softens the aroma. The two usually appear together in rose and geranium oils.

Related terpenes

Geraniol · floral, rose, sweet Geranyl Acetate · fruity, floral, sweet
Smell it at the source

This terpene occurs naturally in these botanical oils, available from our sister store, The Essential Oil Company.

Rose Bulgarian essential oil Rose Bulgarian Citronella essential oil Citronella Geranium essential oil Geranium
References: PubChem CID 8842 · FEMA flavor ingredient #2309

Products with Citronellol listed as a primary terpene:

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