All Terpenes

Fenchol

Fenchol is a terpene alcohol with an earthy, piney aroma edged in camphor and lemon, and it is a primary reason basil smells the way it does. A minor but distinctive terpene, it sharpens earthy profiles with a cool, resinous clarity.

Earthy Piney Herbal

Fenchol, also called 2-fenchanol and fenchyl alcohol, is a minor terpene and an isomer of borneol that is produced by aster flowers, basil, cannabis, eucalyptus leaves, nutmeg, and wild celery (among other plant species).

Within the cannabis genome, fenchol, a somewhat rare terpene, delivers an earthy, piney aroma that may include undertones of lemon and camphor. Fenchol is a primary aroma element of basil and is principally responsible for the herb’s distinctive aroma.

Fenchol is a monoterpene, meaning that it is considerably smaller and less complex than other types of terpenes.

Fenchol
Chemical Structure
At a glance
woodycamphoreousherbalearthygreensweet
CAS number
1632-73-1
Formula
C10H18O
Molecular weight
154.25 g/mol
Boiling point
201 °C
Flash point
~74 °C
FEMA number
2480
PubChem
CID 15406

Common questions

What does fenchol smell like?

Earthy pine with cool camphor and a faint lemon edge. It is the backbone of basil's aroma.

Is fenchol related to borneol?

Yes, they are isomers. Both are bicyclic terpene alcohols with camphor-family aromas, but they come from different botanical sources.

Related terpenes

Camphene · woody, herbal, green Alpha Pinene · woody, sweet, herbal
Smell it at the source

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

Indian Basil essential oil Indian Basil
References: PubChem CID 15406 · FEMA flavor ingredient #2480

Products with Fenchol listed as a primary terpene:

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