alpha-Humulene

What alpha-Humulene smells like

alpha-Humulene is named for the hop (Humulus lupulus), in which it occurs. The Good Scents Company lists a supplier description of woody, oceanic-watery and spicy-clove; Van Aroma gives woody and slightly bitter; BASF's Isobionics sheet dry, woody and resinous with cedar and piney tones and slightly grapefruit and herbal notes. A hop-like, beery edge is reported mainly by non-perfumery sources.

Leading note

Dry woody

Supporting facets

Resinous, piney

Faint facets

Spicy-clove, watery, hoppy

Character

Dry, bitter, soft

• woody
• earthy
• herbal
• hoppy

What makes alpha-Humulene distinctive

The hop's own sesquiterpene: dry, slightly bitter wood with a resinous edge.

Where the descriptions disagree: Descriptions range from oceanic-watery and spicy to dry, resinous and bitter.

How alpha-Humulene is used

Used as a dry woody modifier and in hop and herbal reconstructions.

Typical role: modifier (used in small amounts to change the character of a blend).

How alpha-Humulene differs from similar materials

Hop Oil*

Hop oil combines humulene with myrcene's fresh, citrusy note; alpha-humulene alone is dry, bitter wood. (compared directly by a cited source)

beta-Caryophyllene

beta-Caryophyllene, its close relative, is drier and more clove-like; humulene is more resinous and bitter.

An asterisk marks a difference that a cited source states directly. The others compare the published descriptions of each material. Smell varies with grade, supplier and dilution; compare them side by side on blotters before substituting one for another.

Identity and classification

Type

Aroma chemical

Origin

Occurs in nature

Odour family

Woody / Aromatic

Note position

Heart to base note

Physical form at room temperature

Liquid

Also known as

Humulene, alpha-Caryophyllene

CAS number

6753-98-6

Molecular formula

C15H24

Molecular weight

204.35 g/mol

IUPAC name

(1E,4E,8E)-2,6,6,9-tetramethylcycloundeca-1,4,8-triene

The CAS number, formula and molecular weight are taken from PubChem compound 5281520, whose own record lists this CAS number; checked 19 October 2026.

Safety and compliance

Hazard classification of the neat substance, as PubChem summarises it, read 26 October 2026. Companies notifying the ECHA C&L Inventory classify it (306 reports): H315 causes skin irritation (52.9% of reports); H319 causes serious eye irritation (52.9% of reports); H335 may cause respiratory irritation (52% of reports). 131 of the reports find it does not meet the hazard criteria. Unless it is harmonised, this is the notifiers' own classification, not a binding one.

This page is general information, not a safety assessment or a specification. Confirm identity, composition, IFRA status and allergen content from your supplier's documents for the lot you hold.

Materials it works with

• beta-Caryophyllene

  Aroma chemical · Spicy / Woody — spicy, woody, peppery, dry

• Hop Oil

  Essential oil · Green / Spicy — green, herbal, spicy, resinous

• Myrcene

  Aroma chemical · Green / Aromatic — herbal, balsamic, green, resinous

• Sage Oil (Dalmatian)

  Essential oil · Aromatic / Green — herbal, camphoraceous, fresh, warm

Used in formulas and accords

Not currently used in any published formula.

The Formula & Accord Library lists alpha-Humulene here as soon as a published formula, accord or base uses it.

Further reading

• Woody Notes in Perfumery: Naturals and Aroma Chemicals

  A map of woody materials — cedarwoods, sandalwood, vetiver, patchouli, smoky woods and woody aroma chemicals — and how to build a woody base.

Questions about alpha-Humulene

Sources

• PubChem — compound 5281520, checked 19 October 2026.
• PubChem — GHS classification (the ECHA C&L Inventory notifications and any harmonised EU entry), read 26 October 2026.
• The Good Scents Company — alpha-humulene — odour database.
• Cosmetics & Toiletries — Isobionics natural alpha-humulene 90 — manufacturer's description.
• UL Prospector — Alpha humulene (Van Aroma) — distributor's description.
• Olfactory profile: the RUŌOD Lab team's synthesis of the published descriptions above, reviewed 26 October 2026. Evidence: more than one published description. Classification and the short description: revision 1. Descriptions of odour are judgement, not measurement.