Farnesene

Other comments :

Farnesene belongs to the terpenes family. Including 15 carbon atoms, it is a sesquiterpene, as Beta-Caryophyllene.

Stability :

Terpenes tend to polymerize under the effect of high oxydation, and are unstable in alkaline and acidic bases.

Uses in perfumery :

Farnesene is used to make fruity note greener, by bringing a quince note. It also brings a fruity and green note to floral accords.

Year of discovery :

Data not available.

Isomerism :

Usually, Farnesene is used in perfumery as a mixture of isomers. Nevertheless, some plants contain precise isomers. Thus, Farnesene used in perfumery depends on the pant it is extracted from. For exemple, Ylang-Ylang III contains trans-alpha-Farnesene. Trans-beta-Farnesene is also to be distinguished, and can be found for example in Juniper Berry EO. Being a sesquiterpene, Farnesene is a constitutional isomer of Beta-Caryophyllene, Alpha-Cedrene and Valencene.

Synthesis precursor :

As any terpene, Farnesene can be used for the synthesis of many compounds, but it is not used for the synthesis of a compound used in perfumery.

Natural availability :

Many essential oils contain Farnesene isomers : Juniper Berry EO, Blue Chamomile EO, Lavender EO and Sambac Jasmine Absolute for example.

Synthesis route :

Farnesene is rarely synthesized for its use in perfumery. It is usually extracted from plants as apple, perilla seed or ylang-ylang. A synthesis can nevertheless be considered, carrying out a Diels-Alder reaction, as for most terpenes.