delta-Guaiene is a guaiane-type sesquiterpene hydrocarbon associated most strongly with patchouli and agarwood chemistry rather than with standalone wellness literature. The live evidence base in this pass is strongest for identity, repeated occurrence, and biosynthesis: PubChem maps delta-guaiene to the alpha-bulnesene record, patchouli composition papers identify it as a main sesquiterpene, and Aquilaria studies describe dedicated delta-guaiene synthases that help explain agarwood formation. Direct isolated-compound human safety or efficacy evidence remains sparse, so AromaForge should position delta-guaiene primarily as a woody chemistry marker with explicit research gaps.
Chemical identity and composition
PubChem currently resolves delta-guaiene to CID 94275 under the title alpha-Bulnesene, while synonym data retain delta-Guaiene and CAS 3691-11-0. The molecule is a non-oxygenated C15H24 sesquiterpene in the guaiane/bulnesene family. In the archive's patchouli context, delta-guaiene belongs to the same sesquiterpene cluster as alpha-guaiene, seychellene, and patchoulol rather than acting as an oxygenated top-note constituent.
Aroma and practical use
- Use the recorded woody, earthy, patchouli-like, balsamic, spicy descriptors to explore a blend's scent character; perceived strength also depends on the other ingredients.
- Review the flagged use concerns across every contributing oil and the selected dilution.
- Read the route, preparation and experimental context before using a study finding to choose an oil.
Reported benefits and effects
Findings retain their study context. An animal or laboratory result describes that experiment.
A 2010 Plant Physiology study reported that methyl-jasmonate-treated Aquilaria cultured cells accumulated alpha-guaiene, alpha-humulene, and delta-guaiene, and identified three cloned terpene synthases that reproduced the cell sesquiterpene pattern with delta-guaiene as the major product.
A 2010 Plant Physiology study reported that methyl-jasmonate-treated Aquilaria cultured cells accumulated alpha-guaiene, alpha-humulene, and delta-guaiene, and identified three cloned terpene synthases that reproduced the cell sesquiterpene pattern with delta-guaiene as the major product.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
A 2011 follow-up genomics paper found at least five copies of delta-guaiene synthase genes in Aquilaria crassna and suggested those gene patterns could help distinguish Aquilaria species.
A 2011 follow-up genomics paper found at least five copies of delta-guaiene synthase genes in Aquilaria crassna and suggested those gene patterns could help distinguish Aquilaria species.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
A 2016 heterologous-expression study reported that coexpressing delta-guaiene synthase with farnesyl diphosphate synthase in Escherichia coli markedly increased delta-guaiene output compared with expressing the synthase alone.
A 2016 heterologous-expression study reported that coexpressing delta-guaiene synthase with farnesyl diphosphate synthase in Escherichia coli markedly increased delta-guaiene output compared with expressing the synthase alone.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
Use concerns and concentration limits
Sensitization concernFlagged
Flagged in the constituent reference; assess the source, route and finished-product concentration.
Phototoxicity concernNot flagged
Not flagged in the current model. This is not proof of absence or unrestricted safety.
Oxidation concernNot flagged
Not flagged in the current model. This is not proof of absence or unrestricted safety.
Penetration enhancementNot flagged
Not flagged in the current model. This is not proof of absence or unrestricted safety.
Screening assumption (family fallback). It is not a verified constituent-specific exposure limit.
model fallback · Essential Oil Safety and Dermal Limits — sesquiterpenes generally do not have safety concerns; beta-caryophyllene RIFM fragrance material safety dataA constituent-specific human dermal, oral, or inhalation safety assessment for isolated delta-guaiene was not verified in this pass.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
The accessible literature for delta-guaiene is dominated by occurrence and biosynthesis papers rather than toxicology or clinical exposure studies.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
Constituents it may interact with
No constituent-pair interaction is recorded for this identity. The report does not assume either amplification or incompatibility.
How the effects were investigated
sesquiterpene_cyclization_from_farnesyl_diphosphate
Aquilaria delta-guaiene synthases convert farnesyl diphosphate into guaiane-type sesquiterpenes with delta-guaiene as the major product, making terpene cyclization the main directly supported mechanism for this record.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
methyl_jasmonate_linked_induction_in_agarwood_cells
Cultured Aquilaria cells increased sesquiterpene production after methyl jasmonate treatment, with delta-guaiene becoming the most abundant retained sesquiterpene at later time points in the cited study.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
What this report cannot establish
- A reported constituent percentage does not establish an effective human therapeutic dose or the amount absorbed into the body.
- The presence of a constituent does not guarantee a clinical benefit, rash treatment or sleep improvement from a custom blend.
- An unflagged concern or missing use limit does not establish safety for ingestion, inhalation, skin exposure or a particular person.
- A candidate constituent interaction does not establish that two oils amplify one another at the selected proportions.
- Constituent descriptors alone do not establish a precise top, heart or base lifetime in a finished blend.
Known data gaps (6)
- No isolated-compound human clinical evidence for delta-guaiene was verified in this pass.
- Public constituent-specific toxicology for delta-guaiene appears sparse relative to its occurrence and biosynthesis literature.
- Much of the live literature uses delta-guaiene mainly as a marker of patchouli or agarwood chemistry rather than as a standalone tested active.
- Worker c8 search (2026-07-13): no IFRA Standard or RIFM safety assessment specific to delta-guaiene (CAS 3691-11-0) located; only identity/odor-profile sources found. Prior dermal_limit_pct:25 and sensitizing:true were unsupported placeholders and have been corrected to null/false.
- No constituent-specific numeric dermal reference is available here.
- Some findings do not record an explicit exposure route; consult the linked study before applying them to a use.