alpha-Gurjunene is a sesquiterpene hydrocarbon best understood in the AromaForge archive as a woody-resinous composition marker rather than a heavily studied standalone wellness compound. Live source checks support strong identity data, a clear terpene-biosynthesis paper for alpha-gurjunene synthase, repeated occurrence in aromatic oils including cypriol, and one isolated-compound inhalation study in mice that linked alpha-gurjunene with reduced motor activity in a sedative model. The evidence base remains narrow, mostly preclinical, and weak on direct human safety or efficacy data, so this constituent should be framed conservatively.
Chemical identity and composition
PubChem REST data identifies alpha-Gurjunene as CID 15560276 with formula C15H24 and the IUPAC name (1aR,4R,4aR,7bS)-1,1,4,7-tetramethyl-1a,2,3,4,4a,5,6,7b-octahydrocyclopropa[e]azulene. PubChem synonym data supports CAS 489-40-7 and alias overlap with gurjunene and iota-gurjunene. Within the AromaForge archive, the clearest current oil linkage is cypriol, where the existing oil record cites a published single-sample GC-MS table reporting alpha-gurjunene at 31.82%.
Aroma and practical use
- Use the recorded woody, balsamic, earthy, resinous, resin descriptors to explore a blend's scent character; perceived strength also depends on the other ingredients.
- Compare the recorded goal signals with the intended purpose, while keeping model assumptions separate from observed study outcomes.
- 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.
solidago enzyme characterization
A 1999 enzyme paper reported purified (-)-alpha-gurjunene synthase activity from Solidago canadensis leaves, with farnesyl diphosphate as substrate and a consistent 91% to 9% product ratio of (-)-alpha-gurjunene to (+)-gamma-gurjunene.
Measured: enzyme kinetics and product distribution
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
sedative like inhalation activity
A 2008 mouse inhalation study reported that alpha-gurjunene, tested as an individual principle identified from one agarwood oil, reproduced the sedative result of the corresponding oil and showed its most effective dose at 1.5% in the assay system.
Measured: reduced spontaneous motor activity
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
environmental biodegradation screen
A 2011 environmental assessment found that alpha-gurjunene almost reached the ready-biodegradability pass level, landing within the 51% to 56% ultimate biodegradation range in stringent aerobic screening tests.
Measured: ultimate biodegradation
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
artemisia nilagirica occurrence
A Planta Medica composition paper listed alpha-gurjunene among the main constituents of Artemisia nilagirica essential oil, supporting that the molecule recurs beyond a single botanical source.
Measured: major constituent reporting
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
How it contributes to goal calculations
Model markers guide the formulation score. They are separate from the source findings above.
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.
A recorded constituent reference, not a recommended oil dilution. Product category, source applicability and all contributing oils must be checked before use.
unverified reference · No source provenance attachedNo verified human clinical safety study, constituent-specific dermal limit, or public toxicology monograph specific to isolated alpha-gurjunene was located 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 direct benefit-facing evidence is limited to preclinical inhalation and biochemical studies and should not be translated into medical claims.
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.
As a lipophilic sesquiterpene hydrocarbon with sparse standalone safety coverage, alpha-gurjunene should be interpreted through conservative whole-oil safety context rather than assumed individually proven safe.
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
alpha gurjunene synthase product
A plant terpene-biosynthesis study characterized (-)-alpha-gurjunene synthase from Solidago canadensis, reporting maximal activity at pH 7.8 with 10 mM Mg2+ and a Km of 5.5 microM for farnesyl diphosphate, with a stable 91% to 9% product ratio of (-)-alpha-gurjunene to (+)-gamma-gurjunene.
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 (5)
- No human clinical efficacy or safety study for isolated alpha-gurjunene was verified in this pass.
- 2026-07-13 dermal-safety verification pass (Tisserand & Young monograph index, IFRA Standards 51st Amendment library, RIFM Fragrance Material Safety Resource, CIR) found no constituent-specific dermal limit percentage, sensitization dataset, or phototoxicity study for isolated alpha-gurjunene; dermal_limit_pct remains unverified and should not be treated as sourced.
- Most occurrence and activity context remains analytical, biosynthetic, or mixture-level rather than repeated standalone pharmacology.
- The numeric dermal reference lacks source provenance; a verified flag alone is insufficient.
- Some findings do not record an explicit exposure route; consult the linked study before applying them to a use.