alpha-Santalene is a sesquiterpene hydrocarbon best known as one of the characteristic sandalwood-type odor molecules and as a biosynthetic precursor to santalols. In the AromaForge archive it is currently a high-percentage marker in opoponax material rather than a widely distributed constituent. Public evidence is strong for identity, aroma relevance, and biosynthesis, but much thinner for isolated pharmacology, human safety, or constituent-specific clinical effects, so this record should stay explicitly gap-aware.
Chemical identity and composition
PubChem lists alpha-santalene under CID 94164 with formula C15H24 and IUPAC name 1,7-dimethyl-7-(4-methylpent-3-enyl)tricyclo[2.2.1.02,6]heptane. In the local archive it appears at 20.31% in opopanax and opoponax-essential-oil records, while the broader literature treats santalenes as major fragrance-defining hydrocarbons of sandalwood oil and as precursors for santalol production.
Aroma and practical use
- Use the recorded woody, dry, sandalwood-like, balsamic 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 metabolic-engineering study in Saccharomyces cerevisiae reported that precursor and co-factor optimization substantially increased alpha-santalene production, positioning it as a high-value biobased fragrance target.
A metabolic-engineering study in Saccharomyces cerevisiae reported that precursor and co-factor optimization substantially increased alpha-santalene production, positioning it as a high-value biobased fragrance target.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
A sandalwood biosynthesis paper reported that CYP76F cytochromes P450 produce santalols and bergamotol from santalenes and bergamotene substrates, reinforcing alpha-santalene's role as a precursor rather than a finished active.
A sandalwood biosynthesis paper reported that CYP76F cytochromes P450 produce santalols and bergamotol from santalenes and bergamotene substrates, reinforcing alpha-santalene's role as a precursor rather than a finished active.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
A Komagataella phaffii engineering study described rewired metabolic flux toward alpha-santalene biosynthesis, showing ongoing industrial interest in scalable microbial production.
A Komagataella phaffii engineering study described rewired metabolic flux toward alpha-santalene biosynthesis, showing ongoing industrial interest in scalable microbial production.
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.
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 attachedThe reviewed public sources did not surface a robust standalone toxicology, dermal-limit, or IFRA-style restriction record specific to isolated alpha-santalene.
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.
A trade-reference safety snippet reports no clear OSHA GHS classification on the cited page, but it also notes that oral, dermal, and inhalation toxicity are not determined, so absence of classification should not be read as confirmed broad safety.
The source assessment applies to its specified exposure and preparation; this entry is not an unrestricted-use clearance.
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
precursor to santalols via cyp76f oxidation
The clearest constituent-specific mechanism is biochemical rather than therapeutic: sandalwood CYP76F enzymes convert santalenes toward santalol and bergamotol products.
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.
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 human clinical literature specific to isolated alpha-santalene was verified in this pass.
- Most public constituent-specific evidence is about biosynthesis and fragrance manufacture rather than biological activity.
- Constituent-specific dermal, inhalation, and chronic toxicology data remain sparse.
- 2026-07-13 re-verification (worker c3): a targeted search for IFRA/Tisserand dermal limit and sensitization/phototoxicity data for alpha-santalene (CAS 512-61-8) returned only chemical-supplier identity pages, no authoritative numeric dermal limit; dermal_limit_verified remains false.
- 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.