delta-Patchoulene is a minor sesquiterpene hydrocarbon associated with patchouli-type and spikenard-type aromatic materials in the AromaForge archive. The identity evidence is solid at the database and GC-style occurrence level, but the public literature reviewed here is sparse on isolated delta-patchoulene pharmacology, human safety, or direct wellness outcomes. The most defensible archive framing is that delta-patchoulene is mainly a marker constituent and chemistry note rather than a clinically characterized active.
Chemical identity and composition
PubChem currently lists delta-Patchoulene under CID 524196 with molecular formula C16H28 and the IUPAC name 1,8,8-trimethyl-2-(3-methylbutyl)bicyclo[3.2.1]oct-2-ene. In the local archive, spikenard oil identifies delta-patchoulene at 8.06% in a Nepal rhizome GC profile. Older patchouli chemistry literature also describes delta-patchoulene as an acid-catalyzed transformation product of patchouli alcohol, which is useful chemistry context but not a bioactivity claim.
Aroma and practical use
- Use the recorded woody, earthy, patchouli-like, dry descriptors to explore a blend's scent character; perceived strength also depends on the other ingredients.
- 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.
patchouli alcohol transformation
A 1974 J Agric Food Chem paper identified delta-patchoulene as an acid-catalyzed transformation product of patchouli alcohol. This is useful for constituent identity and processing context, but it does not establish biological activity or consumer-use benefits.
Measured: formation of delta-patchoulene from patchouli alcohol
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
Use concerns and concentration limits
Sensitization concernNot flagged
Not flagged in the current model. This is not proof of absence or unrestricted safety.
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.
No numeric constituent-specific use limit is available here. Missing is not an unrestricted-use clearance.
No constituent-specific IFRA limit, dermal sensitization paper, phototoxicity review, or human tolerability study was located in the reviewed public sources for isolated delta-patchoulene.
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.
Because the reviewed evidence for delta-patchoulene is mostly identity and occurrence data, archive language should avoid implying established human wellness effects or unusual topical safety.
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
acid catalyzed rearrangement from patchouli alcohol
The clearest constituent-specific mechanism located was chemical rather than biological: an older Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry paper described delta-patchoulene formation during acid-catalyzed transformation of patchouli alcohol.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil 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 human clinical studies specific to isolated delta-patchoulene were located in the reviewed public sources.
- No strong constituent-specific cell or animal pharmacology papers were verified in this pass; the accessible evidence was mostly chemistry and occurrence oriented.
- The reviewed public sources did not establish constituent-specific dermal limits or sensitization thresholds for isolated delta-patchoulene.
- Worker c8 search (2026-07-13): no IFRA Standard or RIFM safety assessment specific to delta-patchoulene (CAS 53823-16-8) located; only identity/GC data 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.