(E)-beta-Farnesene is an acyclic sesquiterpene best known as the principal alarm-pheromone component for many aphid species and as a recurring constituent in chamomile-type volatile profiles. The live evidence base is strongest for identity, plant occurrence, and insect chemical-ecology mechanisms rather than for human wellness use. For AromaForge, it is most accurate to present (E)-beta-farnesene as a chamomile-linked composition marker with unusually clear semiochemical literature and limited constituent-specific human safety or pharmacology data.
Chemical identity and composition
NIST lists CAS 18794-84-8 for the E isomer and groups it with names including trans-beta-Farnesene and beta-(E)-Farnesene. In the local archive, chamomile already uses the exact constituent id e_beta_farnesene, while adjacent records also exist under beta_farnesene_e naming for the same core chemistry.
Aroma and practical use
- Use the recorded woody, citrus, herbal, sweet, green 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 2009 PubMed-indexed binding study reported that (E)-beta-farnesene, described there as the aphid alarm pheromone, showed good affinity for aphid OBP3 while not binding the other tested odorant-binding proteins.
This is direct constituent-specific mechanistic evidence, but it is insect olfaction research rather than human-use biology.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
A 2016 PubMed record on the molecular basis of alarm-pheromone detection in aphids identified (E)-beta-farnesene as the alarm pheromone for many aphid species and examined receptor-level detection biology.
This strengthens the ecological-signaling evidence base and confirms that the constituent has a specialized biological role in aphid systems.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
A 2024 PubMed-indexed German chamomile paper reported functional analysis of (E)-beta-farnesene synthases involved in constituent biosynthesis and aphid-alarm-pheromone induction.
This supports constituent-level relevance in chamomile chemistry, even though it is plant biosynthesis work rather than consumer-effect evidence.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this 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.
No numeric constituent-specific use limit is available here. Missing is not an unrestricted-use clearance.
This pass did not verify a constituent-specific IFRA dermal limit or a dedicated human safety study for isolated (E)-beta-farnesene.
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 most direct literature is ecological and biosynthetic rather than clinical, archive copy should avoid implying proven human calming, anti-inflammatory, or therapeutic effects.
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 highly unsaturated sesquiterpene hydrocarbon, the constituent is reasonably framed as oxidation-sensitive during storage, although this pass did not verify a constituent-specific oxidation paper.
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
These are research candidates recorded in the interaction matrix. They do not add a proven-amplification bonus to the score.
ChamazuleneAmplification candidate
Candidate in the research matrix. A coefficient alone does not establish amplification at the dose, route or goal of your blend; no proven amplification is inferred from this row.
in vitro · antioxidant
No source citation attached.
Read Chamazulene report →How the effects were investigated
aphid_odorant_binding_and_receptor_detection
PubMed-indexed aphid studies describe (E)-beta-farnesene as a semiochemical detected by specific odorant-binding proteins and odorant receptors, supporting a signaling mechanism centered on insect olfaction.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
plant_biosynthesis_via_beta_farnesene_synthases
A recent German chamomile biosynthesis paper linked dedicated beta-farnesene synthases to production of the constituent and to aphid-alarm-pheromone induction context.
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 (7)
- No strong human clinical literature for isolated (E)-beta-farnesene was verified in this pass.
- The direct evidence base is much stronger for insect ecology and plant biosynthesis than for human safety, dermal tolerance, or pharmacology.
- Archive users may need future deduplication work because e_beta_farnesene and beta_farnesene_e refer to the same core isomeric identity.
- sensitizing:true corroborated (2026-07-13): beta-farnesene (CAS 18794-84-8) was negative in a murine LLNA up to 30% (7500 ug/cm2) but produced skin-sensitization reactions in a guinea pig maximization test, per RIFM/IFRA dermal sensitization QRA read-across literature (Api et al., 'Dermal Sensitization Quantitative Risk Assessment for Fragrance Ingredients'). dermal_limit_pct corrected from an unsourced 25 to null because no numeric IFRA/RIFM leave-on percentage limit for isolated (E)-beta-farnesene was located; the QRA reference documents test outcomes, not a category limit.
- 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.
- Interaction candidates lack an attached source citation and remain unqualified.