epi-alpha-Bisabolol is an epimeric form of alpha-bisabolol that appears in sandalwood, cabreuva, Peperomia, and a range of lesser-known aromatic species. The source base is strong for identity and occurrence, and there is one direct in vivo wound-healing paper that makes the constituent more than just a registry entry. Even so, the overall literature remains much thinner than for standard alpha-bisabolol, so AromaForge should present epi-alpha-bisabolol as a distinct sesquiterpene alcohol with early preclinical relevance and clear evidence gaps.
Chemical identity and composition
PubChem CID 1616126 identifies the constituent as `alpha-Bisabolol, (-)-epi-` with formula C15H26O, InChIKey RGZSQWQPBWRIAQ-HUUCEWRRSA-N, and CAS 78148-59-1 in the synonym set. Public literature also uses `4-epi-alpha-bisabolol` and `8-epi-alpha-bisabolol` naming in occurrence and synthesis papers, reflecting historical numbering differences across bisabolol stereochemistry. Within the archive, the constituent is already a meaningful profile marker in Australian sandalwood premium (5.5%), cabreuva Brazil (1.4%), and absynthe molecular-distilled records.
Aroma and practical use
- Use the recorded woody, sweet balsamic, soft floral, sandalwood-like 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 2001 Journal of Natural Products study isolated epi-alpha-bisabolol from Peperomia galioides and reported an in vivo wound-healing ED50 of 155 microg/mL in a mouse tensile-strength model.
This is the clearest direct activity paper found for the constituent, but it remains an animal wound model rather than clinical evidence.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
A 2004 comprehensive two-dimensional GC study listed epi-alpha-bisabolol among eight representative components of West Australian sandalwood oil, supporting its role as a real analytical marker rather than a naming artifact.
This is important for archive positioning because it ties the constituent directly to a recognized sandalwood composition paper.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
A 2009 survey of three Amazonian Peperomia species identified epi-alpha-bisabolol at 15.9% in Peperomia macrostachya essential oil.
This strengthens occurrence support outside sandalwood and shows that epi-alpha-bisabolol can be a major constituent in some non-sandalwood oils.
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.
recorded reference · IFRA Standard, alpha-Bisabolol (49th Amendment, 2020) - explicitly includes CAS 78148-59-1 (epi/7-epi-alpha-bisabolol) in scope; Category 5A (leave-on skin) max 0.60%The Good Scents page for 7-epi-alpha-bisabolol lists no GHS hazards on the accessible page but also provides no determined oral, dermal, or inhalation toxicity values.
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.
Most open safety assessments focus on standard alpha-bisabolol rather than this epimer, so constituent-specific dermal and human safety confidence remains limited.
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
wound_repair_support_in_mouse_tensile_model
Bioassay-guided work on Peperomia galioides identified epi-alpha-bisabolol as the wound-healing principle in a mouse tensile-strength model, suggesting a direct cicatrizant or tissue-repair-supporting action in preclinical use.
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 (4)
- The literature often uses 4-epi, 7-epi, or 8-epi naming conventions for related bisabolol stereoisomers, so cross-source interpretation requires care.
- Direct safety and human-use evidence for the epi isomer is much thinner than for standard alpha-bisabolol.
- Most modern pharmacology reviews discuss alpha-bisabolol broadly and do not cleanly separate epimer-specific results.
- Some findings do not record an explicit exposure route; consult the linked study before applying them to a use.