Germacrene B is a woody sesquiterpene hydrocarbon that appears across several essential oils in the AromaForge archive, including lantana, juniper berry, and myrrh. The live evidence base is strongest for identity, occurrence, and sesquiterpene-biosynthesis chemistry, especially its role as a central neutral intermediate in eudesmane and guaiane pathways. Public biological studies are mostly whole-oil papers where germacrene B is one component among many, so the record should stay chemistry-first and avoid overstating isolated health effects.
Chemical identity and composition
PubChem lists germacrene B as C15H24 with InChIKey GXEGJTGWYVZSNR-SJRHNVSNSA-N and the IUPAC name (1E,5E)-1,5-dimethyl-8-propan-2-ylidenecyclodeca-1,5-diene. Archive occurrence is moderate rather than dominant in the reviewed local oils, including lantana at 4.7%, myrrh essential oil at 2.07%, and juniper berry at 1.69%.
Aroma and practical use
- Use the recorded woody, dry, herbal, green, herbaceous 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.
A 2023 review in Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry summarized germacrene B as a central intermediate in sesquiterpene biosynthesis, especially for eudesmane and guaiane hydrocarbon and alcohol frameworks.
A 2023 review in Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry summarized germacrene B as a central intermediate in sesquiterpene biosynthesis, especially for eudesmane and guaiane hydrocarbon and alcohol frameworks.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
A 2013 Myrcia alagoensis paper reported essential oils rich in cyclic sesquiterpenes such as germacrene B together with antibacterial activity against tested bacteria, but activity was measured for the whole oils rather than purified germacrene B.
A 2013 Myrcia alagoensis paper reported essential oils rich in cyclic sesquiterpenes such as germacrene B together with antibacterial activity against tested bacteria, but activity was measured for the whole oils rather than purified germacrene B.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
A 2021 leaf-oil variability study on Isolona dewevrei described chemotypes dominated by germacrene B and linked the collective oils to in vitro anti-inflammatory activity, again at the mixture level.
A 2021 leaf-oil variability study on Isolona dewevrei described chemotypes dominated by germacrene B and linked the collective oils to in vitro anti-inflammatory activity, again at the mixture level.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this 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 dedicated modern RIFM or equivalent constituent-specific public safety monograph for isolated germacrene B was verified 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.
Because the biological literature located here is mixture-level, copy should avoid implying direct antimicrobial or anti-inflammatory efficacy for purified germacrene B.
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
reprotonation and second cyclization intermediate
The 2023 Beilstein review describes germacrene B as a neutral intermediate that can be reprotonated for second cyclization steps leading into eudesmane and guaiane sesquiterpene scaffolds.
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 (7)
- No high-quality human safety or efficacy studies specific to isolated germacrene B were verified in the reviewed public sources.
- The strongest constituent-specific evidence is biosynthetic and structural, not therapeutic.
- A future upgrade could add better toxicology if a fragrance-safety assessment or dedicated dermal dataset becomes publicly accessible.
- 2026-07-13 verification pass: web search for IFRA/RIFM dermal limit and sensitization data found no authoritative constituent-specific results for germacrene B (distinct from germacrene D, which does have a 2024 RIFM assessment); prior dermal_limit_pct (25) and sensitizing (true) were unsourced placeholders and have been corrected to null.
- 2026-07-13 second-pass retry: direct CAS-number search (15423-57-1) against IFRA/RIFM/ECHA found nothing constituent-specific; retrieved the TGSC safety data page directly (thegoodscentscompany.com/data/rw1104471.html), which confirms Oral/Dermal/Inhalation Toxicity 'Not determined' and usage recommendation 'not for fragrance use' / 'not for flavor use'. This corroborates the absence of a published dermal limit rather than establishing one; dermal_limit_pct, sensitizing, phototoxic, and penetration_enhancer remain unverified.
- 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.