Patchoulol, also called patchouli alcohol, is the defining sesquiterpene alcohol of patchouli oil and one of the clearest identity markers in the AromaForge archive. Evidence is strong for its chemistry, biosynthetic role, and repeated occurrence as a major patchouli constituent; there is also a sizeable preclinical literature on inflammatory signaling, skin-photoaging, wound healing, and related mechanisms. A modern fragrance-safety assessment exists, but the wellness literature remains largely non-human, so the archive should position patchoulol as a patchouli marker with early mechanistic research rather than a clinically established active.
Chemical identity and composition
PubChem identifies patchoulol under the title Patchouli alcohol with CID 10955174, formula C15H26O, and IUPAC name (1R,3R,6S,7S,8S)-2,2,6,8-tetramethyltricyclo[5.3.1.03,8]undecan-3-ol. ChEBI classifies it as a sesquiterpenoid tertiary alcohol. In the archive, patchouli oil records consistently treat patchoulol as the leading constituent, including 29.93% in the general patchouli profile and higher published minimums for molecular-distilled patchouli grades, making it a core chemotype marker rather than a trace component.
Aroma and practical use
- Use the recorded earthy, woody, camphoraceous, deep patchouli 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 1987 biosynthesis study described patchoulol as the characteristic component of Pogostemon cablin essential oil and demonstrated enzymatic conversion from farnesyl pyrophosphate in patchouli leaf extracts.
A 1987 biosynthesis study described patchoulol as the characteristic component of Pogostemon cablin essential oil and demonstrated enzymatic conversion from farnesyl pyrophosphate in patchouli leaf extracts.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
A 2013 cell study found that patchouli alcohol inhibited iNOS and IL-6 expression and suppressed NF-kB transcriptional activity and ERK1/2 activation in stimulated RAW264.7 and HT-29 cells.
A 2013 cell study found that patchouli alcohol inhibited iNOS and IL-6 expression and suppressed NF-kB transcriptional activity and ERK1/2 activation in stimulated RAW264.7 and HT-29 cells.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
A 2014 UV-photoaging mouse study reported that topical patchouli alcohol accelerated recovery from UV-induced skin lesions and reduced inflammatory factors together with MMP-1 and MMP-3 expression.
A 2014 UV-photoaging mouse study reported that topical patchouli alcohol accelerated recovery from UV-induced skin lesions and reduced inflammatory factors together with MMP-1 and MMP-3 expression.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
A 2020 intestinal-inflammation study reported that patchouli alcohol activated PXR signaling, induced CYP3A4 expression and activity, and suppressed NF-kB signaling in vitro and in DSS-induced colitis models.
A 2020 intestinal-inflammation study reported that patchouli alcohol activated PXR signaling, induced CYP3A4 expression and activity, and suppressed NF-kB signaling in vitro and in DSS-induced colitis models.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
A 2021 mouse and keratinocyte study found that patchouli alcohol accelerated wound healing in high-fat-diet-fed mice and linked the effect to AMPK-mediated suppression of inflammation and TGFb1 signaling.
A 2021 mouse and keratinocyte study found that patchouli alcohol accelerated wound healing in high-fat-diet-fed mice and linked the effect to AMPK-mediated suppression of inflammation and TGFb1 signaling.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
Within the archive's patchouli profile, patchoulol was quantified at 29.93%, confirming its status as the dominant public marker constituent in the retained patchouli archetype.
Within the archive's patchouli profile, patchoulol was quantified at 29.93%, confirming its status as the dominant public marker constituent in the retained patchouli archetype.
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 · Fragrance material review on patchouli alcohol, Food Chem Toxicol 2008 (Api et al.), citing IFRA 2004 survey-reported maximum skin exposure level of 0.02% from fine-fragrance useA 2024 RIFM fragrance ingredient safety assessment exists for patchouli alcohol, indicating that the ingredient has been reviewed within a modern fragrance-safety framework.
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.
An earlier 2008 fragrance material review also specifically covered the toxicologic and dermatologic profile of patchouli alcohol as a fragrance ingredient.
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.
Most constituent-specific efficacy literature remains preclinical, so even though patchoulol is a major patchouli marker, isolated-compound disease or skin-treatment claims would overstate the evidence.
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.
alpha-PatchouleneAmplification 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.
review · whole_oil
No source citation attached.
Read alpha-Patchoulene report →How the effects were investigated
erk mediated nfkb suppression
Cell studies reported that patchouli alcohol inhibited I-kappaB-alpha degradation, blocked p65 nuclear translocation, and reduced ERK1/2 phosphorylation, supporting suppression of ERK-mediated NF-kB signaling.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
pxr activation with nfkb crosstalk
A later intestinal-inflammation study identified patchouli alcohol as a PXR agonist that attenuated inflammation through PXR-associated inhibition of NF-kB activity and nuclear translocation.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
ampk and tgfb1 linked wound response
A wound-healing study in high-fat-diet-fed mice linked patchouli alcohol's effects to increased AMPK phosphorylation, higher TGFb1 expression, and improved cell-migration markers.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this 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 (5)
- Most patchoulol bioactivity data are preclinical and should not be translated into medical claims.
- The verified numeric dermal figure is a 2004 IFRA survey-reported maximum fine-fragrance skin exposure level rather than a modern QRA-derived sensitization limit.
- Patchoulol is strongly evidenced as a patchouli marker, but standalone human topical or inhalation studies remain sparse.
- 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.