Sclareol is a clary-sage-linked labdane diterpene alcohol with stronger constituent-specific literature than many niche aroma constituents. The live evidence base supports three main angles: identity and occurrence in Salvia sclarea, fragrance-industry relevance as a precursor to ambrox-type amber materials, and preclinical bioactivity literature covering apoptosis-related cancer-cell work and antifungal testing. Those findings are still mostly cell, fungal, or other non-human models, so AromaForge should keep the positioning non-medical and separate fragrance importance from therapeutic inference.
Chemical identity and composition
PubChem assigns sclareol to CID 163263 with formula C20H36O2. In the archive's clary sage records, sclareol is a smaller but recurring marker, including 0.301% in one organic clary sage COA. Modern fragrance literature still describes sclareol as a traditional precursor for semisynthetic (-)-ambrox production, which explains its ongoing industrial relevance even when it is not a major percentage constituent of finished oil.
Aroma and practical use
- Use the recorded ambery, woody, balsamic, sweet 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 1999 leukemic-cell study found sclareol had IC50 values below 20 microg/mL in most tested human leukemic lines, showed significant cytostatic effects at 20 microg/mL, and induced time- and dose-dependent apoptosis with apparent G0/G1 delay.
A 1999 leukemic-cell study found sclareol had IC50 values below 20 microg/mL in most tested human leukemic lines, showed significant cytostatic effects at 20 microg/mL, and induced time- and dose-dependent apoptosis with apparent G0/G1 delay.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
A 2023 Journal of Fungi study reported anti-Candida activity for sclareol with a 24-hour MIC of 50 microg/mL, along with reduced biofilm formation and suppressed yeast-hyphal transition in Candida albicans.
A 2023 Journal of Fungi study reported anti-Candida activity for sclareol with a 24-hour MIC of 50 microg/mL, along with reduced biofilm formation and suppressed yeast-hyphal transition in Candida albicans.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
A 2008 fragrance safety review described sclareol as a fragrance ingredient and reported that the maximum skin level from fine-fragrance use had been reported at 0.02% under the survey conditions summarized in the review.
A 2008 fragrance safety review described sclareol as a fragrance ingredient and reported that the maximum skin level from fine-fragrance use had been reported at 0.02% under the survey conditions summarized in the review.
The source assessment applies to its specified exposure and preparation; this entry is not an unrestricted-use clearance.
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.
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 sclareol, Food Chem Toxicol 2008 (Api et al.), citing IFRA 2004 survey-reported maximum skin exposure level of 0.02% from fine-fragrance useThe RIFM/food toxicology fragrance review presents sclareol as a reviewed fragrance ingredient and notes a reported maximum skin exposure level of 0.02% for fine-fragrance use under the cited survey assumptions.
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 IFRA standard exists for sclareol and the summarized review states fragrance-grade material should meet a minimum purity specification of 98%.
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.
Much of the positive constituent-specific activity literature is cell or microbe work rather than human therapeutic evidence, so benefit language should remain non-medical.
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
apoptosis induction with G0/G1 delay in leukemic cell lines
A Europe PMC-indexed 1999 study reported that sclareol killed several human leukemic cell lines through apoptosis and appeared to delay cell-cycle progression in G0/G1.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
fungal membrane and mitochondrial disruption
A 2023 open-access antifungal study reported increased propidium iodide uptake and altered mitochondrial membrane potential in Candida albicans after sclareol treatment, consistent with apoptosis-like fungal cell death.
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)
- Most isolated sclareol efficacy literature remains preclinical and should not be translated into medical claims.
- No dedicated modern IFRA/RIFM sensitization or phototoxicity classification for isolated sclareol was verified beyond the 2008 fragrance material review's reported fine-fragrance use level.
- Some recent bioactivity papers around sclareol are disease-model focused and may overstate translational relevance for an aroma archive context.
- Some findings do not record an explicit exposure route; consult the linked study before applying them to a use.