Serratol is a low-volatility frankincense diterpenoid best known as a Boswellia identity marker rather than a common fragrance-facing aroma compound. The live evidence base is strongest for chemical identity, occurrence in Boswellia resins and oils, and a small set of constituent-specific preclinical papers covering TRPV3 activation and antiprotozoal screening. That makes serratol useful in AromaForge mainly as a frankincense-authentication and cembrane-chemistry record, with cautious mention of early mechanistic research and clear gaps around human safety or efficacy.
Chemical identity and composition
PubChem lists serratol as C20H34O with InChIKey ZVWXZFYWLABNOW-UYSOGGTPSA-N and the IUPAC name (1S,3E,7E,11E)-4,8,12-trimethyl-1-propan-2-ylcyclotetradeca-3,7,11-trien-1-ol. CHEBI cross-references CAS 67814-27-1. In the local archive, the frankincense record cites serratol at 0.7% in lab-distilled Boswellia carteri samples, where it is treated as a resin biomarker rather than a dominant volatile.
Aroma and practical use
- Use the recorded resinous, frankincense-like, warm, terpenic, resin 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 2011 Planta Medica paper completed the structural assignment of serratol from Boswellia serrata and reported antiprotozoal evaluation, supporting both identity confidence and a narrow preclinical activity signal.
A 2011 Planta Medica paper completed the structural assignment of serratol from Boswellia serrata and reported antiprotozoal evaluation, supporting both identity confidence and a narrow preclinical activity signal.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
A 2016 Journal of Natural Products study on frankincense cembranes reported that serratol was the most potent TRPV3 activator among the tested compounds and that NF-kB inhibition for the natural alcohols was only marginal.
A 2016 Journal of Natural Products study on frankincense cembranes reported that serratol was the most potent TRPV3 activator among the tested compounds and that NF-kB inhibition for the natural alcohols was only marginal.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
A Boswellia carteri authentication study detected serratol in lab-distilled frankincense oils at about 0.7%, supporting its use as a low-level resin-derived marker constituent in genuine frankincense materials.
A Boswellia carteri authentication study detected serratol in lab-distilled frankincense oils at about 0.7%, supporting its use as a low-level resin-derived marker constituent in genuine frankincense materials.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil 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 constituent-specific IFRA limit, RIFM monograph, or human exposure study for isolated serratol was located in the reviewed public sources.
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.
The best-supported pharmacology is still limited to receptor and parasite screening models, so archive copy should avoid implying validated neurological, anti-inflammatory, or anti-infective effects in people.
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
trpv3 activation
A frankincense cembrane structure-activity study reported that serratol was the most potent TRPV3 activator among the tested natural cembranes, exceeding the reference agonist thymol in that assay system.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
limited nf kb modulation context
The same frankincense cembrane study described NF-kB inhibition by the natural alcohols as marginal, suggesting serratol's better-supported constituent-level activity is ion-channel engagement rather than strong anti-inflammatory pathway inhibition.
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)
- No human clinical studies specific to isolated serratol were located.
- Public safety literature for standalone serratol is sparse compared with broader Boswellia extract literature.
- Most constituent-specific findings are narrow preclinical signals rather than replicated translational data.
- 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.