trans-Calamenene is a sesquiterpene hydrocarbon found in manuka, amber-resin distillates, and a wider range of aromatic plant matrices. The strongest live evidence supports identity, stereochemical registry, repeated GC-MS occurrence, and limited preclinical insect-bioactivity data for the isolated compound. Most other biological findings remain mixture-level or computational, so AromaForge should present trans-calamenene mainly as an aroma and composition marker with early non-human activity signals rather than established human-use effects.
Chemical identity and composition
NIST identifies trans-calamenene with formula C15H22, InChIKey PGTJIOWQJWHTJJ-OLZOCXBDSA-N, and CAS 73209-42-4. The local archive currently places it in manuka at 8.12% in a 2024 GC-MS batch report and in amber-fossilised essential oil as a named principal constituent without disclosed percentage. Literature and reference databases distinguish the trans isomer from cis-calamenene by both stereochemistry and chromatographic retention behavior.
Aroma and practical use
- Use the recorded herbal, spicy, woody, clove-like, herbaceous 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 2018 Molecules study reported that isolated trans-calamenene significantly decreased weight gain in Hylastinus obscurus during feeding assays, supporting antifeedant activity for the purified sesquiterpene.
A 2018 Molecules study reported that isolated trans-calamenene significantly decreased weight gain in Hylastinus obscurus during feeding assays, supporting antifeedant activity for the purified sesquiterpene.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
A 2024 manuka GC-MS batch report measured trans-calamenene at 8.12%, making it one of the more prominent non-triketone sesquiterpenes in that profile.
A 2024 manuka GC-MS batch report measured trans-calamenene at 8.12%, making it one of the more prominent non-triketone sesquiterpenes in that profile.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
A 2024 Microorganisms study on Plinia cauliflora essential oil reported trans-calamenene at 6.6% while observing reduced Leishmania infection in cell assays, but the tested material was the whole oil rather than isolated trans-calamenene.
A 2024 Microorganisms study on Plinia cauliflora essential oil reported trans-calamenene at 6.6% while observing reduced Leishmania infection in cell assays, but the tested material was the whole oil rather than isolated trans-calamenene.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this 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.
Screening assumption (family fallback). It is not a verified constituent-specific exposure limit.
model fallback · Essential Oil Safety and Dermal Limits — sesquiterpenes generally do not have safety concerns; beta-caryophyllene RIFM fragrance material safety dataNo constituent-specific IFRA limit, human tolerability study, or phototoxicity warning for isolated trans-calamenene 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.
The current evidence base for trans-calamenene is dominated by occurrence, insect, or mixture-level studies rather than direct repeated-dose or clinical safety work.
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
lipophilicity linked antifeedant action
The isolated-sesquiterpene antifeedant study proposed that trans-calamenene's higher lipophilicity and vapor-pressure profile may improve penetration or fumigant-like action in insects.
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 (6)
- No human clinical study specific to isolated trans-calamenene was verified in this pass.
- Most accessible antimicrobial or antiparasitic findings involve whole oils that contain trans-calamenene rather than purified dose-response testing of the constituent.
- Constituent-specific dermal, inhalation, and repeated-dose safety data for isolated trans-calamenene were not located.
- Second pass (2026-07-13): no IFRA Standard or RIFM fragrance ingredient safety assessment for trans-calamenene (CAS 73209-42-4) was located. The Good Scents Company page for this exact CAS shows 'None found' GHS classification and 'not determined' oral/dermal/inhalation toxicity, with usage recommended 'not for fragrance use' and 'not for flavor use' (a natural-substances catalog listing, not a toxicology monograph). The prior dermal_limit_pct 25 and sensitizing:true had no citation in this record's sources[] and are corrected to null pending real 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.