Humulene (α-humulene) is a sesquiterpene with a woody, earthy and slightly spicy smell, found in hops, cannabis and many other plants. It shares its formula, C15H24, with β-caryophyllene, and the two often occur together. Its effects have been studied in cells and animals, but not yet in people.
Key facts
- Chemical class
- Sesquiterpene (15 carbon atoms), C15H24
- Smell
- Woody, earthy, herbal
- Main sources
- Hops, cannabis and hemp, and many other plant essential oils
- Content in plants
- From negligible to 60.9% of the essential oil, depending on the species
- Human studies
- Very few; research is mostly in cells and rodents (as of October 2026)
What is humulene?
Humulene is a terpene, one of the aromatic compounds plants make in their resin and essential oils. Its full name is α-humulene, and it takes its name from hops, Humulus lupulus. It is a sesquiterpene: it has 15 carbon atoms, where monoterpenes such as myrcene have ten (PubChem).
Humulene and β-caryophyllene have the same molecular formula, C15H24, but different ring structures. Humulene has a single large ring, while caryophyllene has a smaller ring system (PubChem).
What does humulene smell like?
Humulene smells woody, earthy and herbal, with a slight spice. It is part of the classic "hoppy" aroma of beer. In cannabis it adds to the earthy, woody side of the scent, often together with caryophyllene. Read more about what terpenes are and how they shape aroma.
Where is humulene found?
Humulene occurs in the essential oils of many plant species. A 2024 scoping review of 340 studies found yields from negligible to 60.9% of the essential oil, depending on the species (Dalavaye et al., 2024). Another sesquiterpene, the citrus-scented valencene, is found in oranges.
The two best-known sources are hops (Humulus lupulus) and cannabis (Cannabis sativa), which belong to the same plant family. In a study of essential oils from Italian hemp and hops, α-humulene was one of the main constituents in both, along with β-myrcene, limonene and β-caryophyllene (Ovidi et al., 2022).
Humulene vs caryophyllene vs myrcene: what is the difference?
| Feature | α-Humulene | β-Caryophyllene | β-Myrcene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | Sesquiterpene | Sesquiterpene | Monoterpene |
| Formula | C15H24 | C15H24 | C10H16 |
| Smell | Woody, earthy | Peppery, spicy | Earthy, musky |
| Main constituent of essential oil from | Hops, cannabis | Hops, cannabis | Hops, cannabis |
Sources for the table: PubChem; Ovidi et al., 2022.
What does research on humulene show?
Most of it comes from cells and rodents. The 2024 scoping review summarised lab studies on cancer cell lines and rodent studies on inflammation markers. It found very few studies that had moved into people, and named variable yields and poor bioavailability as obstacles (Dalavaye et al., 2024).
Humulene also features in the debate about the entourage effect. In one mouse study, α-humulene produced some cannabinoid-like behaviours, and in cell tests it activated the CB1 receptor (LaVigne et al., 2021). The authors note that the entourage hypothesis is still controversial, with limited evidence.
A 2019 review of cannabis terpenes adds a wider caution: the terpene content of cannabis varieties is inconsistent, and medicinal claims about terpenes need proper scientific validation (Booth and Bohlmann, 2019).
From our production
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Frequently asked questions
What is humulene?
Humulene (α-humulene) is a sesquiterpene with a woody, earthy smell. It is found in hops, cannabis and the essential oils of many other plants.
What is the difference between humulene and caryophyllene?
Both have the formula C15H24 and often occur together. Humulene has a single large ring and a woody smell; β-caryophyllene has a different ring system and a peppery smell.
Does humulene get you high?
No human study has shown that. In one mouse study, humulene produced some cannabinoid-like behaviours, but that does not show an effect in people.
Is humulene the terpene in hops?
It is one of them. Humulene is named after hops and is one of the main constituents of hop essential oil, together with myrcene and caryophyllene.
Is there humulene in CBD oil?
Hemp extracts that keep their natural terpenes can contain humulene, as it is one of the main terpenes in hemp essential oil. The amount varies with the hemp variety and the extraction method.
Related guides
This article summarises published research. It is not medical advice. Formula Swiss CBD oils are sold as cosmetics for use on the skin. They are not food supplements or medicines and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Last reviewed:
Sources
- Dalavaye N, Nicholas M, Pillai M, Erridge S, Sodergren MH. The clinical translation of α-humulene: a scoping review. Planta Med 2024;90(9):664–674. doi:10.1055/a-2307-8183
- Ovidi E, Laghezza Masci V, Taddei AR, et al. Hemp (Cannabis sativa L., Kompolti cv.) and hop (Humulus lupulus L., Chinook cv.) essential oil and hydrolate: HS-GC-MS chemical investigation and apoptotic activity evaluation. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022;15(8):976. doi:10.3390/ph15080976
- LaVigne JE, Hecksel R, Keresztes A, Streicher JM. Cannabis sativa terpenes are cannabimimetic and selectively enhance cannabinoid activity. Sci Rep 2021;11(1):8232. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-87740-8
- Booth JK, Bohlmann J. Terpenes in Cannabis sativa: from plant genome to humans. Plant Sci 2019;284:67–72. doi:10.1016/j.plantsci.2019.03.022
- PubChem. Humulene (CID 5281520); Caryophyllene (CID 5281515); Myrcene (CID 31253). National Library of Medicine
