Trans-nerolidol is a terpene, more precisely a sesquiterpene alcohol, with a faint floral smell that occurs in many plants, including some cannabis. It is the trans form of nerolidol, which also exists as a cis form. It is widely used in perfumes and cosmetics, and its biological activity has been studied mostly in laboratories, not in people.
Key facts
- Type
- Sesquiterpene alcohol, formula C15H26O
- Chemical name
- (6E)-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-1,6,10-trien-3-ol (PubChem)
- Forms
- Two geometric isomers: trans-nerolidol and cis-nerolidol
- Smell
- A faint floral odour, described as reminiscent of rose and apple
- In cannabis
- One of the terpenes routinely measured in commercial cannabis tests, usually in small amounts (as of October 2026)
- Main uses
- Perfumes, shampoos and other cosmetics, plus detergents and cleaners
- Human research
- As of October 2026, almost none; most studies are in cells and animals
What is trans-nerolidol?
Nerolidol is a naturally occurring sesquiterpene alcohol, a terpene built from 15 carbon atoms. Chemically, it exists in two geometric isomers, a trans form and a cis form, which differ in how the atoms are arranged around one double bond (Chan 2016). Trans-nerolidol has the formula C15H26O (PubChem).
Plants make nerolidol partly as a step towards DMNT, a volatile compound they release when insects feed on them, which helps protect the plant (Chan 2016). For the bigger picture, read what are terpenes?
What does trans-nerolidol smell like?
Nerolidol is described as a clear, pale yellow liquid with a faint floral odour reminiscent of rose and apple (Chan 2016). That gentle floral note is why perfumers use it. In cannabis, it is one of many terpenes that together shape the smell of a plant, and it is rarely the dominant one.
Where is trans-nerolidol found?
Nerolidol has been extracted from many parts of plants, including leaves, flowers, seeds, fruits, resins, twigs and wood (Chan 2016). It is a common ingredient in shampoos and perfumes and in non-cosmetic products such as detergents and cleaners.
Is trans-nerolidol in cannabis?
Yes, in small amounts in some plants. In a 2022 analysis of commercial cannabis samples from six US states, cis- and trans-nerolidol were among the common terpenes measured, alongside myrcene, limonene, caryophyllene, terpinolene and others. The main terpene profiles that the researchers found were led by caryophyllene and limonene, myrcene and pinene, or terpinolene and myrcene, not by nerolidol (Smith 2022).
Cannabis resin contains hundreds of terpenes and cannabinoids, and many have not been conclusively identified. Their levels vary between plants, which makes "strain" names an unreliable guide to the terpene content (Booth and Bohlmann 2019). Only a certificate of analysis that lists terpenes shows what a product actually contains.
| Terpene | Type | Typical smell | Leads a common cannabis profile? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trans-nerolidol | Sesquiterpene alcohol | Faint floral (rose, apple) | No, usually minor |
| Myrcene | Monoterpene | Earthy, musky | Yes |
| Limonene | Monoterpene | Citrus | Yes |
| Caryophyllene | Sesquiterpene | Peppery, spicy | Yes |
| Terpinolene | Monoterpene | Woody, citrus-like | Yes |
What has trans-nerolidol been studied for?
Searches for "trans-nerolidol terpene effects" mostly lead to laboratory work. A 2016 review collected studies reporting antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-biofilm, insecticidal and other activities of nerolidol, and found it to be an effective skin penetration enhancer in formulation studies (Chan 2016). A 2021 laboratory study measured antioxidant activity and growth inhibition of several bacteria in culture dishes (de Moura 2021).
These are cell and animal studies. They do not show what nerolidol does in people, and they say nothing about the small amounts found in a cannabis plant or a hemp extract.
Does trans-nerolidol play a part in the entourage effect?
That is not known. The entourage effect is the hypothesis that cannabinoids and terpenes act differently together than alone. A 2021 mouse study found that some cannabis terpenes, namely humulene, geraniol, linalool and beta-pinene, produced cannabinoid-like behaviours and added to the effect of a synthetic cannabinoid (LaVigne 2021). Nerolidol was not part of that test, and the hypothesis itself remains debated.
From our production
We keep the hemp's natural terpenes in our oils; many people underestimate terpenes and assume only the cannabinoids matter. We test every batch in Switzerland.
— Robin Roy Krigslund-Hansen, co-founder and CEO
Frequently asked questions
What is the trans-nerolidol terpene?
Trans-nerolidol is the trans form of nerolidol, a sesquiterpene alcohol with the formula C15H26O. It has a faint floral smell and occurs in many plants, including some cannabis.
What does trans-nerolidol smell like?
It has a faint floral odour that has been compared with rose and apple. That is why it is used in perfumes, shampoos and other cosmetics.
What is the difference between trans- and cis-nerolidol?
They are geometric isomers: the same atoms, arranged differently around one double bond. Both forms occur in plants, and cannabis tests often report them separately.
What are the effects of the nerolidol terpene?
Laboratory studies have reported antioxidant and antimicrobial activity and a skin penetration effect in formulations. These are cell and animal studies; there is almost no research in people.
Is there trans-nerolidol in CBD oil?
Possibly, in small amounts, if the oil keeps the hemp's natural terpenes. The amount depends on the plant and the extraction, so only a certificate of analysis that lists terpenes can show it.
Related guides
This article summarises published research on a plant compound. It is not medical advice. Formula Swiss CBD oils are cosmetic products for use on the skin. See our legal and health disclaimer.
Last reviewed:
Sources
- Chan WK, Tan LT, Chan KG, Lee LH, Goh BH. Nerolidol: a sesquiterpene alcohol with multi-faceted pharmacological and biological activities. Molecules 2016;21(5):529. PMID 27136520
- National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem compound summary for CID 5284507, nerolidol
- Smith CJ, Vergara D, Keegan B, Jikomes N. The phytochemical diversity of commercial Cannabis in the United States. PLoS One 2022;17(5):e0267498. PMID 35588111
- Booth JK, Bohlmann J. Terpenes in Cannabis sativa – from plant genome to humans. Plant Sci 2019;284:67–72. PMID 31084880
- de Moura DF et al. Evaluation of the antioxidant, antibacterial, and antibiofilm activity of the sesquiterpene nerolidol. Arch Microbiol 2021;203(7):4303–4311. PMID 34110480
- LaVigne JE, Hecksel R, Keresztes A, Streicher JM. Cannabis sativa terpenes are cannabimimetic and selectively enhance cannabinoid activity. Sci Rep 2021;11:8232. PMID 33859287
