Valencene is a sweet, citrus-smelling terpene named after Valencia oranges. Chemically it is a sesquiterpene with the formula C₁₅H₂₄. It occurs in oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and mangoes, and some cannabis and hemp plants make it too. It is used in flavours and fragrances; research on what it does in people is very limited.
Key facts
- Chemical class
- Bicyclic sesquiterpene, C₁₅H₂₄
- Smell
- Sweet, fresh citrus with orange, herbal and woody notes
- Found in
- Valencia oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, nectarines, mangoes; some cannabis and hemp
- Spelling
- Valencene (often misspelt "valencine")
- Main uses
- Flavour and fragrance ingredient; starting material for nootkatone
- Research in people (as of October 2026)
- Very limited; mostly lab studies
What is valencene?
Valencene is a terpene, one of the aromatic compounds that give plants their smell. It has 15 carbon atoms, which makes it a sesquiterpene, with two fused rings (Song et al., 2024; PubChem). It takes its name from Valencia oranges (Song et al., 2024). You will also see it spelt "valencine", but valencene is correct: like limonene and myrcene, its name ends in -ene. For terpenes in general, see what are terpenes?
Where is valencene found?
Citrus fruit is the classic source. A 2024 review lists grapefruit, tangerine, orange, nectarines and mangoes among the fruits that produce valencene, and notes that citrus fruits contain it only in low concentrations (Song et al., 2024). That is one reason producers now also make valencene with engineered yeasts and bacteria.
Is valencene in cannabis and hemp?
Yes, in some plants. In the hemp variety Finola, researchers found a terpene synthase enzyme whose two main products were γ-eudesmol and valencene, each about a fifth of what it made (Booth et al., 2017). The same study found large differences in terpene profiles between individual plants, so the amount of valencene varies. Cannabis plants described as citrus-scented are sometimes said to be rich in valencene, but that depends on a terpene analysis of the plant, not on its name (Booth and Bohlmann, 2019).
What does valencene smell like?
It is described as sweet and fresh citrus, with orange, herbal and woody notes (Song et al., 2024). That makes it softer and sweeter than limonene, the sharp, lemony terpene in citrus peel.
| Terpene | Class | Carbon atoms | Typical smell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valencene | Sesquiterpene | 15 | Sweet orange, woody |
| Limonene | Monoterpene | 10 | Sharp citrus, lemon |
| Myrcene | Monoterpene | 10 | Earthy, musky |
What is valencene used for?
- Flavours and fragrances: valencene is widely used for its orange-like smell (Song et al., 2024).
- Making nootkatone: valencene is the starting material for nootkatone, the compound that gives grapefruit its smell (Song et al., 2024).
- Insect repellent research: studies reviewed in 2024 found that valencene repelled some mosquitoes and red flour beetles (Song et al., 2024).
What does research say about valencene in the body?
Very little. In one cell study, valencene was among several terpenes that lowered some inflammatory signalling molecules in immune cells grown in the lab (Marques et al., 2019). Cell results like this don't show what valencene does in people. Valencene is sometimes linked to the entourage effect, but a 2020 study of five common cannabis terpenes found no direct effect on the CB1 or CB2 receptors (Finlay et al., 2020); valencene was not one of them, and there is no evidence that it changes how cannabinoids act.
Is there valencene in CBD oil?
Hemp extracts that keep the plant's terpenes can contain valencene, depending on the hemp variety; isolates and terpene-free extracts don't. Our guide full spectrum vs broad spectrum vs isolate explains which extracts keep terpenes, and our oils are in the CBD oil collection.
From our production
We keep the hemp's natural terpenes in our oils. Many people underestimate terpenes and assume only the cannabinoids matter.
— Robin Roy Krigslund-Hansen, co-founder and CEO
Frequently asked questions
What is valencene?
Valencene is a sesquiterpene (C₁₅H₂₄) with a sweet, fresh citrus smell. It is named after Valencia oranges and also occurs in grapefruit, tangerines, nectarines, mangoes and some cannabis and hemp plants.
Is it valencene or valencine?
The correct spelling is valencene, with -ene at the end like other terpenes such as limonene and myrcene. 'Valencine' is a common misspelling.
What does valencene smell like?
Sweet, fresh citrus with orange, herbal and woody notes. It is softer and sweeter than the sharp, lemony smell of limonene.
Is valencene in cannabis?
Yes, in some plants. Researchers identified a terpene synthase enzyme in the hemp variety Finola that makes valencene as one of its two main products. How much a plant contains varies.
What is valencene used for?
It is used as a flavour and fragrance ingredient for its orange-like smell, and it is the starting material for nootkatone, the compound behind the smell of grapefruit. It has also been studied as an insect repellent.
Does valencene get you high?
No. Valencene is a terpene, not a cannabinoid, and it does not cause intoxication.
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, and our pet oils are for external use. They are not food supplements or medicines and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. See our full disclaimer.
Last reviewed:
Sources
- Song Y, Liu H, Quax WJ, et al. Application of valencene and prospects for its production in engineered microorganisms. Front Microbiol. 2024;15:1444099. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2024.1444099
- PubChem. Valencene (CID 9855795). National Library of Medicine. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/9855795
- Booth JK, Page JE, Bohlmann J. Terpene synthases from Cannabis sativa. PLoS One. 2017;12(3):e0173911. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0173911
- 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
- Marques FM, Figueira MM, Schmitt EFP, et al. In vitro anti-inflammatory activity of terpenes via suppression of superoxide and nitric oxide generation and the NF-κB signalling pathway. Inflammopharmacology. 2019;27(2):281-289. doi:10.1007/s10787-018-0483-z
- Finlay DB, Sircombe KJ, Nimick M, et al. Terpenoids from cannabis do not mediate an entourage effect by acting at cannabinoid receptors. Front Pharmacol. 2020;11:359. doi:10.3389/fphar.2020.00359
