Key takeaways
- Terpineol is a monoterpenoid alcohol, C10H18O, with a molecular weight of 154.25 g/mol. Alpha-terpineol (CAS 98-55-5) is the most common of its isomers.
- It smells floral and lilac-like, sweet, with a soft pine edge, and PubChem lists its odour as floral, lilac.
- It is found in pine oil, cajuput oil and many other plants, and commercial terpineol is mostly made from pinene in turpentine.
- It boils at about 217 to 221 C and melts at about 35 to 40 C, so it can be a thick liquid or a soft solid at cool room temperatures.
- Elite Terpenez sells floral, pine and lavender-led profiles in several lines. They are blends, not single-molecule terpineol products, and their listed aroma notes describe the smell rather than the contents.
- Never use a concentrated terpene undiluted. Test a small batch first and work from the calculator’s starting cuts.
What is terpineol?
Terpineol is a colourless, viscous liquid made of ten carbon atoms with an alcohol group on a six-membered ring. Chemists classify it as a monocyclic monoterpenoid alcohol. Its formula is C10H18O and its molecular weight is 154.25 g/mol, according to PubChem’s alpha-terpineol record.
The name covers a small family of isomers that differ in where one double bond sits. Alpha-terpineol (CAS 98-55-5) is by far the most common. Beta-terpineol (CAS 138-87-4) and gamma-terpineol (CAS 586-81-2) are minor forms, and a related molecule, terpinen-4-ol (CAS 562-74-3), is often discussed alongside them. A supplier listing for “terpineol” is usually a mixture of isomers, sold under CAS 8000-41-7, and that mixture is mostly alpha.
If you are new to the topic, our guide to what terpenes are covers the basics before the detail below.
What does terpineol smell like?
Terpineol smells floral, sweet and lilac-like, with a soft, slightly piney and fresh edge. PubChem lists its odour as floral and lilac, and perfumers have used it for generations as the base of lilac and lily-of-the-valley style accords. It is rounder and warmer than the sharp pine of pinene, and gentler than the citrus of limonene.
How a terpineol-led aroma reads depends on what sits beside it:
- Alone: a soft lilac blossom with a faint pine and citrus lift.
- With pine notes: a floral-pine impression, like pine needles with flowers behind them.
- With fruit notes: a perfumed, juicy sweetness, which is why florals appear in grape, berry and stone-fruit flavours.
- With earthy or woody notes: a soft floral edge that stops a dry base smelling flat.
Where is terpineol found in nature?
Terpineol occurs in the essential oils of many plants. It is a recognised component of pine oil, cajuput oil and petitgrain oil, and PubChem also records it in plants such as tea. It appears in smaller amounts in a long list of herbs, flowers and citrus peels, and it is reported in the aromatic oils of some cannabis varieties.
Terpineol is also easy to make from other terpenes. Pinene, the main terpene in turpentine, can be hydrated with water and acid to give alpha-terpineol, and a peer-reviewed study of alpha-terpineol from crude sulfate turpentine reports a yield of 77% by weight of the starting alpha-pinene. That is why most commercial terpineol is a manufactured, pinene-derived ingredient rather than an extracted one.
Amounts in plants vary with species, region and extraction method, so there is no single figure for how much any one plant holds.
What are the key facts about terpineol?
The table below puts alpha-terpineol next to three related molecules so you can compare the numbers. Data comes from PubChem records for each molecule and boiling points are rounded.
| Molecule | Class | Formula | CAS number | Boiling point | Aroma |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha-terpineol | Monoterpenoid (alcohol) | C10H18O | 98-55-5 | About 217 to 221 C | Floral, lilac |
| Terpinen-4-ol | Monoterpenoid (alcohol) | C10H18O | 562-74-3 | About 209 to 212 C | Pine |
| Linalool | Monoterpenoid (alcohol) | C10H18O | 78-70-6 | About 198 C | Floral, lavender-like |
| Alpha-pinene | Bicyclic monoterpene | C10H16 | 80-56-8 | About 155 to 156 C | Fresh pine |
A few more figures help with handling. Alpha-terpineol has a density of about 0.93 g/mL, so it is lighter than water, and a melting point of about 35 to 40 C, which is why it can thicken or set in a cold room. It is only slightly soluble in water, at about 7 g/L at 25 C, but it dissolves readily in ethanol and in oils.
How is terpineol different from linalool and pinene?
Terpineol sits between the floral alcohols and the pine hydrocarbons, which is exactly where it comes from. Pinene is a C10H16 hydrocarbon with a pine smell. Add water to its structure and you get C10H18O, an alcohol with a soft, flowery smell, which is terpineol. The same swap from hydrocarbon to alcohol explains why terpineol is rounder and sweeter than the pinene it was made from.
Linalool has exactly the same formula, C10H18O, but a different layout of atoms. It is an open chain rather than a ring, and it smells lighter and more lavender-like, where terpineol smells more lilac and pine. Our linalool guide covers that partner in detail, and our pinene guide covers the hydrocarbon terpineol comes from.
Terpinolene, covered in our terpinolene guide, is another close relative: it shares the same ring skeleton but has no alcohol group, and it smells fresh, piney and slightly floral. If you work with one of these molecules, expect to meet the others.
How is terpineol sourced?
Commercial terpineol is mostly made from turpentine-derived pinene by hydration, or obtained from pine oil, then distilled to the specification a buyer needs. Because it is a standard fragrance and flavour ingredient made at scale, it is widely available.
In flavour and aroma work, terpineol reaches a finished profile in one of three ways:
- Isolated or purified: the single molecule or a terpineol isomer mixture, used as a floral building block.
- Present in a whole plant extract: terpineol alongside the other molecules the plant made, as in cannabis-derived terpenes (CDTs).
- Present in a botanical blend: soft floral and pine notes assembled with other botanical-derived terpenes (BDTs) to recreate a target aroma.
A layered blend usually smells more natural, because the molecules that occur together in a plant balance each other. An isolated terpineol note is more predictable but can smell like a single floral accord rather than a living flower.
Which Elite Terpenez profiles have a floral, lilac or pine aroma?
Elite Terpenez does not sell a single-molecule terpineol product. Every profile is a blend, and we do not state the contents of any profile, so the table shows each profile’s listed aroma notes only. Profiles with a floral, pine or lavender aroma such as these sit closest to the terpineol direction:
| Profile | Line | Listed aroma notes |
|---|---|---|
| Trainwreck | Premium Line (CDT) | Earthy, floral, pine |
| Skywalker OG | Premium Line (CDT) | Pine, berry, floral |
| White Widow | Classic Strains (BDT) | Earthy wood, sweet pine, soft floral |
| Northern Lights | Classic Strains (BDT) | Sweet pine, warm spice, musky floral |
| ACDC | Classic Strains (BDT) | Earthy wood, soft pine, floral spice |
| Blueberry Lavender Jones | Infused Terpenes (BDT) | Sweet blueberry, soft lavender, floral jam |
For a floral-and-pine direction with an earthy base, start with Trainwreck or White Widow. For a berry-led floral with a pine edge, look at Skywalker OG. For a softer, sweeter floral on fruit, look at Blueberry Lavender Jones. To browse more, see the Premium Line, Classic Strains and Infused Terpenes collections, or the full Flavour Catalogue.
For cannabinoid content of any profile other than the Diamond Line, contact us and we will confirm before you order. Diamond Line terpenes contain no THC or other cannabinoids. Cannabis flower is a controlled drug in the UK and Elite Terpenez does not sell cannabis.
What does terpineol pair with?
Terpineol is a good team player, and many popular flavours are a soft lilac or pine floral layered over something fruity, earthy or sweet. Use these pairings as a guide when you plan a blend or choose between profiles:
| Pair terpineol with | Resulting impression | Example listed aroma notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pine and earth | Floral forest floor | White Widow: earthy wood, sweet pine, soft floral |
| Berry | Perfumed berry | Skywalker OG Premium Line: pine, berry, floral |
| Blueberry and lavender | Floral jam | Blueberry Lavender Jones: sweet blueberry, soft lavender, floral jam |
| Warm spice | Musky, spiced floral | Northern Lights: sweet pine, warm spice, musky floral |
These are separate profiles from the Elite range, each with its own listed notes. They show the direction of the pairing and say nothing about what any bottle contains. For a different floral direction, our geraniol guide covers the rose side of the aroma wheel.
How do makers use terpineol for flavour and aroma?
Makers use floral, lilac-and-pine notes to give a product a soft, perfumed middle. They are popular where a fruit or earthy flavour needs a gentle floral lift, and in strain-style recipes where a floral-pine character is part of the target. They also pair easily with citrus and spice.
A few practical points:
- Go lightly: floral notes carry far, and too much can turn soapy or perfumed in a way that reads as cosmetic rather than flavour.
- Build, do not stack: pair a floral profile with fruit, pine or spice to avoid a flat, single-note result.
- Test small: run a small batch, wait a day, and re-smell it before scaling.
- Expect it to set: because terpineol melts near 35 to 40 C, a cold bottle can thicken. Warm it gently to room temperature before measuring, and keep it away from flames.
What are the starting cuts and handling rules?
Terpene profiles are concentrated and must never be used undiluted. Elite Terpenez’s starting cuts are 6% for vape cartridges, 4% for concentrates, 2% for tinctures, 1% for edibles, 0.5% for beverages and 3% for topicals. Use the terpene mixing calculator to turn a percentage into a weight, and always test a small batch first.
Alpha-terpineol is listed on PubChem as a skin irritant and a serious eye irritant in most notifications, and some list it as a combustible liquid. Wear gloves and eye protection, keep every bottle away from children, pets, heat and flames, and work in a ventilated space. For general workplace guidance, see the HSE’s COSHH basics. Products are for adults (18+) only. This guide is about flavour and aroma, and it is not medical advice.
Storage
Store terpene bottles tightly closed in a cool, dark place; refrigerated is ideal. Light, warmth and air speed up oxidation, so a half-empty bottle left open will lose its freshness faster than a full, closed one. Decant what you need and reseal promptly.
If a floral profile starts to smell flat, sharp or stale rather than soft and sweet, it has probably aged. It is better to test a fresh bottle than to adjust your recipe to compensate. Label the date you opened each bottle so you can track how long it has been in use.
Sizes and bulk
Profiles come in 2 ml, 5 ml and 10 ml bottles. For larger runs, ask about bulk on the wholesale and bulk page. Free UK delivery on orders over £80.
Frequently asked questions
What is terpineol?
Terpineol is a monocyclic monoterpenoid alcohol with the formula C10H18O. The main form, alpha-terpineol, has the CAS number 98-55-5 and smells floral and lilac-like with a pine edge. It is found in pine oil and many other plants, and commercial terpineol is mostly made from pinene. Makers use it as a flavour and aroma ingredient.
What does terpineol smell like?
Terpineol smells floral, sweet and lilac-like, with a soft, slightly piney edge, and PubChem lists its odour as floral, lilac. It is rounder and warmer than the sharp pine of pinene and gentler than the citrus of limonene. In a blended profile it gives a perfumed, floral middle note.
What is the difference between alpha-terpineol and terpineol?
Terpineol is a family of isomers, and alpha-terpineol is the main one. Beta-terpineol (CAS 138-87-4) and gamma-terpineol (CAS 586-81-2) are minor forms. A listing for “terpineol” is usually a mixture of isomers sold under CAS 8000-41-7, and it is mostly alpha-terpineol. Check the CAS number when comparing supplier listings.
Where does terpineol come from?
Terpineol is found in pine oil, cajuput oil, petitgrain oil and many other plants. Commercially it is mostly made by hydrating pinene from turpentine, and one study reports a yield of 77% by weight from the alpha-pinene in crude turpentine. Natural amounts vary with plant variety, region and extraction method.
What is the boiling point of terpineol?
Alpha-terpineol boils at about 217 to 221 C and melts at about 35 to 40 C, according to PubChem. That makes it a thick liquid or soft solid at cool room temperatures, and less volatile than pinene, which boils at about 156 C. Warm a cold bottle gently to room temperature before measuring.
Which Elite Terpenez profiles have a floral or lilac aroma?
Profiles with a floral, pine or lavender aroma include Trainwreck, Skywalker OG, White Widow, Northern Lights, ACDC and Blueberry Lavender Jones, across three lines. Each lists its own aroma notes on its product page. Elite Terpenez does not sell a single-molecule terpineol product and does not state the contents of its profiles.
Which Elite Terpenez profiles are suggested for terpineol, and what are their listed notes?
Start with Premium Line Trainwreck (earthy, floral, pine); Classic Strains White Widow (earthy wood, sweet pine, soft floral); Infused Terpenes Blueberry Lavender Jones (sweet blueberry, soft lavender, floral jam). Notes come from each product page, and every profile is sold in 2 ml, 5 ml and 10 ml bottles.
Ready to build a floral flavour? Browse the Premium, Classic Strains and Infused ranges, order samples in 2 ml bottles, or contact us for bulk quantities and to confirm anything about a profile before you order.
