Bisabolol

What is bisabolol?

Bisabolol, also called alpha-bisabolol or levomenol, is a sesquiterpene alcohol. That means it is a larger terpene built from 15 carbon atoms, with an oxygen group attached. On its own it is a clear, thick oil that mixes well with alcohol but not with water.

The form found in plants is mostly (-)-alpha-bisabolol. Lab-made bisabolol is usually a mix of two mirror-image forms, which is one reason some brands point out when theirs comes from a plant.

What does bisabolol smell like?

Bisabolol has a light, sweet, floral smell. It is not loud the way limonene or pinene can be. People describe it as faintly fruity, sometimes nutty or coconut-like, and on its own it has been compared to apples, sugar and honey.

In cannabis it tends to sit in the background, softening sharper notes rather than leading the nose.

Where is bisabolol found besides cannabis?

Bisabolol is easiest to find in a couple of very different plants, and both are major sources for the products that use it:

• German chamomile: bisabolol is the main part of the essential oil from its flowers, which is why chamomile is the plant most linked with it.
• Candeia tree: a Brazilian tree whose oil, distilled from the wood and bark, is rich in bisabolol and is a key commercial source.

Does bisabolol change how a strain feels?

Honestly, nobody knows yet. Research on whether terpenes like bisabolol change how cannabis feels is early and mixed. The "entourage effect", the idea that terpenes and cannabinoids work together, is still being tested rather than proven.

You will see plenty of bold claims about bisabolol online, but people's reports are not proof, and bisabolol is usually present in only small amounts in cannabis anyway. Think of it as part of a strain's smell, and go by the THC and CBD numbers on the label for strength.

Bisabolol vs Nerolidol

Bisabolol and Nerolidol are close chemical cousins: both are sesquiterpene alcohols with the same formula, and both usually turn up in cannabis as minor terpenes rather than the headliner. The difference is in the nose. Bisabolol is sweet and floral, closer to chamomile and honey, while nerolidol smells woody, more like fresh bark. Outside cannabis, bisabolol is mostly a skin care and fragrance ingredient, while nerolidol is used in perfume, food flavouring and even household cleaners.

Finding bisabolol on a label

Some producers list the top terpenes on the package or in a certificate of analysis. Look for bisabolol or alpha-bisabolol there. Because it is usually a minor terpene, it may not make a short "top three" list even when it is present.

Terpene levels change from batch to batch, even within the same strain name, so the results for your specific product are a better guide than a strain's reputation.