Farnesol

AKA: 4602-84-0, 3, 7, 11-Trimethyl-2, 6, 10-dodecatrien-1-ol, Farnesyl alcohol, FCI 119a, 2, 10-Dodecatrien-1-ol, Trimethyl dodecatrienol, FEMA No. 2478, Nikkosome, 10-dodecatrienol
Allergen Warning
⚠️ EU Fragrance Allergen
Synthetic
Fragrance
Not Clean
Farnesol is a signaling molecule that is derived from farnesyl diphosphate, an intermediate in the isoprenoid/cholesterol biosynthetic pathway. Farnesol is a 15 carbon isoprenoid alcohol is the corresponding dephosphorylated form of the isoprenoid farnesyl diphosphate. Farnesol has a potential role in controlling the degradation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMGCoA) reductase (EC 1.1.1.34, NADPH-hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase). The enzyme is stabilized under conditions of cellular sterol depletion (e.g. statin-treated cells) and rapidly degraded in sterol-loaded cells. In mammalian cells, this enhanced degradation is dependent on the presence of both a sterol and a non-sterol derived from the isoprenoid pathway; farnesol, the dephosphorylated form of farnesyl diphosphate, can function as the non-sterol component. Farnesol has been shown to activate the farnesoid receptor (FXR), a nuclear receptor that forms a functional heterodimer with RXR. Thus, dephosphorylation of
Solubility Soluble in three volumes of 70% alcohol
Formula
C15H26O
Mol. Weight
222.37
CAS #
4602-84-0
State
Farnesol is a colorless liquid with a delicate floral odor. (NTP, 1992)
Functions
Fragrance
Added for scent. Can be natural or synthetic. Common irritant and allergen — one of the top reasons people react to products.
Controls Odor
Adds Fragrance
Neutralizes odor
Traditional Use
Modern synthetic ingredient designation. Specific traditional use cannot be determined without knowing which isomers are referenced; used in cosmetics as functional compounds with varying properties depending on chemical structure.
EWG
3
CIR
Insufficient
Pregnancy
CIR Safety Findings
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Status
USAunder review
EUrestricted
JAPANrestricted
CANADArestricted
Skin Types
all-skin-types
Best For
General
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewed1 paper
⚖️Regulatory0 listings
🛡️Safety-assessed1 review
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
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Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR