Constituent · Sesquiterpene hydrocarbon
α-humulene
A woody sesquiterpene that accompanies beta-caryophyllene in hops, clove and many spice oils.
Essential oils richest in α-humulene
Measured relative composition (GC peak-area %) pooled across published GC-MS samples — median, typical range (middle 50%) and the maximum seen.
| Oil | Median | Typical range | Max | Samples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dill | 8.78% | 4.44%–13.12% | 17.46% | 2 |
| Copaiba | 6.06% | 4.96%–6.66% | 8.25% | 14 |
| Sacred frankincense | 4.55% | 4.55%–4.55% | 4.55% | 1 |
| Sage | 2.8% | 1.89%–3.87% | 12.19% | 48 |
| Spikenard | 1.97% | 1.5%–2.11% | 9.09% | 22 |
| Ginger | 1.92% | 1.92%–1.92% | 1.92% | 1 |
| German chamomile | 1.63% | 1.55%–1.67% | 1.98% | 6 |
| Clove | 1.62% | 0.89%–2.49% | 3.81% | 12 |
| Melissa | 1.53% | 1.2%–1.87% | 4.4% | 24 |
| Juniper | 1.5% | 1.08%–2.13% | 3.8% | 20 |
| Clary sage | 1.4% | 1.4%–1.4% | 1.4% | 1 |
| Fennel | 1.4% | 1.4%–1.4% | 1.4% | 1 |
| Ylang ylang | 1.35% | 0.28%–2.81% | 11.02% | 16 |
| Balsam fir | 1.12% | 1.12%–1.12% | 1.12% | 1 |
| Ravintsara | 1% | 0.83%–1.42% | 2.46% | 11 |
| Black pepper | 0.87% | 0.29%–1.61% | 7.66% | 24 |
| Myrtle | 0.76% | 0.19%–1.5% | 12.39% | 43 |
| Yarrow | 0.73% | 0.64%–1.87% | 4.07% | 11 |
| Rose | 0.58% | 0.42%–0.61% | 1.6% | 26 |
| Patchouli | 0.55% | 0.51%–0.6% | 1.24% | 8 |
Oils in our library are linked above — open any profile for its full composition, safety panel and the research behind it.
Related constituents
Other sesquiterpene hydrocarbon compounds across the oils.
Figures are GC peak-area percentages pooled across published GC-MS samples, not concentrations, and describe chemistry — not health effects. How this is built →