Constituent · Monoterpene hydrocarbon
δ-3-carene
δ-3-carene is a light, volatile monoterpene hydrocarbon — the kind of fresh, often citrusy or piney top-note compound that evaporates fastest from an oil. Across our dataset it was measured in 43 oils (347 samples), concentrating most in Pine, Cypress, Eucalyptus globulus.
Essential oils richest in δ-3-carene
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pine | 17.9% | 11.6%–32.85% | 47.9% | 15 |
| Cypress | 17.71% | 13.17%–23.62% | 28.73% | 7 |
| Eucalyptus globulus | 16.85% | 16.85%–16.85% | 16.85% | 1 |
| Black pepper | 13.35% | 3.81%–23.05% | 40.91% | 20 |
| Dill | 11.43% | 11.43%–11.43% | 11.43% | 1 |
| Balsam fir | 10.3% | 10.3%–10.3% | 10.3% | 1 |
| Cumin | 6.43% | 6.43%–6.43% | 6.43% | 1 |
| Juniper | 5.9% | 3.45%–9.3% | 17.9% | 7 |
| Sacred frankincense | 4.22% | 4.22%–4.22% | 4.22% | 1 |
| Spearmint | 3.7% | 3.7%–3.7% | 3.7% | 1 |
| Cardamom | 3.07% | 2.85%–3.19% | 9.5% | 16 |
| Cajeput | 2.86% | 2.86%–2.86% | 2.86% | 1 |
| Geranium | 1.52% | 0.06%–3.16% | 8.09% | 11 |
| Anise | 1.33% | 1.33%–1.33% | 1.33% | 1 |
| Blue tansy | 1.1% | 1.1%–1.1% | 1.1% | 1 |
| Petitgrain | 1.08% | 1.05%–1.19% | 1.29% | 3 |
| Basil | 0.8% | 0.21%–1% | 1.1% | 5 |
| Nutmeg | 0.77% | 0.69%–1.03% | 2.02% | 9 |
| Myrtle | 0.69% | 0.35%–2.02% | 6.62% | 24 |
| Fennel | 0.58% | 0.37%–0.76% | 1% | 7 |
Oils in our library are linked above — open any profile for its full composition, safety panel and the research behind it.
Related constituents
Other monoterpene 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 →