What Is Fenchol?

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Last Updated on 8 months by Lindsey Holthaus

Fenchol herb is a secondary terpene typically found in cannabis. It is also found in basil and has a naturally occurring earthy aroma. Fenchol also makes up around 16% of volatile oils found in certain species of Aster.

Fenchol herb is a monoterpenoid frequently used to make perfumes. It has a fresh, citrus taste and naturally occurs in basil. It also has antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antibacterial properties. Fenchol herb has an invigorating scent, making it an essential component in fabric softeners, powder, and liquid detergents.

How Does Using Fenchol Herb Factor in Daily Life

Fenchol is used in everyday life. For instance, it naturally occurs in basil used for cooking. It also naturally occurs in aster flowers, providing the aroma that emanates from them. Fenchol herb can also be encountered in daily life when you mist your wrists with citrus body spray or wash your hair with herbal shampoo.

Fenchol and Its Role in Cannabis

Certain cannabis varieties have elevated levels of fenchol in them compared to others. Since fenchol herb is a secondary terpene, it isn’t found in many cannabis varieties, unlike primary terpenes like pinene and myrcene.

As of this moment, its role as an element of cannabis is understudied, and due to this, it isn’t well understood. Scientists will need to conduct more research to understand its contribution to the pain-relieving and psychoactive effects cannabis provides.

Fenchol is typically found in Banana Kush and OG Kush. You can also find it in other non-cannabis elements such as nutmeg, wild celery, eucalyptus leaves, aster flowers, and basil.

What Are the Properties of the Fenchol Herb?

Fenchol has shown to be effective in quite a number of therapeutic modes, showing potential as an antioxidant, antimicrobial and antibacterial agent.

Analgesic

Japanese scientists in 2014 carried out a study that suggested the fenchol herb had the potential to have pain relief properties. The proponents of this study believed that fenchol inhibits the TRPA1 receptor – an essential protein found in the human body’s pain signaling system. The study also suggests that fenchol herb, alongside other monoterpenes, could be used in pain management and relief.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial

A study conducted in 2013 tested the efficacy of essential oil from the leaves of a shrub endemic to Asia – the winged prickly ash plant. The oil consisted primarily of linalool; however, it also contained almost 10% of fenchol herb.

The aforementioned study showed that the essential oil has both antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The study also recommended that the essential oil could be useful to the pesticide and food industries with further research.

Antibacterial

Fenchol has been proven to show efficacy against a broad range of bacteria. A 2007 Turkish study tested the fenchol herb’s efficacy among 20 other terpenes. The researchers compared each terpene’s potency in fighting 63 different bacteria strains alongside penicillin.

Fenchol, amongst others, was discovered to inhibit the growth of certain bacteria strains; however, researchers highlighted that penicillin was more effective in controlling antibacterial activity.

Conclusion

Earthy and refreshing, the fenchol herb is mostly known for its contributions to the perfuming industry. It is also used in creating laundry products and shampoo. However, studies have shown terpene to have analgesic, antimicrobial and antibacterial properties that could make it an important compound when used in wider applications.