Myrcene on your skin: a safety profile

What is myrcene?

The IUPAC name is 7-methyl-3-methylideneocta-1,6-diene.

Also known as: 7-methyl-3-methylideneocta-1,6-diene, beta-Myrcene, 1,6-Octadiene, 7-methyl-3-methylene-, 7-Methyl-3-methylene-1,6-octadiene.

IUPAC name

7-methyl-3-methylideneocta-1,6-diene

CAS number

123-35-3

Molecular formula

C10H16

Molecular weight

136.23 g/mol

SMILES

CC(=CCCC(=C)C=C)C

PubChem CID

31253

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Myrcene.

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where you encounter myrcene

• Personal Care — perfume, essential oils, cosmetics
• Food — hops, bay leaf, thyme (natural)
• Fragrance — perfume, cologne, scented personal care products, household fragrance products, candles
  Identified in Fragrance Ingredient Safety Priority Research database (2,325 ingredients)

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Myrcene:

• Unscented formulation; Lower-sensitization structural analog
  Trade-offs: Eliminates allergen risk entirely; consumer acceptance varies (some associate scent with cleanliness/efficacy); growing market segment; regulatory advantage in EU (no IFRA compliance needed).
  Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions