What does linalol mean?
Linalol is the less common spelling of linalool, an organic compound classified as a terpene alcohol. It occurs naturally in numerous plants and essential oils, including lavender and coriander, and has a fresh, floral aroma with light citrus and woody notes. These qualities make it valuable in perfumery, cosmetics, soaps, and flavouring, while researchers also study its presence in plant oils and the composition of aromas. Although its name may sound unfamiliar, linalool is one of the more widely occurring terpene compounds. The spelling linalol remains in dictionaries and specialist usage, but linalool is the preferred form in most modern English-language references. Chemically, the compound has two enantiomeric forms, whose individual odours can differ, and it also occurs in various essential oils at different concentrations.
nounA naturally occurring terpene alcohol found in many plants and essential oils, with a fresh, floral, slightly citrus-like scent. It is used in perfumery and as a flavouring compound.
- A terpene alcohol occurring naturally in a wide variety of plants and essential oils and used in perfumery and flavouring.
"The lavender oil contained a high concentration of linalol, which gave the room its delicate floral fragrance."
"The laboratory measured the linalol content in the lavender oil before approving the batch for use in the fragrance."
"Linalol contributes a fresh, gently floral note to many perfumes and toiletries."
Rare; linalol is normally used as a mass noun when referring to the chemical substance.
"The researchers compared the linalols isolated from several different essential oils."
The molecule behind the familiar scent of lavender also helps give coriander and certain citrus fruits their distinctive aroma.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does linalol come from?
Linalol is a spelling variant of linalool, a name formed in 19th-century chemical usage from the element linal- and the suffix -ol, which denotes an alcohol. The name is associated with linaloe oil, from which the compound was obtained, and the modern three-o spelling, linalool, eventually became the prevailing form.
How linalol is actually used
Linalol is mainly a technical, chemical, and commercial form of the word. In general usage, linalool is substantially more common; the two spellings denote the same substance rather than different compounds.
Easily confused with linalol
Linalol and linalool are variant spellings of the same chemical compound, although linalool is the more common modern spelling.