Terpene

Terpenes are a large and diverse class of natural products with the general formula (C5H8)n, where n ≥ 2. They serve as crucial biosynthetic building blocks in many organisms, particularly plants. Comprising more than 30,000 compounds, these unsaturated hydrocarbons are produced predominantly by plants, particularly conifers.

In plants, terpenes and terpenoids are important mediators of ecological interactions, while some insects use some terpenes as a form of defense.
Other functions of terpenoids include cell growth modulation and plant elongation, light harvesting and photoprotection, and membrane permeability and fluidity control.

Back to Scents & Chemistry →

Source: Wikipedia · Image: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

ODORTEST

Measure the air — olfactometry, odour-unit maths, emission rates, and the dilution calculators every odor assessment needs.

Get new guides by emailOccasional emails. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

InformationAbout Contact Privacy Policy Terms of Service Disclaimer Affiliate Disclosure Cookie Policy

Every entry, image, and fact is drawn from Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons, used under public-domain and Creative Commons licenses. No content is AI-generated.