epi-β-Bourbonene (CAS 92998-16-8) is a sesquiterpene hydrocarbon with a warm woody, spicy, lightly balsamic character, typically occurring as a minor constituent of many essential oils (e.g., from Lauraceae, Rutaceae, Asteraceae), and is therefore used mainly in fragrance to add depth, dryness, and diffusion to woody–spicy–earthy accords in fine perfumery, personal care, candles, and deodorizing products; in foods and beverages it can be employed as a natural flavoring where regulations permit; in laboratories it serves as a reference/marker for essential-oil quality control, GC–MS fingerprinting, botanical authentication and geo-harvest variability studies, and as a hydrocarbon scaffold for directed transformations to generate new odorants; biologically, preclinical reports on sesquiterpene-rich mixtures (containing epi-β-bourbonene) indicate antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and insect-repellent activities, suggesting potential in natural preservation, pest management, and green cosmetics, although further validation of efficacy, safety, and formulation stability is needed; additionally, with medium volatility and hydrophobicity it is useful in biogenic VOC research (plant–insect interactions, aroma emissions) and as an indicator of degradation/oxidation in essential-oil supply chains.
