# Ocimene

> Ocimene is a sweet, green, herbal monoterpene, usually reported as beta-ocimene isomers, that often accompanies terpinolene in cannabis profiles.

- Canonical: https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/ocimene.html
- Also written: beta-ocimene, β-ocimene, trans-ocimene, cis-ocimene, ocimine
- Glossary category: Cannabinoids and terpenes · Evidence: Established
- Status: Draft: awaiting expert review · Updated: 2026-10-31
- Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), attribute "GenetixBay cannabis glossary"

Ocimene is an acyclic [monoterpene](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/monoterpene.md), a structural isomer of [myrcene](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/myrcene.md), existing as several isomers (cis- and trans-beta-ocimene, alpha-ocimene). It smells sweet, green, herbal and slightly woody, and is found in basil (*Ocimum*, the source of the name), mint, orchids and mango. Plants release it readily; in many species it's a signalling volatile that attracts pollinators or responds to insect feeding.

## In practice

Cannabis panels often report "ocimene" as one figure summing the isomers, or list them separately. Typical readings run from [not detected](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/non-detect.md) to about 0.3% w/w; higher values tend to appear in [terpinolene-dominant](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/terpinolene.md) [chemotypes](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/chemotype.md). It is very volatile, so it falls sharply in fast-dried or old flower and is often higher in [fresh-frozen](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/fresh-frozen.md) material.

## Don't confuse with

- **Myrcene**: an isomer with a muskier, earthier smell.
- **Terpinolene**: a co-occurring monoterpene with a fresher, piney-floral note.
- **Ocimum**: the basil genus, not a compound.

## Related terms

[Monoterpene](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/monoterpene.md), [Terpinolene](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/terpinolene.md), [Myrcene](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/myrcene.md), [Terpene profile](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/terpene-profile.md)

## Sources

1. Booth JK, Bohlmann J. 2019. Terpenes in Cannabis sativa: from plant genome to humans. Plant Science 284:67-72.
2. Smith CJ, Vergara D, Keegan B, Jikomes N. 2022. The phytochemical diversity of commercial Cannabis in the United States. PLOS ONE 17(5):e0267498. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0267498