α-Phellandrene – PatientsCann UK

α-Phellandrene

alpha-Phellandrene

pronounced: fel-AN-dreen

A bright, peppery terpene with a cool, minty edge. Found in dill, fennel and mint.

Monoterpene Boiling point: 171°C
Terpene type
Monoterpene
Boiling point
171°C
Primary aroma
Minty
Key effect
Pain relief

Aroma profile

How it Smells

The aroma of α-Phellandrene is described as:

CitrusPepperyWoodyMintyFresh
Found naturally in: Dill, fennel, black pepper, mint, eucalyptus, ginger grass

Effects

Linked Effects

Eases painLifts moodAnti-inflammatory

These effects are based on early-stage research in animals and cells. They are not proven in humans. Do not change your treatment based on this information.

About

What is α-Phellandrene?

Alpha-phellandrene is a small, light terpene that gives some plants a sharp, peppery smell with a cool minty lift. It is one of the terpenes that helps make dill and fennel smell the way they do. Cannabis usually only contains it in small amounts, but it adds a fresh, spicy note to the overall aroma.

Because it is a small monoterpene molecule, alpha-phellandrene evaporates quickly at room temperature (Booth and Bohlmann, 2019). That is why you can smell it straight away when you crush a fresh dill or fennel frond.

Effects in detail

What the Research Says

Early laboratory research has looked at whether alpha-phellandrene can ease pain. Studies in animals suggest it may lower how strongly pain signals are felt, and may also help lift low mood (Nuutinen, 2018). These findings are interesting but very early, and they have not been tested properly in people.

Like other terpenes, alpha-phellandrene is also being studied for the entourage effect, the idea that terpenes and cannabinoids may work better together than alone (Russo, 2011).

Everyday sources

Where You Find it in Daily Life

You meet alpha-phellandrene most often in the kitchen. It is part of the smell of fresh dill, fennel seeds, and black pepper, and it appears in some mint and ginger plants. A few drops of dill or fennel essential oil carry a strong dose of it.

It is also used in small amounts in perfumes and cleaning products because of its fresh, slightly citrus smell.

Research

Key Studies

A 2018 review by Nuutinen gathered together the laboratory studies on terpenes found in cannabis and hops, including alpha-phellandrene, and noted possible pain-easing and mood-lifting effects seen in animal tests.

Chemistry details, such as its boiling point and molecular shape, are recorded in public science databases (National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2025). As with all terpenes, the human evidence is still being gathered.

Back to full Terpenes Guide
Important: The information on this page is for education only. It is not medical advice. Terpene research is still in its early stages. Many studies have been done in animals, not yet in people. Always speak to your doctor before changing your treatment. PatientsCann UK does not recommend any specific cannabis product.

References

  1. Nuutinen, T. (2018) 'Medicinal properties of terpenes found in Cannabis sativa and Humulus lupulus', European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 157, pp. 198-228. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.07.076.
  2. Booth, J.K. and Bohlmann, J. (2019) 'Terpenes in Cannabis sativa: from plant genome to humans', Plant Science, 284, pp. 67-72. doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2019.03.022.
  3. Russo, E.B. (2011) 'Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects', British Journal of Pharmacology, 163(7), pp. 1344-1364. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01238.x.
  4. National Center for Biotechnology Information (2025) PubChem Compound Database. Bethesda: U.S. National Library of Medicine. Available at: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (Accessed: 11 June 2026).
  5. Cicada Jersey (2020) Terpene Wheel. Available at: https://cicada.je/terpene-wheel/ (Accessed: 11 June 2026).