Aroma profile
How it Smells
The aroma of γ-Elemene is described as:
Effects
Linked Effects
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 γ-Elemene?
Gamma-elemene is a larger terpene with a sweet, dry, slightly fruity smell. It is part of the scent of myrrh, an old resin used in incense and medicine for thousands of years, and it also appears in celery and mint.
It is a sesquiterpene, so it is heavier than the light citrus and pine terpenes and tends to stay in heated cannabis products longer.
Effects in detail
What the Research Says
Gamma-elemene belongs to the elemene family, which has drawn real scientific interest for cancer research. A close relative, beta-elemene, is studied in some countries as part of cancer care, and laboratory work has explored how elemenes affect tumour cells (Nuutinen, 2018).
It is very important to be careful here. This research is at the laboratory stage for gamma-elemene, and nothing on this page is a treatment or a cure. Anyone with cancer should follow the advice of their medical team.
Everyday sources
Where You Find it in Daily Life
You meet gamma-elemene most clearly in myrrh resin and in the herbs and spices that contain it, such as celery seed and mint. Myrrh oil, used in some balms and incense, is a rich source.
Its warm, slightly spicy smell means it is also used in perfumery.
Research
Key Studies
The review by Nuutinen (2018) and wider research on the elemene family describe the laboratory interest in how these terpenes affect tumour cells.
The chemistry of gamma-elemene is recorded in public databases (National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2025). Human evidence for gamma-elemene itself remains very limited.
References
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
- Cicada Jersey (2020) Terpene Wheel. Available at: https://cicada.je/terpene-wheel/ (Accessed: 11 June 2026).
