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linalool

American  
[li-nal-oh-awl, -ol, lin-uh-lool] / lɪˈnæl oʊˌɔl, -ˌɒl, ˌlɪn əˈlul /
Also linalol

noun

Chemistry.
  1. a colorless, unsaturated terpene liquid alcohol, C 10 H 18 O, having a fragrance similar to that of bergamot oil, obtained from several essential oils: used in perfumery.


linalool British  
/ ˈlɪnəˌlɒl, lɪˈnæləʊˌɒl, ˈlɪnəˌluːl /

noun

  1. an optically active colourless fragrant liquid found in many essential oils and used in perfumery. Formula: C 10 H 18 O

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of linalool

1890–95; < Mexican Spanish lináloe a fragrant Mexican wood ( see lignaloes) + -ol 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The team found higher levels of compounds associated with floral and fruity aromas, including linalool and 2-phenylethanol.

From Science Daily Jun. 23, 2026

For basil, those oils are called eugenol and linalool; oregano gets its flavors from carvacrol and thymol.

From Salon Jun. 20, 2023

Most individuals ranked the smell of vanilla as most pleasant, followed by the scent of ethyl butyrate, a fruity odorant found in ripe bananas and nectarines, and then linalool, common in floral scents.

From Science Magazine Apr. 12, 2022

The key ingredient is linalool, an alcohol component of lavender odor.

From Seattle Times Sep. 20, 2019

When manufacturers add linalool to a fragrance, it gives the impression of lavender, but it smells "harsher," says Labows.

From Los Angeles Times Jan. 16, 2016

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