Myrcene, or ß-myrcene, is an
olefinic natural
organic compound. It is classified as a
hydrocarbon, more precisely as a
monoterpene. Monoterpenes are
dimers of isoprenoid precursors, and myrcene is one of the most important. It is a component of the
essential oil of several plants including
bay,
cannabis,
ylang-ylang,
wild thyme,
parsley, and
hops. It is produced mainly semi-synthetically from
myrcia, from which it gets its name. It is a key intermediate in the production of several fragrances. a-Myrcene is the name for the structural isomer 2-methyl-6-methylene-1,7-octadiene, which is not found in nature and is little used.