Compounds · Ketones · Terpenoid pathway
Fenchone
Camphor, slightly sweet, with a faint anise note. Sharper than true camphor and less dusty.
- CAS
- 1195-79-5
- Formula
- C10H16O
- Molar mass
- 152.23
- Odour threshold
- —
- Boiling point
- ≈ 193 °C at atmospheric pressure
Volatility
150 °C290 °C
Where it comes from
Biosynthetic pathway: Terpenoid pathway — plants build them from identical five-carbon blocks.
Why it sits where it does
A bicyclic ketone with a skeleton close to camphor’s, but its carbonyl group sits in a different position, so it does not sublime as camphor does.
Where else you meet it
Fennel, star anise, mugwort. In fennel oil it accompanies anethole and forms the cool part beneath the sweet note.