If you have ever relaxed to the smell of lavender, you have met linalool. It is the signature terpene of the lavender plant, and it is the reason lavender has been a fixture in aromatherapy for centuries. It also appears in cannabis, coriander, and birch. Of all the terpenes, linalool has the deepest and best-known link to essential oils, which makes it a perfect bridge between the cannabis world and the aromatherapy world.

Where you find it in nature

Lavender above all, plus coriander, birch, and rosewood.

Aroma and flavor

Soft, floral, and sweet, with a faint spicy edge. It is the classic lavender note, gentle rather than sharp.

What the research says

Linalool is one of the most studied terpenes precisely because of the lavender connection, so a lot of the aromatherapy literature is really linalool literature.

• A widely cited 2018 study by Harada, Kashiwadani, and colleagues in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience reported that the odor of linalool produced anxiolytic effects in mice, without the motor impairment seen with sedative drugs. Two details matter: the effect disappeared in mice that could not smell, and it was blocked by a GABA-A antagonist. Together those point to a mechanism driven by smell, through the olfactory system.
• Broader reviews of lavender aromatherapy, such as a 2023 systematic review in Healthcare, consistently attribute lavender's calming reputation to linalool and linalyl acetate, and note that inhalation is the delivery route with the most support.

This is where honesty really counts. The strongest anxiety-related findings for linalool came from animals smelling it, not eating it. That is a genuine and important limitation for a chew, and we are not going to pretend otherwise. What is well established is that linalool is a beautiful, well-loved aroma compound with a long history in aromatherapy. What it does when eaten in a piece of candy is simply not what these studies tested.

Where linalool shows up in MONDAYS

Linalool lends its soft floral character to our Cozy and Evening profiles. Look for it in Raspberry Relief (LA Confidential) and in the botanical Kosher Kush x Red Raspberry.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

References

1. Harada H, Kashiwadani H, et al. Linalool odor-induced anxiolytic effects in mice. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience. 2018;12:241.
2. Ghavami T, et al. Anxiety-reducing effects of lavender essential oil inhalation: a systematic review. Healthcare. 2023;11(22):2978.
3. Russo EB. Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects. British Journal of Pharmacology. 2011;163(7):1344-1364.