Linalool
A floral, citrus-like terpene that dominates coriander seed oil and appears in many spices.
Also: coriander aroma compound, floral terpene, licareol
Linalool is a terpene alcohol with a fresh floral, lavender and citrus smell. It makes up around 60 to 80 percent of coriander seed oil, and also occurs in cardamom, basil, lavender, bay and Sichuan pepper. In cooking, linalool gives coriander its sweet, orange-like note, and it is part of what is released when seeds are toasted or crushed. It is volatile and degrades in light and air, hence the need for good storage. It is widely used in perfumery and food flavouring. Because many plants share it, spices can often be swapped when linalool is the target, such as coriander for sweet cardamom in a pinch.