isoeugenol is a phenylpropene, a propenyl-substituted guaiacol. a phenylpropanoid, it occurs in the essential oils of plants such as ylang-ylang ("cananga odorata"), and is a component of wood smoke and liquid smoke. it can be synthesized from eugenol and has been used in the manufacture of vanillin. it may occur as either the cis "(z)" or trans "(e)" isomer. trans "(e)" isoeugenol is crystalline while cis "(z)" isoeugenol is a liquid. isoeugenol is one of several phenolic compounds responsible for the mold-inhibiting effect of smoke on meats and cheeses.