The present disclosure provides a genetically modified host cell capable of producing linalool (or 3,7-dimethylocta-1,6-dien-3-ol).

The present invention provides a composition containing linalool, wherein the composition contains a high amount of either enantiomer R-linalool or S-linalool, and has a high content rate of linalool. The present invention also provides a production method for producing the composition. The present invention further provides a composition containing volatile components including linalool, in which a content of linalool in a total content of the volatile components in the composition is 60% or more, and the linalool is present as R-linalool or S-linalool in an amount of 50% or more of the enantiomer, and a production method therefor.

The present invention describes an efficient method for producing linalool. The present invention provides a method for producing linalool, the method including culturing a microorganism expressing linalool synthase in a culture medium to produce linalool. The present invention also describes a microorganism able to express linalool synthase and efficiently produce linalool.

The present invention relates to host cells comprising genes of the mevalonate and linalool pathways, methods as well as kits for producing linalool.

Linalool synthase variants are disclosed. The variants preferably comprise an amino acid sequence having one or more amino acid substitutions. Variants producing a greater linalool yield and/or higher linalool:nerolidol ratio compared with the corresponding wild type linalool synthase are also disclosed. A method comprising the conversion of geranyl pyrophosphate to linalool using a linalool synthase variant is also disclosed.