Both enantiomers are known in nature; (1S,5S)- or (−)-α-pinene is more common in European pines, whereas the (1R,5R)- or (+)-α-isomer is more common in North America.
Begge enantiomerer kendes fra naturen; 1S,5S- eller (-)-α-pinen er mest almindelig i europæiske fyrretræer, mens 1R,5R- eller (+)-α-isomeren er mest almindelig i Nordamerika.