Active compounds including sclareol-like and sclareolide-like compounds are usefull in methods of treating a wide variety of conditions and disorders, including those disorders caused by microbial (e.g., fungal and bacterial) infections, as well as those conditions and disorders caused by other mechanisms (e.g., activation of the adenylyl cyclase system). Pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations comprising these active compounds are also useful in treating these disorders. One disorder that may be treated by the methods and formulations of the present invention is acne.