The words people use to describe the smell and taste of cannabis flower, extract, and other products are many and various, but if you’ve found yourself perusing strain descriptions on any cannabis-focused web page, you’ve almost certainly come across terms like piney, fruity, as having a gas or fuel-like quality, or having a sweet smell, notes of lavender or lemon… While people experience these qualities differently, most of these impressions are due to active compounds in cannabis that are known as terpenes.
Terpenes are aromatic compounds found in most plants. The fragrance of most plants is due to a combination of terpenes. In nature, these terpenes function to protect the plants from animal grazing or infectious germs.
In addition, terpenes are now thought to offer some health benefits to the human body.
Terpenes are part of the complex relationship between people and plants, and form a central part of the appeal of various cannabis strains. They play a vital role in plants. Some terpenes play a protective role in the plant, helping the plant to recover from damage; others act as a part of the plant’s immune system to keep away infectious germs. In some plants, terpenes attract pollinators, while in other plants, they cause a strong reaction to repel predators, such as insects or foraging animals. They also impact the relationship of humans and plants, their individual qualities leading people to cultivate plants with particular terpenes, and to breed them successively for stronger tendencies toward those.
Terpenes are the natural form of these compounds when they are in the live plant. As a plant dries and cures — in the production of cannabis, for example — the terpenes oxidize and become terpenoids.
How are they different from cannabinoids? (Cannabinoids are the chemical compounds in cannabis.) Cannabinoids, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), activate receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system. This is what creates the “high” that people experience when they use cannabis. Cannabidiol (CBD) is another cannabinoid that is becoming more and more popular for its medicinal properties. Although CBD acts on some of the same receptors as THC, it influences them differently and does not create any euphoria. THC and CBD may be the most well-known cannabinoids, but they are just two of over 100 cannabinoids that the cannabis plant contains.
The cannabis plant also contains terpenes, which, while not responsible for psychoactive effects, are among the most abundant compounds in the natural world. While we know that terpenes are primarily responsible for the smell of most plants and some animal scents, some may also act on the endocannabinoid system in the body in a similar way to cannabinoids. The key difference is that the body absorbs and uses these compounds in different ways.
While there are many terpenes in the natural world, scientists have only studied a handful. Some examples of better-known terpenes include:
Limonene: Limonene is a common terpene that most people can recognize by its scent. As the name suggests, limonene gives the rinds of fruits such as lemons and oranges their citrusy smell. Limonene appears to modulate the way certain immune cells behave, which may protect the body from a range of disorders. Limonene is also safe for people to take as a supplement.
Pinene: Pinene is another naturally abundant terpene. There are two forms of pinene: a-pinene and b-pinene. Pinene provides the fresh, bright scent of many plants, including pine needles, rosemary, and basil. Pinene may also have some therapeutic benefits.
Shirin-yoku, which means “forest bathing,” is a Japanese therapy that involves taking leisurely walks in the forest, soaking up the atmosphere, and enjoying the scent. Shirin-yoku is thought to potentially have preventive and restorative effects on a person’s psyche and physiology. A study in Acta Salus Vitae notes that the amount of pinene in the air of a healthy forest is enough to be therapeutic. Pinene acts as a bronchodilator, allowing more air into the lungs. It also has an anti-inflammatory effect and may fight against some infectious germs when inhaled.
Linalool: Linalool is most abundant in the lavender plant and gives the flower its rich scent. Linalool is one of the more important compounds in aromatherapy and is responsible for the calming effect many people get when smelling lavender or its essential oil.
Myrcene: Myrcene is a terpene commonly found in plants such as hops, lemongrass, and thyme. The flowers of the cannabis plant also contain myrcene. Myrcene is a powerful antioxidant. One study in mice concludes that myrcene could help protect the brain from oxidative damage following a stroke. Another study in mice found that myrcene had a similar protective effect in heart tissue, though it’s important to bear in mind that these studies used extremely high concentrations of myrcene, up to 200 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) (mg/kg) of weight.
Beta-caryophyllene: exists in many herbs and vegetables, such as cloves and black pepper.
Humulene: is a key component of the hop plant. Other plants, such as clove and ginger, also contain it.
Borneol: This terpene has a minty aroma and flavor with an unusual underlying metallic tone. Its medicinal qualities include uses as an anti-inflammatory and an analgesic. You can find Borneol in cannabis strains such as K13-Haze, Golden Haze, and Amnesia Haze.
Phytol: With floral tones, this terpene contributes a sense of relaxation. It’s often used for its sedative and anti-anxiety properties. Another of its therapeutic qualities is as an anti-inflammatory. This terpene can be found in the underlying tones of Sour Diesel.
Eucalyptol: The aroma of this terpene is a cooling menthol, minty scent. It has both anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. It is a secondary component of the Headband.
Sabinene: Although not one of the most common cannabis terpenes, this strain has a unique peppery or spicy scent. This terpene is potent, and should be used in small quantities. Its medicinal uses include anti-bacterial and antioxidant properties.
These are just a sampling of the array of aromatic compounds that create the characteristic scents of many plants, including cannabis, pine, and lavender, thyme, sage, tea, and orange peel. As regulations surrounding cannabis become less strict, scientists are able to carry out more research into the possible benefits. IC Collective follows cannabis research and science closely, and we are thrilled to share with you our new terpene meter, calibrated and calculated for each and every strain in our catalog.
