What are Terpenes?
While most products being sold in the cannabis market are labeled with their levels of cannabinoids and outgoing names, those aren’t the only two things that come into effect when evaluating how cannabis makes one feel. Terpenes are an organic compound found within the cannabis plant and many other natural herbs that provide different scents and tastes, which overall play a major role in the consumption of cannabis. Plants produce these terpenes to attract pollinators, ward off predators, and even help regulate their own temperatures. They are also what gets extracted from plants and used as essential oils for their therapeutic values, and knowing that, we can start to realize how big of a role terpenes will potentially play in consuming cannabis.
What Terpenes are in Cannabis?
How cannabis Terpenes can benefit you.
There are over 20,000 terpenes found within nature, and over 100 found within cannabis. To help narrow it down, below we listed 10 of the most common terpenes found in cannabis, and what they mean.
- Myrcene
Myrcene is one of the most common terpenes found in cannabis, giving an earthy, citrus taste to it’s users while also providing a calm-relaxed experience. Myrcene has also been found to have anti-catabolic and anti-inflammatory properties. Strains that are abundant in Myrcene are: Blue Dream, Cherry Pie, and Granddaddy Purple.
- Limonene
As the third most common terpene in cannabis, Limonene provides users with anti-stress and antioxidant properties, while also giving off a citrusy scent. Strains with Limonene commonly include: Wedding Cake, Do-Si-Dos, and Tahoe OG.
- Pinene
Pinene can be found in most coniferous trees, providing their pine-tree-like scent. Pinene has been found to have anti-anxiety and bronchodilator properties, and can most commonly be found in cannabis strains such as: OG Kush, Jack Herer, and Sweet Island Skunk.
- Caryophyllene
As the second most common terpene in cannabis, Caryophyllene gives users a peppery taste and scent, while also providing antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Strains most commonly found with high levels of Caryophyllene are: Girl Scout Cookies, Bubba Kush, and Sour Diesel.
- Linalool
Linalool is a terpene found commonly in lavender, giving such scent along with antidepressant and muscle relaxing effects. Cannabis strains most commonly found with high levels of Linalool are: Zkittles, LA Confidential, and Dark Matter.
- Ocimene
Ocimene has been found to be a decongestant and expectorant, while also giving users a sweet, herby taste and scent. The most common strains that include Ocimene are: Lemon Haze, Strawberry Cough, and Chernobyl.
- Humulene
Humulene gives its users spicy, earthy aromas, while providing appetite suppressing and anti-inflammatory properties. Cannabis strains that commonly include Humulene are: White Widow, Skywalker OG, and Headband.
- Terpinolene
Being the fourth most common terpene within cannabis, Terpinolene gives users a sweet, floral scent and taste while providing sedative and anti-anxiety properties. Cannabis strains commonly grown with high levels of Terpinolene are: Orange Cookies, Clementine, and Sharklato.
- Nerolidol
Nerolidol is found within some cannabis strains such as: Limocello, Papaya, and Banana OG. Giving users a woodsy type scent and providing natural healing through anticancer and antifungal properties.
- Eucalyptol
Eucalyptol is found in Eucalyptus, providing users a fresh minty smell along with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Cannabis strains that commonly contain Eucalyptol are: Super Silver Haze, London Pound Cake, and Biscotti.
Ward, Andrew. “How Many Terpenes Are Found in Cannabis?” Google, Google, 23 May 2020, https://www.google.com/amp/s/potguide.com/blog/amp/876705/how-many-terpenes-in-cannabis/.
Labs, Pax. “What Are Terpenes and What They Do?” Pax Labs, 27 Apr. 2021, https://www.pax.com/blogs/news/what-are-terpenes.