What are Terpenes and Why Do They Matter?

Sep 18, 2024 | Cannabis Industry, Hemp, Ounce of Hope

What are terpenes? They're in almost every plant!

More consumers are aware than ever that many factors play into how a cannabis strain affects us. Each variation has an array of qualities that make it unique. From color to smell, flavor to impact, genetic composition determines everything. Terpenes are part of the cannabis plant’s composition.

But what are terpenes? What do they do? Do they matter that much? Researchers and consumers alike weigh in on the subject. 

What are Terpenes in Weed?

Terpenes are aromatic compounds found in plants, and they play important roles. Some plants attract pollinators like hummingbirds or bees, while others may help protect the plant from damage or function as part of its immune system.

Regardless of the function, terpenes are in all plants — weed included. As a result, there are several hundred terpenoid compounds. There is an abundant range of these terpenes in cannabis strains, which help play a role in each strain’s unique effects.

Once a plant has dried and cured, terpenes oxidize and become terpenoids. Harvesting and preparing cannabis are prime examples of this.

Outside of pot, terpenes play a massive part in most peoples’ favorite seasonings and vegetables. It’s why there’s more research on various terpenes than there is on cannabis for some topics! The right combination may offer the symptom relief some consumers are after.

What Do Terpenes Do?

Making a plant smell good isn’t the only thing these compounds have in their workload. Not only do they have potential benefits, but they may also emphasize the benefits from other parts of the plant.

When it comes to what a strain is capable of, terpenes may help with a process called the entourage effect. This process is one of the driving factors that decide the effects a strain might have on the body.

5 Common Terpenes and Their Effects

Several terpenes are commonly found in certain cannabis strains, and they affect how the strain ultimately affects consumers. Below are some of the most common terpenes and what to expect from each.

Limonene – the Lemon Terpene

Limonene is a potent terpene closely related to its namesake. It is the terpene that gives citrus fruits their distinct smell. Citrus fruits such as lemons, limes, and oranges all have concentrations of limonene in their rinds and are often used in cooking and fruit juice drinks. 

Cannabis also contains varying amounts of limonene, which is responsible for some of the more citrus-heavy strains on the market. 

What Does the Limonene Terpene Taste Like?

Limonene is named after its strong citrus notes. Its smell and flavor are best described as tangy and slightly sour. While the limonene in a lemon wedge may be strong enough to make your mouth pucker, the amount in cannabis strains tends to be milder.

Limonene Terpene Effects

Limonene is known for its anti-anxiety properties, which seem to hold up when combined with other cannabinoids. It may help make a strain uplifting and provide a mood-elevating high. Some find that limonene promotes a sense of relaxation without having sedative effects. Overall, there’s potential for the terpene across various health conditions and symptoms.

High-Limonene Strains

Some strains often abundant in limonene might include:

Of course, there are many more high-limonene varieties on the market. Likewise, cultivators are constantly refining the art of crossbreeding new strains. But these staples have helped establish limonene as a highly demanded terpene with a strong fanbase.

Myrcene

Myrcene is a hydrocarbon and one of the leading components of the signature aroma of hops. Even though there is a large amount of myrcene in hops, it isn’t the only plant with an abundance of this particular terpene. In cannabis, the terpene tends to be more predominant in indica strains.

Typical Myrcene Smell and Taste

It might be difficult to compare hops’ robust and full scent to cannabis, but the overlap is present. Myrcene is often described as having a musky and earthy smell and usually contains a trace scent of cloves. Others might say an undertone reminds them of mangoes, lending it a small fruity note.

What Does Myrcene Do?

Cultivars containing myrcene are often associated with sleep—and for good reason. Myrcene is known for having relaxing and sedative effects. 

But myrcene is not limited to its potential as a sleep aid. This particular terpene is also reported to have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. It also seems to possess some antibacterial effects, which could make it extremely valuable in a natural health regime.

Myrcene-Dominant Strains

Some long-lasting and widely known cannabis strains are chock full of myrcene, and it is no surprise that they are popular for it. Strains often noted for being abundant in myrcene include:

This list is by no means the full extent of strains high in myrcene but can definitely help illustrate how popular the terpene is.

Caryophyllene

Caryophyllene is interesting even among it’s terpene brethren. This particular terpene is associated with scents and spices that have been a staple of human culture for as long as written history. 

A few prime examples include lavender, black peppercorns, and clove, as well as cannabis. What’s really interesting about this terpene is that it doesn’t act like a normal terpene. As a matter of fact, caryophyllene has the unique ability to act as a cannabinoid. 

How can a terpene act as a cannabinoid? Well, caryphyllene has the ability to bind to the CB2 receptors in our natural endocannabinoid system. This major difference is why lavender is so effective as a scent. 

How Does Caryophyllene Taste and Smell?

When it comes to subtlety, caryophyllene is a bull in a china shop. Caryophyllene is known to have a bold and earthy tone, with a peppery flavor. Some people describe caryophyllene as being earthy and musky. 

The strong and impactful nature of this terpene is why black pepper is used in so many culinary dishes. The same can be said of clove, as it’s rich aroma and strong flavor are used the world over and it doesnt take much to experience caryophyllene’s effects.

Common Caryophyllene Terpene Effects

Thanks to its ability to bind to the endocannabinoid system, caryophyllene has many possible effects on the human body.

Some of the benefits linked to caryophyllene include:

  • Anti-Anxiety
  • Reduced Inflammation
  • Increased Relaxation
  • Boosts to the Immune System
  • Pain Relief

There may be more than caryophyllene can offer us that is yet to be discovered, but even this list helps illustrate how potent and useful a terpene can be.

Strains High in Caryophyllene

Even though caryophyllene is more commonly known for its impact through food and smell, plenty of strains focus on this particular terpene.

Some of the most well-known strains include:

The list of strains heavy in caryophyllene is much more extensive than this snippet, but this helps better understand what makes these strains tick.

Linalool in Weed

Linalool is another terpene abundant in many plants outside of cannabis. It is a colorless, naturally occurring terpene alcohol in many flowers and spices. Some of the most well-known sources include rosewood, mints, cinnamon, laurels, and even citrus fruits.

Linalool also plays an extremely important role in the biosynthesis of Vitamin E. It’s one of the most important components of essential oils with antibacterial properties. 

But linalool isn’t just for making things clear or smell good. The terpene itself is found in abundance in multiple strains of cannabis. 

Smell and Flavor Profile for Linalool

Linalool does not shy away from the concept of complexity. Its smell is often described as floral or spicy (like cinnamon). Others pick up hints similar to French lavender and even lily of the valley.

Linalool tends to have a citrus-like flavor and is often described as sweet but with hints of spicy tropical accents. There is much to appreciate about the complexity of linalool even before accounting for its actual benefits. 

Linalool Terpene Benefits

Linalool has a particular set of abilities that work the most effectively when inhaled.  The first major benefit of linalool is its notable anti-inflammatory properties. Where this ability shines is the new studies being conducted around Alzheimer’s treatments. 

 It also has the potent ability to elevate adenosine levels in the brain. That action inhibits cells in the brain and spine that transmit pain signals. This might not sound all that important, but a study found that patients exposed to vaporized linalool after surgery required 50% less opioid medication to manage their pain.

High-Linalool Strains

The list of strains that contain high levels of Linalool includes some of the most popular names on the market.

Strains high in Linalool include:

This is not a comprehensive list, but it does help illustrate some of the most popular strains and their widespread popularity. 

Pinene – the Pine Terpene

Pinene is known for its oily and clear nature. Although it’s in many cannabis strains, it is also common in the rest of the plant world. 

Many other flowers, fruits, and trees produce notable amounts of pinene. Some prime examples include conifer trees (like pine trees), oranges, dill, basil, and even parsley. Pinene is so common in plants that scientists have found over 200,000 varieties of it. 

What Does Pinene Smell and Taste Like?

When isolated, pinene is an odorless and colorless substance. But pinene is single-handedly responsible for one of the most globally distinct scents: the smell of Christmas Trees!

This terpene is responsible for the earthy pine scent associated with multiple strains of cannabis and, again, the familiar scent of Christmas. 

Pinene Terpene Effects

Even though pinene is mostly known for its smell, it also packs an incredible list of potential benefits. Some benefits focus on medical potential, while others seem to have a generalized benefit for the body. 

Some of the medicinal applications that pinene is showing promise in include:

  • Antioxidant effects
  • Anti-Inflammatory effects
  • Pain relief
  • Anti-bacterial

Research on pinene terpenes and all of their possible medical applications is still ongoing, and these are not the known limits of its medical potential. In addition, pinene terpenes also help with other issues in the body. Some anecdotal examples include:

  • Improved Memory
  • Stress Relief
  • Better Sleep
  • Relaxation
  • Better Energy Levels
  • Improved Focus

As research continues, pinene’s full range and effects will slowly come to light. The future of pinene is looking bright!

Strains High in Pinene

Most people associate cannabis with a strong pine-like scent, and there is good reason for that. A large number of popular strains contain a high level of pinene terpenes. A short list of some of these strains include:

This list only includes a small fraction of strains known for their high pinene count. But even with this limited example, the range of strains containing pinene terpenes is vast and encompassing.

Other Common Questions About Terpenes

Even though we have touched on many different terpenes, there are still some general questions we would like to cover that are not limited to single types of terpenes. Some of these involve the safety of terpenes, while others help explain a little more about their nature. 

Below, we have addressed a few of the most common questions about terpenes.

What is a high terpene percentage for flower?

Terpene percentages occupy an interesting niche when determining a large amount. Based on averages, a cannabis flower with anything over 2% terpenes by volume would be considered a “high percentage.”

Are terpenes safe?

Terpenes are in various foods, flowers, and trees. Most plants have some form of terpenes, which are partially responsible for how we interact with them. 

A prime example is limonene. Limonene is found in many fruits, such as oranges and lemons, and helps them taste like citrus. But, like all things, terpenes are generally safe in appropriate amounts. 

It is important to remember that different people react to things in their way, and potential allergic reactions or intolerances are still possible. 

What is the entourage effect?

The Entourage Effect is the idea that cannabis compounds (other than THC) can have a synergistic effect with THC to improve and increase the overall effect. The idea that the different compounds all help each other is a leading reason why so many concentrates and distillations like to focus on having a “full spectrum” of cannabinoid compounds in them.

Do terpenes show up on a drug test?

No – because drug tests don’t test for terpenes. It would be very difficult to even make a drug test for terpenes since so many non-drug sources, such as flowers and food, contain terpenes. 

Finding the Right Terpene Blend for Your Needs

When it comes to cannabis, finding the right blend of terpenes can be a game-changer. Each terpene offers diverse effects. Combined with compounds like THC and CBD, you create a unique experience every time. It’s why experimenting with different strains and products can help you find the terpenes that resonate best with your needs.

For example, if you’re looking for relief from stress or anxiety, strains high in limonene or linalool might be ideal. On the other hand, those seeking pain relief or help with inflammation may find myrcene or caryophyllene more beneficial. It’s all about matching the effects you’re after with the terpene profiles available.

Explore Ounce of Hope’s Premium Flower and Cannabis Products Today

Now that you know more about terpenes’ impact on the plant, why not explore our wide selection of strains and cannabis products?

Whether you’re looking for strains rich in limonene, myrcene, or any of the other powerful terpenes, we’ve got something for everyone.

Browse our full line of premium cannabis products to find the right blend for your needs. Let Ounce of Hope help you on your journey to discovering the perfect strain today!