What Terpenes Actually Tell You About Aroma

Terpenes are aromatic compounds found throughout the plant world — in citrus peel, hops, pine needles, black pepper and lavender. In cannabis they are a large part of why two cultivars with similar cannabinoid numbers smell nothing alike.

They describe aroma and flavour. They do not predict an outcome, and nothing here should be read as a health or effect claim.

Limonene reads as citrus and bright peel. Myrcene reads earthy, herbal and slightly sweet. Caryophyllene reads peppery and spiced. Linalool reads floral. Pinene reads like fresh pine and cut herb.

Most products present a blend, and the order of a terpene listing usually reflects relative abundance.

If you note the terpene listings of the products you enjoy, patterns appear quickly — and they travel better across cultivars than a cultivar name does.

Two batches of the same cultivar from different growers can differ noticeably, which is why cultivation standards and cure matter as much as the name on the jar.