Let me guess. You’re drawn to cannabis because it’s a botanical powerhouse, it makes you feel better, and it smells amazing! Did I get any of those right?
If you’re like me, one of the reasons you love cannabis is because of its smell. When the aroma fills the air, your heart beats with joy, and you’ve fallen in love all over again.
The reason for cannabis’ incredible aroma is — terpenes!
That’s what this article is all about. So let’s get down to business.
What are terpenes in cannabis?
Terpenes are organic compounds that naturally occur inside cannabis’ trichomes. Hundreds of terpenes exist in cannabis, including hemp. But, terpenes also exist throughout nature.
You’ll find them in plants, flowers, tree bark, fruits, vegetables, herbs, etc. Cannabis and other plants started producing terpene molecules for survival — to ward off insects and predators.
Even more, terpenes give the plant its unique smell and taste. They’re the reason we close our eyes, inhale deeply, and cheerfully smile when smelling the flowers of cannabis plants. They fill our nose with divine aromatic smells.
Yet, they’re more than a thrill for the senses. They also have many types of effects.
For thousands of years, terpenes were used in cultures around the world for their health properties.
Wait, what….terpenes have health properties? Yep, it’s true!
In fact, terpenes are “generally recognized as safe,” by the FDA and other regulatory agencies. Also, terpenes are the reason aromatherapy is so popular.
Let’s explore the reasons why people really love terpenes.
What are terpenes used for?
Based on the properties of terpenes, they can promote feelings of alertness, focus, and clarity. On the other end of the spectrum, they can help sedate, calm and relax.
A 2011 study shows that terpenes can influence phytocannabinoids and chemicals in the body that interact with the endocannabinoid system (ECS).
How do they do this?
Terpenes interact with neurotransmitters and different enzyme systems in the body. For example, humans have a group of enzymes in the ECS that become activated by cannabinoids (i.e. CBD) and some terpenes, which in turn create physiological effects.
These physiological effects lead to visible changes in the body like relaxation or alertness.
Each hemp terpene has a specific effect. Even if the terpene content is low, it can still have noticeable effects. Pretty great, right?
Before giving you a list of common terpenes, let’s briefly compare terpenes and cannabinoids, the other cannabis molecules with therapeutic effects.
Terpenes vs cannabinoids
Like terpenes, there are hundreds of cannabinoids in cannabis plants. The more common ones include CBD, THC, CBG, CBC, and CBN. These common cannabinoids have a range of positive effects, just like terpenes do.
Furthermore, cannabinoids and terpenes both interact with the ECS, the biological system responsible for internal balance. The medical term for this is homeostasis. You can feel the benefits of ingesting, inhaling, or topically applying with Free CBD products and terpenes because of this.
So far, these two plant compounds have a lot in common. Here’s where they differ. Cannabinoids have no smell or taste, unlike terpenes. This is the most obvious difference between the two.
Yet, the important takeaway is these two compounds work synergistically to create more potent effects.
List of terpenes: The most common terpenes in cannabis
- Pinene. Two types of pinene exist, alpha- and beta-pinene. Alpha-pinene expresses the aroma of pine needles. While beta-pinene smells like rosemary, parsley, or dill. A 2019 study shows that pinene can impact alertness and memory.
- Caryophyllene. You can also find caryophyllene in black pepper, Thai basil, cinnamon, and cloves. It smells spicy and peppery. Caryophyllene specifically interacts with CB2, the cannabinoid receptor in the endocannabinoid system.
- Myrcene: This the most common terpene in cannabis. It has an herbal and earthy aroma and is present in mangoes, hops, and lemongrass. Myrcene is the terpene best known to produce “couch-lock” due to its relaxing and sedative effects.
- Limonene: As the name suggests, limonene has a citrus smell and is found in the rinds of lemons, oranges, limes, and grapefruit. It has uplifting properties that may decrease stress levels.
- Linalool: This terpene has floral and sweet undertones and is the main terpene in lavender. For centuries, people relied on linalool for restful sleep. Today, studies confirm that it can promote sedation.
- Nerolidol: Like myrcene and linalool, nerolidol has sedative properties. It smells woody, yet has floral and fruity notes.
Some other popular terpenes include:
- Humulene
- Terpinolene
- Ocimene
- Eucalyptol
- Delta-3-Carene
- Camphene
- Bisabolol
- Guaiol
- Geraniol
How long do terpenes last?
Terpenes are volatile molecules. They leave the cannabis flower when they’re exposed to air. So, if you buy CBD flower, it’s best to store your buds in a glass container with a tight lid. However, if you want a way to preserve terpenes longer, consider a vape product rich in terpenes.
Bonus tip:
To increase the effects of terpenes in your CBD flower, CBD oil, or CBD vape juice consume a fruit (i.e. orange, mango, lemon) or herb in a tea form (lemongrass, rosemary, cinnamon) that has the terpenes of your liking. This can make the beneficial effects of terpenes last in your system longer.
In Summary
Let’s recap. Terpenes are the compounds in cannabis, fruits, and other botanicals that give them their fragrant scent.
Besides giving off lovely aromas, terpenes also have therapeutic effects. This is why they’ve been used throughout history.
Scientific research can now explain the health properties of many cannabis and essential oil terpenes.
Which terpene stands out to you? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment below!
Resources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terpene
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Cannabis
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Cannabis-Oil-for-Vape-Pens
https://best-buds.co/shop/brands/provacan/nt-vrl-terpene-tincture/
Francis Burns is an avid writer from Louisiana. With a Bachelor’s in English and a background in journalism, Francis has been writing for a variety of media outlets for the last five years. He specializes in stories about the local culture and loves to fill his work with inspiring words. When not writing, Francis enjoys exploring the outdoors of Louisiana and photographing nature.
