What are Terpenes?

There is more to the hemp and cannabis plants than what meets the eye. You might be familiar with the compounds CBD, THC, CBN, CBG, and others, but what do you know about terpenes? These are the organic compounds that are secreted from the same glands the cannabinoids THC and CBD are produced. They are oils that give off a scent, which gives the cannabis plants a distinctive flavor and aroma. These terpenes were adapted over time as a response to repel predators and lure animals that will aid the cannabis in the pollination process.

But these terpenes do more than just give off an aroma. They also carry their benefits that contain subtle physiological effects on individuals who ingest cannabis. Each terpene has its qualities and benefits, and every cannabis plant has a variation in its terpene makeup. There is a large number of terpenes that all have unique traits. Throughout this blog post, we will look at the most common terpenes and the traits they possess.

UNDERSTANDING TERPENES

Terpenes are aromatic oils that contain therapeutic effects ranging from relaxing individuals to helping others stay focused or even assisting some lift in their mood. These differences depend on what terpene is ingested. Many factors influence the design of each terpene. Things that can affect these qualities are climate, time of day, age, maturation, fertilizers, weather conditions, type of soil and more.

Each of these conditions factor into the impact on the cannabis plant’s development of its terpenes. The number of variations is extensive, with there being over 100 various terpenes that have been found within each of the different strains of the cannabis plant possessing their unique composition and type. These inherited traits are passed down to descending strains with minor variations that make them unique to the strain.

MAJOR TERPENES

Although there are over 100 terpene varieties, there are nine significant terpenes that are commonly known and found. Let’s look at each one to understand the benefits as well as the dominant traits they possess.

MYRCENE

• Taste: Sweet Citrus
• Smell: Citrus and Clove
• Strains: Granddaddy Purp, OG Kush, and Cherry Pie
• Traits: promotes a good night’s rest, balances mood, reduces muscle tension, aids in relieving discomfort, helps reduce swelling

LIMONENE

• Taste: Lemon Mint
• Smell: Citrus and Orange
• Strains: White Fire OG, Do-Di-Dos and Wedding Cake
• Traits: relieves stress, combats despondency, reduces anxious feelings, combats free radicals

LINALOOL

• Taste: Coriander, Floral, Lavender and Lemon
• Smell: Floral and Cinnamon
• Strains: Do-Si-Dos and Kosher Kush
• Traits: eases anxious feelings, helps reduce swelling, promotes normal motor functioning, aids in discomfort relief, supports relaxation and feelings of calmness

B-CARYOPHYLLENE

• Taste: Hops and Spices
• Smell: Clove, Cinnamon and Wood
• Strains: Original Glue and Purple Punch
• Traits: combats free radicals, promotes a good night’s rest, aids in discomfort, reduces swelling

HUMULENE

• Taste: Hops, Pepper and Spices
• Smell: Earthy and Spice
• Strains: Sherbert and GSC
• Traits: aids in suppressing appetite, reduces swelling, aids in discomfort relief

ALPHA/BETA PINENE

• Taste: Rosemary, Cedarwood and Pine
• Smell: Rosemary, Pine, and Cedarwood
• Strains: Snoop’s Dream and Critical Mass
• Traits: promotes normal breathing, combats bacteria, supports memory retention

EUCALYPTOL

• Taste: Spicy and Cooling
• Smell: Eucalyptus and Mint
• Strains: ACDC, Pink Kush, Headband, OG Shark and Harle-Tsu
• Traits: aids in discomfort relief, reduces swelling, helps to detoxify

TERPINEOL

• Taste: Sweet Lime and Floral
• Smell: Lilac
• Strains: White Widow, GSC, Jack Herer, and OG Kush
• Traits: reduces swelling, combats dependency

GERANIOL

• Taste: Passion Fruit, Lemon Peel, and Peach
• Smell: Rose and Citronella
• Strains: Strawberry Diesel, Harlequin, and Lemon G
• Traits: combats free radicals and bacteria

Terpenes have a subtle effect that most people don’t realize. The combination of the individual terpenes with cannabinoids produces remarkable results that aid and benefit the user substantially. As more research is done, more studies will learn of the potential synergistic effects these terpenes will have when combined and how they interact with one another to provide even more benefits.

However, it would be safe to conclude, with what we already know about Terpenes, they can definitely offer additional benefits to the many already that are being experienced from hemp-derived CBD.