Terpenes 101

If you’ve ever been curious about the compounds in cannabis, one that’s definitely quite the kicker is terpenes. What are they? What do they refer to? Let’s dive in and learn a little bit more about terpenes, and what they do. 

What are they? 

Terpenes are basically oils that are within the cannabis plant that are responsible for two things: the smells, and the flavors. Berry, pine, and citrus are all examples of this, and they’re actually a major part of the safety of a plants. They protect the plant from invaders, since they taste awful. 

Ter4penes are usually something that you find in veggies and fruits along with herbs, and they do give off a smell that’s pleasant, even if the animals that try to eat it hate it. The cannabis plant has over 200 of these  bad boys, but only about 30 of them are in vast amounts, and they’re something that gets stored within the leaves, and this resinous glands are what produce it. This is called trichomes, and they’re depicted by the little white or other color tufts along the top of the plant. When you smell a cannabis plant, it’s got a certain scent to it, and how it smells depends on a few things. The genetics are a big part, but also the water, the type of fertilizer, the type of soil, and even the time you harvest or go out to check them does impact this. 

What’s their Purpose? 

The purpose of this is still being studied, but most studies claim it aids in what’s called the entourage effect. This is basically a word that means the cannabinoids, the terpenes, and the flavonoids in this work together to create something better, stronger and more enhanced for the person who is taking this. 

Now let’s take for example the plant.  You know about indica and sativa, but did you know that the terpenes actually are what play a role in the effects. Indica and sativa just describe the anatomy of the plant, with sativa being very tall, with thin and long leaves, and indicas are short, wider, and have broader leaves, and this is something that the terpenes are a part of in this plant. If you look at different terpenes, you notice that they’re fruity, as in the case of terpinolene, since it’s similar to a fruity taste, and in super lemon haze, jack Herer, and others, this one is definitely present. However, it’s also found in indica strains including strawberry cough, OG Kush, and also harlequin, which is more CBD-dominant than anything else. 

What are some popular Terpenes? 

There are a few out there that really stand out. You’ve got myrcene, which is responsible for the earthy, piney scent and you smell this in a ton of beauty products. It’s good for relaxing, sleep, and is found to help with chronic pain along with inflammation, and even helps those with cancer. It’s something that’s responsible for most of the terpene profiles in most strains of cannabis. 

Then you have limonene, which is lemony or citrusy, and this one definitely is good for those who want something that fights bacteria and fungi, as it’s an antifungal along with an antibacterial in terms of properties, and it can even help with tumor reduction too. Finally, there is linalool, which is found in mint, lavender, coriander, and cinnamon, and is basically responsible for the floral and spicy smells you have in cannabis. This is good for those who suffer from different inflammatory conditions, seizures, and also cancer, since this is one that relaxes.