What Are Cannabis Terpenes? and What Do They Work?

From sweet fruit to woodsy pine, stinky diesel to alluring lavender, high-quality cannabis has a wide range of smells and tastes that are both engrossing and incredibly complex. And it’s all because of a group of smelly oils called terpenes.

How do Terpenes Work?

Terpenes are chemical compounds that are found in a lot of organic plants and some animals and insects. They are also the main aromatic compounds in cannabis. But in the world of marijuana, terpenes are the essential aromatic oils that give each strain its own smell and taste. But terpenes in weed are a lot more than just “pretty smells.” A growing number of clinical studies suggest that terpenes can also have therapeutic effects, which can change how you feel about cannabis and offer a wide range of possible benefits.

All the Information You Need About Cannabis Terpenes

Not surprisingly, terpenes in cannabis aren’t just there to make us want to smoke it. These fragrant oils are a natural way to protect yourself. The strong smell of the cannabis plant is what brings in the pollinators it needs and keeps away the pests that could hurt it. The way terpenes are made in plants is heavily affected by things like fertilization, soil conditions, and climate. And cannabis plants can make terpenes that smell very different at different points in their growth cycle, depending on things like the ones listed above. That’s a pretty good job for a plant, don’t you think?

Terpenes, which are sometimes called “terpenoids,” are the biggest and most varied group of naturally occurring compounds. There are more than 20,000 different kinds of terpenes that are found naturally in plants and other places.

What Are the Profiles of Terpenes?

Rarely does a plant make just one terpene. Botanists tend to talk about a plant’s “terpene profile” instead. Simply put, it is the sum of all the different terpenoids that a plant makes. Plants can make more than one kind of terpene at the same time to help them grow and stay alive in different ways. The terpene profiles of different strains of cannabis are similar, which is what gives them their unique smells, tastes, and effects.

Still, different plants will have different amounts of terpenes depending on how they are grown and cared for after harvest. If you’ve ever tried live resin, which is a type of cannabis concentrate, you’ve no doubt noticed how “hyperrealistic” its smells and tastes are. The flavor of these concentrates is so strong because the cannabis plants are flash-frozen right after they are picked. This locks in the strong terpenes, which are then taken out of the resin. (We can help you if you want to see live resin for yourself.)

A World of Smells and Tastes In Common Cannabis Terpenes

There are more than 150 different kinds of terpenes in cannabis, and all of them give the plant different smells and tastes. It is important to remember that weed terpenes and cannabinoids are not the same things. As we’ve said, terpenes are a big group of aromatic compounds with a lot of different types.

Cannabinoids, on the other hand, are a group of natural compounds like THC and CBD that are found in the cannabis plant. One way to think of cannabinoids is as the plant’s most important “active ingredients” from a medical point of view. Terpenes, on the other hand, are what give each cannabis strain its unique taste and smell.

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In a similar way, cannabis strains or individual plants with strong smells aren’t necessarily stronger than others; they just have more terpenoids.

Where do you start when there are so many different kinds of terpenes in cannabis? We were lucky that nature made things easy for us. Even though there are many dozens of terpenes in the plant, only a small number of them are really important. The following are some of the most common terpenes in cannabis:

• Myrcene: Sometimes known as the “mother of all terpenes” for the important synergies with other terpenes and cannabinoids it enables. 
• Limonene: A bright and cheerful citrus aroma, limonene has been shown to impart subtle mood-lifting effects.
• Pinene: The most common terpene in the world thanks to its presence in evergreen trees, pinene is shown to have anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, and neuroprotective qualities.
• Humulene: Also found in hops, the main flavor component of beer, this fragrant oil has been shown to exert appetite-suppressant effects. 

Every strain of cannabis has terpene compounds that are different from the others. These differences are sometimes reflected in the name of the strain, as in the case of Pineapple Kush. But because there are so many different terpenes in a cannabis plant, the name may not always tell you which smell is strongest in the flower.

Sound strange? It doesn’t have to be that way. The staff at Abide Napa cannabis dispensary is happy to share their expert knowledge about the different flavor profiles of cannabis terpenes and recommend products based on your tastes, needs, and goals.

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How Terpenes In Marijuana Can Affect Your Body and Mind?

As interest in cannabis-based medicine grows, so has research into terpenes and how they might help health. As we alluded to earlier, studies have already shown that terpenes are active ingredients in cannabis that contribute to the plant’s therapeutic effects.

When terpenes work together with cannabinoids like THC and CBD, it makes a big difference in how useful and helpful the cannabis flower is. This is called the “entourage effect” or the “ensemble effect,” and it shows that this simple plant has a lot of potentials.

Some Terpenes in Cannabis Can Help Relieve Physical Symptoms Like:

• Pain: Studies suggest certain terpenes may relieve pain 
• Inflammation: Similarly, some terpenes are implicated in anti-inflammatory responses
• Nausea: One study suggests that limonene can reduce nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms associated with pregnancy
• Depression: Pinene and linalool, among other terpenes, have been studied for their potential antidepressant effects, among others