Terpenes & Why Cannabis Works: What’s That Smell?

Most people can identify the smell of cannabis before even seeing it because of terpenes, which are the aromatic compounds that determine the scent of many herbs. C’mon, you know that smell!

There’re more than 150 types of terpenes in cannabis. They don’t only provide cannabis with its unique scent but also have many functions and provide many therapeutic and mood-altering effects.

Premium Hemp Oils and Broad-Spectrum CBD Oils usually contain high amounts of terpenes. (You can purchase premium hemp oils from us here, by the way!)

What Are Terpenes?

Terpenes are volatile organic substances that have been used to extract essential oils from numerous plants such as eucalyptus, peppermint, lemongrass, or thyme since ancient times. They are also found in marijuana plants and give them an unmistakable smell. Cannabis itself has well over 500 known ingredients, 140 of which belong to the terpenes. From a chemical point of view, terpenes belong to the group of carbon-hydrogen compounds and belong to the highly heterogeneous group.

To date, over 8,000 terpenes and around 30,000 terpenoids are known, which is a related group of terpenes. They belong to the phytochemicals, which means that they aren’t directly necessary for survival.

Put simply: terpenes determine the smell and taste of plants. Each of the terpenes has its own smell, taste, and individual medicinal properties.

The fact is that they come with a wide range of tastes and smells, as well as the common smell of berries, mint, citrus, and pine. They are a powerful trait of the cannabis plant, not only found in Indica, Sativa, and Ruderalis, but in all plants. As a result, all the aromas and tastes associated with them are named after plants.

For example, terpenes, which give cherries their unique taste, can be found in the fruity marijuana variety Cherry OG if cultivated correctly. In addition, the combination of terpenes can lead to novel tastes and smells.

Monoterpenes and Sesquiterpenes

Terpenes can be divided into two types: monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. The “light” monoterpenes include limonene, myrcene, and terpinolene. These representatives are responsible for the floral scents that the cannabis plant gives off. They also include jasmine, rose, apple, and kiwi among others. Sesquiterpenes, on the other hand, are “heavy” and are responsible for the more pungent and sandalwood-like scents of the cannabis plant. They include musk, “skunk”, tea tree, and “diesel”.

What Are the Roles of Terpenes in Cannabis?

Hemp, like any other plant, is less susceptible to pests, parasites, bacteria, and fungi. Like cannabinoids, terpenes are mainly found in the excreted resin of the plant, the so-called trichomes. These are tiny sticky crystals that sit on the leaves and buds of the cannabis plant. These take over the natural pest control mechanism. The main task of the terpenes in the cannabis plant is to protect them through fragrances.

How Do Terpenes Work on People?

The mode of action of terpenes hasn’t yet been extensively researched. However, some studies have looked at its therapeutic properties.

It’s believed that they interact with the receptors of the endocannabinoid system available in our body and can thus influence the effects of various components. Terpenes actively affect the blood-brain barrier and can change the amount of cannabinoids that can penetrate the barrier. The scientist Dr. Ethan Russo discovered this phenomenon, which is also known as the “entourage effect”. Each plant has its own unique genetics and therefore has diverse terpene combinations.

How Terpenes Can Work on People

• Humulene: promotes weight loss and suppresses appetite.
• Caryophylls: has a sleep-inducing, antispasmodic, analgesic, and anxiety-relieving effect.
• Limonene: has a mood-enhancing, euphoric, and stress-relieving effect.
• Linalool: has a sedative and relaxing effect and strengthens the immune system.
• Pinene: has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and anti-cramping effects
• Myrcene: has a calming and pain-relieving effect

Because of their important properties, terpenes are essential for the growth of cannabis. They can include valuable CBD content.

Furthermore, it’s important that full-spectrum CBD products or premium hemp oils are chosen to make the best use of terpenes’ advantages.

Final Thoughts

As far as we know today, the potential terpene effects are very promising. These organic, naturally occurring compounds offer great therapeutic benefits to their users and have been used by cultures around the world for thousands of years for their beneficial properties. The key, however, doesn’t lie in the chemical compounds alone, but the interaction with other active ingredients in the cannabis plants. Cannabinoids and terpenes can expand and strengthen each other’s effects. All components work in a synergy through which both develop their special effect depending on the combination of the components. Through selective breeding, cannabis varieties with optimized terpene and cannabinoid profiles can be created to be specifically tailored to certain clinical pictures.

Our CBD products and premium hemp oils are tested by third parties, and we can provide you with an independent laboratory certificate of analysis to show you how pure and effective our products are. Our main goal is to provide the best premium hemp oils and CBD products online in Australia for our customers.

If you purchase premium hemp oils from us, drop a line in the comments and share your experience! And, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.