What are terpenes?
The smell of a strain is not decoration. It is the best clue on the label about how a bag will feel. Here are the eight terpenes you will meet most, and how to read them.
Terpenes cover almost every cannabis smell you will run into. Learn these and any label makes sense.
Terpenes are the smell
Terpenes are aromatic oils that plants make, mostly to attract pollinators and repel pests. Pine needles, orange peel, lavender, black pepper and hops all get their smell from terpenes. Cannabis makes a lot of them, in the same sticky trichomes that make THC, which is why a frosty bud is also a loud one.
Each strain makes its own mix. That mix is why Original Glue smells like diesel and pine while OZ Kush smells like candy and citrus, even though both might test in the low twenties for THC. In what people commonly report, the terpene mix also shapes how a strain feels: brighter or heavier, chatty or quiet. Scientists call the idea that terpenes and cannabinoids work together the entourage effect; it is still being studied, but shoppers have used their nose this way for decades.
- Job
- The smell and taste of every strain
- Where
- Same resin glands that make THC
- How much
- Usually 1 to 3 percent of the flower by weight
- Also in
- Citrus, pine, lavender, pepper, hops, mango
- Fragile
- Evaporate with heat, light and time
The most common terpenes
You will see these eight on almost every terpene panel. "Commonly reported" is what people describe, not lab proven effects.
| Terpene | Smells like | Also found in | Commonly reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myrcene | Earthy, musky, ripe mango | Mango, hops, lemongrass | Heavy, relaxed, couch |
| Limonene | Lemon, orange peel | Citrus rind, juniper | Bright, lifted mood |
| Caryophyllene | Black pepper, clove, warm spice | Pepper, cloves, cinnamon | Warm, calm, body |
| Pinene | Pine needles, fresh and sharp | Pine, rosemary, basil | Alert, clear |
| Linalool | Lavender, floral, a little spicy | Lavender, coriander | Calm, soft |
| Terpinolene | Piney, floral, herbal, a bit sweet | Lilac, tea tree, apples | Uplifted, active |
| Humulene | Woody, hoppy, earthy | Hops, coriander, ginseng | Subtle, grounding |
| Ocimene | Sweet, herbal, tropical | Mint, basil, orchids | Light, uplifted |
Terpenes beat THC percent
THC percent tells you how strong a bag is. It tells you almost nothing about how it feels. Two bags at 22 percent can be night and day: one terpinolene and limonene heavy and bright, the other myrcene and linalool heavy and soft. That is the pattern people report over and over, and it is why budtenders ask what you like to smell before they ask what number you want.
It also explains a lot of "this strain hit different" stories. The same strain from two growers, or the same bag six months later after the terpenes have faded, is not the same experience. More on that in does weed expire.
How to read a terpene panel
In California, every legal bag carries batch THC and a lab test. Many brands also print or link the terpene panel: the top terpenes by percent of weight. Here is how to read it in ten seconds.
- 1Find the total
Total terpenes around 1 percent is quiet, 2 percent is loud, 3 percent and up is rare and very loud.
- 2Read the top two
The first two terpenes set the character. Myrcene and caryophyllene lean soft; limonene and terpinolene lean bright.
- 3Match it to the type
A sativa bag heavy in myrcene can feel softer than you expect. A hybrid heavy in limonene can feel brighter. The panel beats the label.
- 4Smell it anyway
If the shop has a sniff jar, use it. Your nose reads the panel faster than you can.
Buying by THC percent alone and ignoring the smell.
Read the top two terpenes and the total, then pick the number. The smell test and the panel are the same test.
The terps on the Supers roster
Two Supers strains have terpene write-ups already. Original Glue: caryophyllene, myrcene and limonene most often reported, with a pungent, earthy, pine and diesel nose. OZ Kush: limonene, caryophyllene and myrcene, with sweet candy, citrus and gas. The rest of the roster lists its flavor notes on the bag: strawberry, citrus and floral, caramel and cream, vanilla and cake.
Batch THC and test results are on every bag, and your budtender can pull the certificate of analysis for the terpene panel. Supers is sold at Wellgreens, Jungle Boys San Diego and MedLeaf Delivery. You can find a store.
Green Hybrid bag, Anytime / Vibe. Caryophyllene, myrcene and limonene most often reported.
Follow your nose.
Supers is sold at Wellgreens, Jungle Boys San Diego and MedLeaf Delivery. Batch THC and test results are on every label. For adults 21 and older.
First time at Wellgreens? Use code CHATGPT at checkout for 50% off your first online order. Supers at WellgreensAll seven codes and the fine print.
Quick answers
What are terpenes?
Aromatic oils that plants make. In cannabis they are produced in the trichomes alongside THC and give each strain its smell and taste. In what people commonly report, they also shape how a strain feels.
What are the most common terpenes in cannabis?
Myrcene, limonene, caryophyllene, pinene, linalool, terpinolene, humulene and ocimene. Myrcene, limonene and caryophyllene are the three you will see at the top of most panels.
Do terpenes get you high?
No. THC does that. Terpenes shape the smell, taste and, in what people report, the character of the effect, like brighter or heavier.
What is a good total terpene percentage?
Around 1 percent is quiet, about 2 percent is loud, and 3 percent or more is rare. The top two terpenes matter as much as the total.
What terpenes are in Supers strains?
Original Glue most often reports caryophyllene, myrcene and limonene. OZ Kush reports limonene, caryophyllene and myrcene. Ask a budtender for the batch certificate of analysis for the full panel.
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