As a cannabis lover, you probably not only love the effects of this magical plant but also love the smell. The pot perfume, as I like to call it, is a soothing and signature scent that varies slightly by strain.
Whether you enjoy the skunky smells coming from your Sour Diesel or more fruity aromas from the classic Pineapple Express, it’s undeniable that this plants odor is strong. But have you ever wondered what causes this unique smell?
Different types of weed possess different smells due to things called terpenes. And these terpenes don’t just stop at your nose, they also have an effect on your high.
Are you stoner senses tingling? Do you want to know more about how terpenes are affecting your bud? Keep reading as we break it down for you.
What Are Terpenes?
In simple terms, terpenes are oils that give the cannabis plant a variety of aromas and flavors. These oils come from the plants’ sticky resin glands. The same glands that produce the CBD and THC we all know and love.
Terpenes are organic plant compounds that work with your body’s natural receptors to bring you a variety of tastes and effects. These terpenes essentially are what creates diversity in effects among the many types of weed we have to choose from.
But these terpenes aren’t present only for our enjoyment. Actually, their main function is to provide the cannabis plant with a natural insect and animal repellant. So although as humans we are drawn to these pungent smells, many critters are not.
As you may expect, due to the many variations of weed available, terpenes are diverse. There are over 100 different cannabis terpenes that combine with other compounds in the plant to bring unique qualities to the high.
For a more n depth look at what terpenes are, check out this helpful link.
Effects Of Terpenes
The wide variety of terpenes also comes along with a range of medical effects. As the cultivation of medical marijuana has advanced, growers and buyers have started paying more attention to terpene content and combination.
Terpenes work together with the cannabinoids in what is called the entourage effect. Basically, the terpenes work with both your body and the cannabinoids to help get the good stuff to your bloodstream easily.
Therefore the teamwork between terpenes and cannabinoids directly controls the psychoactive effects of your weed. So the reason why certain types of weed give you less anxiety than others is because of terpenes.
As research on terpene effects has grown, marijuana cultivators have been able to cross-breed these compounds to create weed with specific medical effects in mind.
By doing research on which terpenes provide the medical benefit or mental effect you are looking to gain, you’ll be able to find the perfect type of bud to suit your taste.
Types Of Weed Terpenes
As stated above, there are over 100 different types of terpenes. And unfortunately, due to lack of legality in the world of marijuana, there isn’t a ton of research on all of them.
There is however a good bit of research on the most common ones. If you are interested in learning about terpenes outside of this short list, we suggest you do a little more research and stay up to date with new discoveries in marijuana science. You can visit a dispensary and find exactly the strain you want or see this post if you want to know how a marijuana dispensaries can help you.
Myrcene
Myrcene is currently the most abundant terpene found in cannabis. This terpene is also found in lemongrass, hops, thyme, and even mangoes.
This particular terpene is directly related to if a strain is considered an indica or a sativa. If the plant contains more than 0.5% of myrcene it falls into the indica category and if it has less than 0.5% then it brings the user more sativa like effects.
This particular terpene tends to have a herbal and musky scent with slight hints of citrus. It gives anti-inflammatory properties along with pain relief and slight sedative effects.
Pinene
As you may guess from the name, pinene is often found in pine trees. This terpene is also present in citrus peels, conifer trees, and turpentine.
It causes the cannabis plant to have a woodsy or pine like smell sometimes even with hints of rosemary or basil. This earthy terpene is why some weed smells like it came straight out of the forest.
If you’re looking for a strain that gets your high but doesn’t ruin your memory, consider finding one with high pinene content. The terpene is known to actually improve memory and focus as well as boost your energy.
Limonene
If you’ve ever smelled your weed and got a strong whiff of citrus you can thank the terpene Limonene. This terpene is actually the same one that is present in all citrus fruits rinds, so its no wonder you recognize the smell.
In fact, your lemon-scented cleaning products most likely also contain extracts of this terpene. Limonene is a natural insecticide and this terpene also has antifungal and antibacterial effects.
As far as how it affects your weed, limonene is dual action. It is known to improve mood, relieve anxiety and depression, and even relieve nausea. But Limonene doesn’t stop there, it also works to help other terpenes present so that your body can absorb all the benefits of your bud.
Linalool
Last but not least on our list is Linalool. This terpene is commonly found in lavender and has a soft floral smell. It is well known for its stress relieving properties as well as being anti-anxiety, antidepressant and anti-bacterial. Linalool has also been shown to reduce symptoms of seizures and provide relief from psychosis due to its natural sedative properties.
Choosing The Right Terpene
As the legalization of marijuana gains popularity, research continues to be conducted on which terpenes provide certain medical benefits to different types of weed. This new found research allows you as the user to have more control over what type of high you wish to experience.
So next time you head to a dispensary to pick up, take a look at the terpenes present so you have a better idea of what you can expect from your cannabis.
