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PL TERPENES
Terpenes are the aromatic compounds made in the same trichomes as cannabinoids; cannabis can produce over a hundred of them, and they give each plant its smell and flavour. Terpenes are why cannabis smells like cannabis, and the reason two plants with the same THC can feel worlds apart. The fastest way to navigate them is by aroma family, so that is how these pages are organised, from the big six to the minor terpenes that make a chemovar special, plus the rare combinations that define flavour and may shape effects.
Start here
What terpenes are, how they may work with cannabinoids, and how to read them.
Citrusy
Bright, zesty, peel-like. Uplifting reputation.
Earthy and musky
Dank, grounding, the classic cannabis base.
Piney and herbal
Fresh, resinous, coniferous. Alert reputation.
Floral
Soft, sweet, perfumed. Calming reputation.
Spicy and peppery
Warm and sharp, and uniquely, part cannabinoid.
Sweet, fruity and green
Light, fresh, orchard-like top notes.
Continue exploring
Isoprenoid Biosynthesis in Glandular Trichomes and Receptor Pharmacology
Cannabis terpenes are volatile isoprenoid hydrocarbons synthesized in capitate-stalked glandular trichomes via the plastidial methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway (yielding 10-carbon monoterpenes, `C10H16`, from geranyl diphosphate) and the cytosolic mevalonate (MEV) pathway (yielding 15-carbon sesquiterpenes, `C15H24`, from farnesyl diphosphate). Genomic and enzymatic studies by Booth et al. (2017, PLOS ONE, PMID 28346431) characterized the `CsTPS` gene family responsible for generating this structural diversity across cultivars. Pharmacologically, Russo (2011, British Journal of Pharmacology, PMID 21749363) reviewed how major cannabis terpenoids (including beta-myrcene, d-limonene, alpha-pinene, linalool, and the dietary CB2 agonist beta-caryophyllene (exert distinct physiological actions, while Santiago et al. (2019, Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, PMID 32116073) demonstrated that monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes act primarily via non-CB1 pathways rather than direct allosteric modulation of CB1 potassium-channel signaling.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the chemical difference between a monoterpene and a sesquiterpene in cannabis?
Monoterpenes (such as myrcene, limonene, and pinene) consist of two isoprene units (`C10H16`) and are lighter and more volatile, whereas sesquiterpenes (such as beta-caryophyllene and humulene) consist of three isoprene units (`C15H24`) and boil at higher temperatures (Booth et al., 2017, PMID 28346431).
Do cannabis terpenes bind directly to CB1 receptors?
Controlled receptor-signaling studies show that common cannabis terpenes do not directly activate or modulate CB1 receptors; beta-caryophyllene selectively binds peripheral CB2 receptors, while other terpenes act on neurotransmitter and enzyme targets (Santiago et al., 2019, PMID 32116073; Russo, 2011, PMID 21749363).
How can you preserve volatile terpenes when storing or heating cannabis?
Store flower in airtight, UV-protective glass away from heat, and keep decarboxylation temperatures controlled between 105 and 120 °C to minimize evaporative loss of low-boiling monoterpenes.
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