WeedCentralCannabis Terpene Glossary
Terpenes are the aromatic compounds that shape how each strain smells, tastes, and feels. Here are the 37 most common ones in cannabis.
🌶️Caryophyllene
Aroma: Spicy, peppery, woody
Unique among terpenes, caryophyllene binds directly to CB2 cannabinoid receptors. Its warm, spicy aroma is also found in black pepper and cloves.
Appears in: Terpenes: The Secret Behind Every Strain
🥭Myrcene
Aroma: Earthy, musky, herbal
The most abundant terpene in cannabis, myrcene is known for its earthy, musky aroma reminiscent of cloves. It promotes relaxation and is believed to enhance THC absorption.
Appears in: Terpenes: The Secret Behind Every Strain
🌲Pinene
Aroma: Pine, fresh, woodsy
The most common terpene in nature, pinene smells like a pine forest. It may counteract some THC-induced memory impairment and promote alertness.
🍋Limonene
Aroma: Citrus, lemon, orange
Found in citrus peels, limonene gives strains a bright, zesty aroma. It is associated with elevated mood and stress relief, and may have anti-anxiety properties.
Appears in: Terpenes: The Secret Behind Every Strain
🍺Humulene
Aroma: Hoppy, earthy, woody
Also found in hops and coriander, humulene has a subtle earthy aroma. Unlike most cannabinoids, it may help suppress appetite.
💜Linalool
Aroma: Floral, lavender, sweet
Also found in lavender, linalool brings a delicate floral scent. It is prized for its calming and sedative qualities, making it popular in strains used for sleep and anxiety.
Appears in: Terpenes: The Secret Behind Every Strain
🌳Nerolidol
Aroma: Woody, floral, citrus, apple
A delicate sesquiterpene with a woody, floral aroma found in jasmine, ginger, and tea tree. Nerolidol is associated with calming, sedative effects and is studied for antifungal and antimicrobial properties.
🍏Terpinolene
Aroma: Floral, herbal, piney
A complex terpene with floral, herbal, and slightly citrus notes. Found in lilacs and tea tree, it appears in sativa-dominant strains and is mildly sedative in higher doses.
🌱Ocimene
Aroma: Sweet, herbal, citrusy
Found in mint, parsley, and orchids, ocimene has a sweet, herbaceous fragrance. It is commonly present in sativa strains and may offer decongestant properties.
🌼Bisabolol
Aroma: Floral, sweet, chamomile
A gentle terpene also found in chamomile, bisabolol has a light, sweet floral scent. It is valued for its skin-soothing and anti-inflammatory properties.
🍎Farnesene
Aroma: Green apple, woody, citrus
A sesquiterpene with a fresh green-apple and woody aroma, also found in apple skins, chamomile, and patchouli. It is associated with calming, soothing effects.
🫑Caryophyllene Oxide
Aroma: Spicy, woody, dry
The oxidized form of caryophyllene, with a dry, spicy, woody aroma. It is the compound drug-detection dogs are trained to smell and is studied for analgesic and antifungal effects.
🌹Guaiol
Aroma: Piney, woody, rose
A liquid sesquiterpene alcohol with a piney, woody scent also found in cypress pine and guaiacum. Guaiol is researched for anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.
🌲Camphene
Aroma: Damp woodlands, fir needles
With a sharp, pungent aroma like damp earth and fir, camphene is found in cypress and camphor. Research suggests potential cardiovascular benefits.
🌿Isopulegol
Aroma: Minty, herbal, woody
A minty, herbal terpene and a chemical precursor to menthol, found in lemongrass. Isopulegol is studied for calming and gastroprotective properties.
🫚p-Cymene
Aroma: Citrus, woody, spicy
Found in cumin and thyme, p-cymene carries a fresh citrus and woody aroma with a spicy edge. It often accompanies other terpenes and is researched for anti-inflammatory properties.
🌿Terpinene
Aroma: Citrus, herbal, woody
A family of citrus and herbal monoterpenes (alpha and gamma terpinene) found in tea tree, cumin, and marjoram. Prized as a strong antioxidant.
🌰Fenchol
Aroma: Earthy, pine, camphor, lime
A camphor and pine terpene with a fresh, earthy aroma found in basil, nutmeg, and pine. Fenchol is studied for antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.
🌲Delta-3-Carene
Aroma: Sweet, piney, cypress
A sweet, piney terpene found in cypress, rosemary, and pine resin. Delta-3-carene is associated with a dry-mouth and dry-eye sensation and is studied for anti-inflammatory effects.
🍃Eucalyptol
Aroma: Minty, cooling, eucalyptus
Also called cineole, eucalyptol brings a fresh, minty, cooling aroma like eucalyptus. It makes up a small fraction of most strains and is studied for anti-inflammatory and decongestant effects.
🌸Terpineol
Aroma: Floral, lilac, citrus
With a pleasant lilac-like aroma, terpineol is often found alongside pinene. It has notable relaxing and sedative effects.
🌷Geraniol
Aroma: Floral, rose, sweet
A sweet, rosy terpene found in geraniums, lemongrass, and roses. Geraniol is a common ingredient in perfumes and is studied for antioxidant and neuroprotective potential.
🍊Valencene
Aroma: Sweet citrus, orange
Named after Valencia oranges, valencene delivers a bright, sweet citrus scent. It is relatively rare in cannabis but prized when present.
❄️Borneol
Aroma: Camphor, minty, herbal, woody
A cooling, camphor-like terpene found in rosemary, mint, and camphor. Long used in traditional medicine and studied for analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.
🌹Nerol
Aroma: Floral, rose, citrus, sweet
The cis-isomer of geraniol, nerol shares the same rose-and-citrus character but sits a touch softer and sweeter. Found in neroli oil, lemongrass, and hops, it is a standard analyte on the SC Labs 39-panel.
🌿Menthone
Aroma: Minty, herbal, slightly woody
The ketone precursor of menthol, menthone delivers a clean, minty-herbal aroma found in peppermint and pennyroyal. It is less sweet than menthol and carries a mildly woody edge.
🍋Citral
Aroma: Lemon, citrus, fresh
A mixture of geranial and neral, citral is the sharp lemon note in lemongrass, lemon myrtle, and citrus peels. It is one of the most recognisable aroma molecules in nature.
🌱Thujene
Aroma: Spicy, herbal, woody
A bicyclic monoterpene with a spicy, thyme-like aroma found in thuja, cardamom, and savory. Alpha-thujene is the form most commonly reported on cannabis COA panels.
🪵Bulnesene
Aroma: Woody, cedar, earthy
A sesquiterpene hydrocarbon with a deep, woody-cedar aroma found in guaiacum wood and ylang-ylang. It is a minor component on COA panels and contributes to complex, earthy terp profiles.
🌹Guaiene
Aroma: Woody, rose, earthy
A sesquiterpene hydrocarbon closely related to guaiol but lacking the alcohol group. Its woody-rose aroma is found in rose, guaiacum, and patchouli, and it is a minor but distinct COA analyte.
🌿Verbenone
Aroma: Earthy, minty, woody, camphor
A bicyclic monoterpene ketone found in rosemary, Spanish verbena, and some Haze-adjacent cultivars. Verbenone has a complex, camphor-meets-mint aroma and is studied for anti-inflammatory activity.
🌿Carvone
Aroma: Spearmint, caraway, sweet
A chiral monoterpenoid ketone whose two mirror-image forms smell completely different: the left-handed form is spearmint, the right-handed form is caraway/dill. Found in cannabis at trace levels.
🌸Farnesol
Aroma: Floral, musky, lily-of-the-valley
A sesquiterpene alcohol with a soft, floral-musky aroma that closely resembles lily of the valley. Distinct from farnesene (the hydrocarbon), farnesol is a biosynthetic precursor of nerolidol and found in ylang-ylang and rose.
🍊Nootkatone
Aroma: Grapefruit, woody, dry
The molecule responsible for grapefruit's characteristic dry, bitter citrus scent. A sesquiterpene ketone found in Alaskan yellow cedar, nootkatone appears at trace levels in some cannabis cultivars.
🌿Thymol
Aroma: Thyme, herbal, medicinal
A monoterpene phenol responsible for the characteristic aroma of thyme. Widely found in the herb family and studied for strong antimicrobial activity. Appears on extended cannabis lab panels at trace levels.
🌿Carvacrol
Aroma: Oregano, warm, herbal
The isomer of thymol and the dominant aroma compound in oregano and marjoram. A monoterpene phenol with potent antimicrobial properties, it appears at trace levels in cannabis R&D panels.
🌳Eudesmol
Aroma: Earthy, woody, cedar
A sesquiterpene alcohol found in eucalyptus, calamus, and camphor oil. The alpha, beta, and gamma isomers all carry a warm, earthy-cedar aroma and appear on HS-FET forensic cannabis panels.
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