A guide to scent profiles
Get to know terpenes
For medicinal cannabis patients: understand what a terpene profile describes, use familiar scents as reference points and take useful questions to your treating clinician.
What are terpenes?
Terpenes are compounds that contribute to the scents of cannabis. They can help distinguish between various cultivars or "strains".
Cannabis cultivars contain different combinations and amounts of terpenes. A profile describes compounds measured in a particular product or batch; another batch with the same cultivar name may differ. A terpene name or aroma cannot accurately tell you how a medicine will affect you or predict a health outcome.
Why do they matter?
We're still learning how terpenes interact in the body. The theory is that terpenes work alongside the active cannabinoids (such as THC and CBD) in medicinal cannabis, to produce the varying effects found with different strains.
This might explain why two different medicines with the same THC content can produce different experiences.
How to read a terpene profile
If your medicinal cannabis product includes a terpene profile listed on the packaging, use it as a description of its measured plant chemistry and aroma. You might also find the terpene profile listed on the batch Certificate of Analysis (COA).
Read the names
Look for the terpenes listed for that product or batch. Their relative amounts may differ across cultivars and batches.
Use scent references
Botanical examples offer a familiar way to picture a scent. A whole cultivar’s aroma comes from many compounds together.
Notice patterns
If you track symptoms, note the product and batch, its scent, and any changes in relief. Patterns are worth discussing, but they cannot show that a terpene caused a change.
Keep care personal
Bring your notes to your treating clinician. A terpene profile alone is not a guide to choosing or changing a medicine.
Terpenes
- β-Caryophyllene0.42%
- Myrcene0.31%
- Limonene0.16%
- Linalool0.08%
Illustrative values only.
What it might look like
Some products list individual terpenes and their measured amounts on their packaging. Taking note of the top 2-3 terpenes is a good place to start when comparing medicines. In this example, β-caryophyllene is listed at a higher amount than the other three shown.
Several terpenes you may see
These are commonly reported in cannabis cultivar analyses. Open a name to find its botanical sources and a simple scent reference.
MyrceneHerbal · fruity
Also found in: hops and mango.
Scent reference: a green, herbal note with a fruity edge.
β-CaryophyllenePeppery · woody
Also found in: black pepper and cloves.
Scent reference: warm pepper, spice and wood.
LimoneneCitrus
Also found in: lemon and orange peel.
Scent reference: freshly peeled citrus zest.
PinenePine · resin
Also found in: pine needles and rosemary.
Scent reference: fresh pine and resin. Profiles may distinguish α-pinene from β-pinene.
TerpinoleneFresh · herbal
Also found in: tea tree and pine.
Scent reference: a fresh, herbal and lightly woody note.
LinaloolFloral
Also found in: lavender and coriander seed.
Scent reference: soft flowers with a gentle herbal edge.
HumuleneWoody · herbal
Also found in: hops and sage.
Scent reference: earthy wood and herbs. It may be listed as α-humulene.
What research is exploring
Some researchers study whether individual terpenes interact with parts of the endocannabinoid system (ECS).
β-Caryophyllene and CB2
A foundational laboratory study identified β-caryophyllene as interacting selectively with the cannabinoid CB2 receptor. This is a receptor finding, not evidence that a cultivar has a particular clinical effect.
Read the β-caryophyllene study ↗Limonene and CB1
A study in intestinal epithelial cells examined limonene and CB1 receptor signalling. Cell research is an early step; it does not establish an outcome for patients using medicinal cannabis.
Read the limonene study ↗For context on which terpenes appear in commercial cannabis, see this large analysis of cultivar chemistry ↗.
These are mechanistic findings only. They do not determine how terpenes may affect you.
Meet your terpene personality
Our six-question quiz is a playful way to explore four aromatic personalities from the wider terpene world.
Take the 45-second personality quizYour result is for reflection and enjoyment. It is not a health assessment.