Terpenes - the essential oils that determine the scent of many flowers, herbs and fruits - give cannabis its distinctive aroma and flavor.

Cannabis can exhibit over 150 different terpenes. Like THC and CBD, these naturally-occurring compounds are found in the trichomes of female cannabis plants.

Several factors such as genetics, growing conditions, harvesting, drying, curing, and packaging can all influence terpene levels of the product you eventually purchase.

Although most cannabis terpenes are present in only trace amounts, the mix of minor terpenes and the more prominent terpenes give cannabis strains their diverse signature scent profiles.

Many terpenes are volatile compounds, meaning over time they’ll dissipate. This will happen in normal conditions, and more quickly in suboptimal conditions.

It’s vital to acknowledge that we are still learning about terpenes and their interactions with other compounds present in cannabis, like cannabinoids. Indeed, the majority of current research is based on animal or test-tube models.

In addition to their purpose for scents and flavoring, humans have long harnessed terpenes from botanicals to formulate essential oils for practices such as aromatherapy.

Terpenes have also been identified as a new frontier in cannabis medicine, alongside cannabinoids such as THC and CBD.[1]

Some of the effects terpenes have on humans are evocative of their function in cannabis and other plants—like helping to fight off unwelcome microbes and pathogens.

But emerging evidence suggests that plant compounds in cannabis, such as cannabinoids and terpenes, work together synergistically. This is known as the entourage effect [2 For example, some research has shown terpenes appear to play a part in influencing the effects of cannabinoids in the body (2018 review)]

More recent research has found that terpenes boost cannabinoid activity (but high concentrations of terpenes were needed to see this enhancement)

Cannabis is often labeled as "sativa," "indica," or "hybrid"

This categorization is meant to suggest different effects on the mind and body (for example, a sativa would be uplifting, while an indica would be calming)

However, recent research has debunked this notion, revealing that the sativa/indica classification is largely misleading and lacks scientific basis. [1]

Prior studies have uncovered significant discrepancies between advertised sativa/indica labels and the actual genetic makeup of the products, concluding that there is little consistency among strains sold under the same name, rendering the sativa/indica labeling unreliable and misleading. [1][2]

To better serve our customers, we are moving away from this outdated system and towards cannabis terpenes, which we believe to be a more reliable and better choice factor and will help customers make more informed decisions.