How To Use Terpenes: Elevate Cannabis Products for Improved Experience

Terpenes are powerful tools for developing cannabis products that consumers love. Their ability to enhance both flavor and experience increasingly drives customers to seek out terpene-enhanced vape carts, edibles, and even terpene-rich flower. 

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Creating exceptional products isn’t trivial; it requires nuance in how you choose — and use — terpenes to create a high-quality experience. At Lab Effects, we pride ourselves on the quality and safety of our diverse range of terpenes. And we’re here to share our expertise so you can craft cannabis products your customers won't forget.

How Do You Use Terpenes?

Disclaimer: Terpenes are non-polar, oil-based hydrocarbons that, in pure form, can be very potent and sometimes volatile, flammable, and even corrosive compounds. For this reason, they should strictly be used by experienced and trained manufacturers, and we advise those unfamiliar with these compounds to exercise caution.

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Terpenes — found naturally in plants, including cannabis — are organic compounds that contribute to flavor and aroma, while delivering a range of physiological effects. They’re used in commercial cannabis manufacturing to enhance both the therapeutic effects and flavor profiles of cannabis products.

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Pure terpenes, when extracted from plants, typically occur as colorless, oily liquids and can therefore be combined with cannabinoid extracts and cannabis flower in various ways. To get started, you’ll need to decide on:

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• Terpene profile - Endless options from isolated terpenes, True-To-Flower™ strain-specific CDTs, flavor-forward terpene blends, or even your own custom blend.
• Terpene origin - Choose between cannabis-derived terpenes and botanical terpenes
• Concentration - Terpene concentration varies based on the product being made, but commonly ranges anywhere from 1–15 percent of product weight on average. 
• Formulation method - There’s a range of viable techniques, depending on your final product.

How to Work with Terpenes, by Cannabis Product Type

Terpenes and distillate 

Adding terpenes to distillates for vape carts is one of the most common applications. Because distillation results in a terpene-free cannabis extract, reintroducing terpenes can restore the full flavor and entourage effect of the original cannabis strain.

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To infuse terpenes into a distillate, you’ll first need to select the right blend and concentration. For vape cartridges, we typically recommend starting around 7 percent of the final product weight. 

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However, the ideal ratio can vary depending on the product and your desired effects — distillates can contain as little as 3 percent or as much as 15 percent terpenes by weight. 

How to add terpenes to distillate

The key to a good terpene-infused distillate product is the balance of cannabis extract to terpenes. How you blend the two matters. Gently heat the distillate to decrease its viscosity (a hot plate works), then add terpenes slowly. It’s wise to start below your target concentration.

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Mix thoroughly — most use a homogenizer or magnetic stirrer — until the blend is uniform. Depending on the thickness, you may want to add a diluent, like The Cut™, to decrease viscosity and avoid unwanted crystallization.

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Another option is to start with a carrier oil, such as The Base™. This is not a diluent, but a universal Vape Carrier Oil intended to make up the majority of the formulation while still allowing room for additional terpenes and flavors to be added for personal customization. 

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Not sure which terpenes are right for your distillate? Browse our extensive catalog of cannabis-derived and botanical terpenes to find the perfect blend.

Terpenes and hash 

Hash, one of the most traditional concentrates, can also be enhanced by adding terpenes. For example, Dawa Artisan CBD Hash is made in the time-honored way: rolling and kneading to add gentle heat and pressure from the hands. 

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Lab Effects’ terpenes are added dropwise to enhance the user experience and provide additional therapeutic effects. For hash, around 0.5–1 percent terpenes by weight is a good place to start. It can take up to 24 hours for the terpenes to integrate with the hash, so consider waiting until the flavor profile has settled before adding more.

Terp spray for weed 

Terp spray is a relatively new product that makes it easy to add terpenes to dried cannabis plants, rolling papers, and concentrates. It’s great for manufacturers who want to treat a large amount of their product with terpenes before final portioning, packaging, and distribution. 

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The terp spray is lightly misted onto the dried products, which are then sealed in an airtight container and left to dry for 24 hours, allowing the terpenes to infuse through the product.

What does terp spray do?

Like other terpene products, terp spray allows you to modulate the therapeutic effects and flavor. Terp spray can also help restore flavor and terpene content that has been lost during drying and curing. 

Terpenes in beverages 

Food-grade terpenes have long been used in the food and beverage industry to enhance cocktails, cakes, and more. Both cannabis-derived terpenes and botanical terpenes are increasingly popular with vineyards, breweries, and distilleries branching out into new, creative products.

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Our Beer & Spirits Terpenes are specially formulated to mix effectively with alcohol-based drinks. Nano-emulsification technology makes them water-soluble, and as always, our terpenes are GRAS Food-Grade certified.

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To use, simply add dropwise to your product and flavor to taste. About four drops of terpenes per 8 to 12 ounces of beer is a good starting point. But we’ve found the desired terpene concentration in drinks can be very subjective, so experiment and find what works for you.

Terpenes in tea and coffee

You don’t have to stop at alcoholic drinks — terpenes can also enhance non-alcoholic food and drink, like tea and coffee. Used in a similar way, water-soluble terpenes can add new flavors, aromas, and therapeutic effects to products like coffee creamers or even energy drinks.

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In fact, water-soluble terpenes can also be used in cosmetic products, lotions, and topical creams that include water-based ingredients and therefore won't blend with raw terpenes.

Terpenes in edibles

Taste is a huge consideration for edibles, so it’s no surprise that terpene-enhanced edibles are a growing market. However, because isolated terpenes are volatile, breaking down easily at high temperatures, it takes some care to effectively add terpenes to edible cannabis products.

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We recommend aiming for about one percent terpenes by weight in edibles like gummies. Flavor-enhanced terpene blends are a great choice for creating big, memorable flavors. Alternatively, you could use therapeutic terpene blends to offer targeted physiological effects like anxiety or pain reduction.

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To maintain the integrity of your terpene blend, add to edible mixtures once cooked, while cooling, but still liquid. This avoids terpenes breaking down at high temperatures during cooking. This approach works well for gummies and chocolates, provided the terpenes are well mixed before the product sets.

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When formulating your product, it’s important to remember that digesting terpenes is different from inhaling them. While research has found that terpenes are most bioavailable two to four hours after consumption, overall bioavailability is much higher when smoked or vaped.

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Looking to take your edibles to the next level? Choose from our wide range of flavor-enhanced and therapeutic terpene blends for gummies, chocolates, and more. Start crafting unforgettable edible experiences today!

What About Smoking Terpenes?

In short: don’t smoke straight terpenes.

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Terpenes are very potent volatile aromatic hydrocarbons that can be harsh and irritating if consumed at too-high of concentrations, posing risks to heart, lung, and brain health. Skin contact with terpenes can cause inflammation and irritation if left to dry without washing off, which is why we always recommend safe handling with protective equipment. 

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That’s why it’s important to stick to recommended terpene concentrations in all products, follow safe storage and handling recommendations, and use diluents and carrier oils as required.

Take Your Products to the Next Level with Lab Effects

Terpenes offer a world of possibilities to cannabis manufacturers, but as you’ve seen, it takes experience and practice to get it right. We’ve spent over a decade experimenting to create our range of terpenes to truly elevate your products, whether vape carts, edibles, flower, or beverages.

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At Lab Effects, our team is here to empower you every step of the way. We’re ready to share our expertise in formulation, safety, and quality control for whatever product you want to create.

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And if your goal is to really stand out in the highly competitive cannabis consumer landscape, partner with us to develop custom terpene blends. Whether you’re looking to recreate a much-loved strain or conjure up something entirely new, we can make it happen.

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Get started today by choosing premium, natural, food-safe terpene blends from Lab Effects. Or contact our team to go deeper and craft truly unforgettable cannabis products.

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Lab Effects is cGMP-certified, ISO 9001-certified, HACCP-certified, FDA-registered, and ANAB-accredited.

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