What Are Terpenes?
Terpenes are aromatic hydrocarbon molecules made up of linked isoprene unit chains and are a major component of plant resins — making them the primary ingredient of a plant's essential oil.
The Building Blocks
The Many Sides of Terpenes
Terpenes are aromatic hydrocarbon molecules that fall into a class of compounds made up of linked isoprene unit chains and are a major component of plant resins — making them the primary ingredient of a plant's essential oil.
Most terpenes serve as potent scent molecules for the dual purpose of protection from predators and attracting pollinators. Plants also release terpenes in the form of aerosols, which agglomerate with other atmospheric compounds and encourage the formation of water vapor. This forms protective clouds that cool the plant during extended periods of hot weather.
The Entourage Effect
Cannabinoids like THC, CBD, CBG, CBN and CBC produce better outcomes when consumed alongside a supporting cast of terpenes. That combined synergy is the entourage effect.
Terpenes & You
Terpenes and the Human Body
Beyond providing plants their aroma, protection and mechanism of reproduction, terpenes have direct interactions with the human body when consumed or inhaled. They actually support other medicinal molecules of a plant, such as cannabinoids, amplifying their therapeutic value.
Engulfing a cell's surface and binding with its receptors from multiple angles, cannabinoids like THC, CBD, CBG, CBN and CBC produce better outcomes when they are consumed alongside a supporting cast of terpenes. This combined synergy has become known as the entourage effect and is why terpenes have become recognized as playing such a critical role in the overall cannabis puzzle.
Profiles in Focus
Common Terpenes & Their Effects
A handful of the aromatic molecules behind familiar scents — and what early research suggests they may do in the body.
Alpha-Pinene
May interfere with molecules that dilate our blood vessels, which as a result reduces inflammation.
View terpeneLinalool
A sedative that may support pain relief, in a manner similar to CBD.
View terpeneHumulene
May act as an anti-anxiety agent alongside CBG and CBC.
View terpeneLimonene
Similar to hops, limonene may act as an anti-anxiety agent alongside CBG and CBC.
View terpeneAnswers
Frequently Asked Questions
Terpenes are the aromatic, oil-based molecules that give plants their scent. Chemically they're hydrocarbons built from repeating isoprene units, and they make up the bulk of a plant's essential oil.
They're a survival tool. The scent deters predators and draws in pollinators, and some terpenes are released into the air, where they help form the protective, cooling cloud cover a plant relies on during hot spells.
Inhaled or consumed, terpenes do more than add aroma — they interact with the body and support a plant's other active compounds, such as cannabinoids, enhancing their effect. This is the basis of the entourage effect.
When cannabinoids (THC, CBD, CBG, CBN, CBC) are taken together with terpenes rather than in isolation, they tend to work better. That synergy is the entourage effect — and it's why terpenes are considered a critical piece of the cannabis puzzle.
Cannabis Derived Terpenes (CDT) are strain-specific profiles mapped from real cannabis flower — True-To-Flower™, with no synthetics and no odorizers. Botanical Derived Terpenes (BDT) are sourced from other plants and blended to recreate or enhance aroma and flavor profiles.
Terpenes are non-polar, oil-based hydrocarbons that, in pure form, can be very potent and sometimes volatile, flammable, and even corrosive. For this reason they should strictly be used by experienced and trained manufacturers, and anyone unfamiliar with these compounds should exercise caution.