Cannabinoid and Terpene Overview

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Cannabis Explorations

44 min readAug 22, 2023

Cannabinoids

11-OH-THC (11 hydroxy-THC)

11-OH-THC is what is produced when the liver metabolizes ∆9 -THC. It is the main active metabolite of delta-9. While smoking or vaporizing cannabis will create some 11-OH-THC, more is created when cannabis is eaten, as THC passes through the liver first that way. When consumed in isolated form, it’s generally described as having a similar effect as delta 9 THC with a faster onset.

2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG)

2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) is an agonist of both of the ECS’s receptors, the CB1 and CB2, and when it binds to CB1 receptors in the brain it can have psychoactive effects. While the effects of 2-AG are still being studied, it is a key component of the endocannabinoid system’s neuromodulatory effects.

Arachidonoyl ethanolamide (Anandamide or AEA)

Anandamide, also known as the bliss molecule, binds with strong affinity to the CB1 receptor of the endocannabinoid system (ECS). It earned its name by stimulating feelings of happiness and mental wellness. How the ECS uses it to attain homeostasis is still somewhat of a mystery, but Anandamine has been found to be a mood enhancer and anxiolytic in many studies.

Cannabichromene (CBC)

A powerful, non-psychoactive cannabinoid, cannabichromene (CBC) does not bind with the CB1 receptions, but it does bind to receptors linked with pain perception. Much like THC and CBD, it has great medicinal potential, and is being heavily researched.

Cannabichromenic Acid (CBCA)

Cannabichromenic Acid (CBCA) is the carboxylic precursor to CBCA. CBCA is non-psychoative and converts to CBC over time or with the addition of heat. CBCA starts to develop in young cannabis plants before THCA. Limited research into CBCA has shown potentiality as antibiotic.

Cannabidiol (CBD)

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid widely revered for its many possible health benefits. It can comprise up to 40% of extracted material from the Cannabis sativa plant, depending on the variety.

Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA)

Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) is abundant in live Cannabis sativa plants that are strains and varieties high in CBD (‘hemp’). When CBDA is exposed to heat (or to air over time), it is converted into CBD — it is its chemical predecessor. CBDA’s potential doesn’t stop there, as scientists have been studying its impact in rodent models for nearly two decades, specifically its anti-inflammatory potential.

Cannabidivarin (CBDV)

Cannabidivarin (CBDV) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid found most prevalently in ‘Indica’ landrace strains. Most of the research around CBDV is around its possible therapeutic uses to combat seizures, and the makers of the FDA-approved, CBD-derived drug Epidolex are currently developing a CBDV-based anti-seizure medication . Other studies have found possible effects against nausea.

Cannabidivarin (CBDVA)

Cannabidivarinic acid (CBDVA) is the carboxylic acid precursor of CBDV.

Cannabigerol (CBG)

Cannabigerol (CBG) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid most frequently found in high-CBD and low-THC strains of Cannabis sativa (hemp). The possible medicinal benefits of CBG include anti-inflammatory,anti-microbial, and neuroprotective properties. Pre-clinical research suggests that CBG binds to the CB2 receptor with higher affinity than to the CB1 receptor. CBG-dominant strains have their own cannabis chemotype, where they are classified as Type IV.

Cannabigerolic acid (CBGA)

Cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) is one of many minor cannabinoids found in a cannabis plant and is the precursor to CBG.

Cannabicyclol (CBL)

CBL is a non-intoxicating minor cannabinoid found in the Cannabis sativa plant. It’s created when cannabichromene (CBC) degrades through natural irradiation (such as light), oxidation, or exposure to acid. Because it depends on this process, CBL is only found in trace amounts in live trichomes as it will have the conditions to form after harvesting.

(Cannabicitran) CBT

Cannabicitran (CBT) was first discovered in 1966, and since then nine sub-types of CBT have been identified. Cannabicitran’s peak concentration is 1–5% in distillates. It’s believed to be derived from the precursor molecule CBDA. It seems to be most prevalent in Type III chemotypes, but there is still a lot of research to be done into this exciting cannabinoid.

Cannabinoid

A cannabinoid is a class of molecules that interacts with the endocannabinoid system. There are several different subtypes such as phytocannabinoids (present in plants), endocannabinoids (produced by the body), etc.

Cannabinol (CBN)

Cannabinol (CBN) is mildly psychoactive molecule found in the Cannabis sativa plant. It’s created when THCA degrades due to exposure to light, air, or heat which is why it’s most commonly found in aged and dried cannabis. CBN is a low-affinity, partial agonist to both receptors (with a higher affinity for CB2) in the endocannabinoid system (ECS), making it an exciting area for medical researchers.

CBNo

Cannabiorcol-C1, Cannabinol-C1 (CBN-C1), CBN-O-acetate, or CBN-O are all names for the same CBN sub-type. Considered to be more intoxicating and users report a somewhat psychoactive experience that falls between THC and CBN.

Dietary Cannabinoid

β-Caryophyllene, a terpene found in cannabis in addition to spices such as cinnamon and black pepper, binds selectively to the CB2 receptor. This gives it the distinction of being the first known dietary cannabinoid.

Endocannabinoid

A molecule made by your body that interacts with your endocannabinoid system (ECS). Also known as an endogenous cannabinoid. Anandamide and 2-AG are both endocannabinoids.

Exogenous cannabinoid

Exogenous cannabinoids are cannabinoids that are created outside of the body that interact diretly with your endocannabinoid system (ECS) receptors . THC is an exogenous cannabinoid.

Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC or ∆9 -THC)

Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC) is a chemical found in the Cannabis sativa plant (mainly in the Type I chemotype) that binds to the CB1 receptor of the endocannabinoid system. It is the principal psychoactive substance found in marijuana, and is a major contributor to the intoxicating effects.

Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA)

Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) is the carboxylic acid precursor of THC. Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA)and is the most abundant non-psychoactive cannabinoid. However, as the plant dries, THCA slowly converts to psychoactive THC. Heat expedites this conversion in a process called decarboxylation.

Delta-8-Tetrahydrocannabinol (∆8-THC)

Delta-8-Tetrahydrocannabinol (∆8-THC) is a psychoactive ingredient found in the cannabis plant. Concentrated amounts of ∆8-THC are often manufactured using hemp.

Delta-10-Tetrahydrocannabinol (∆10-THC)

Delta-10-Tetrahydrocannabinol (∆10-THC) is a cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. Much like Delta-8, it is often synthesized from hemp (Chemotype Type III).

Phytocannabinoid

A phytocannabinoid is a cannabinoid found in a plant.

Tetrahydrocannabutol (THCb)

Tetrahydrocannabutol is a cannabinoid found in trace amounts in the cannabis plant that was discovered in 2019 along with Tetrahydrocannabiphorol (THCp), a popular cannabinoid derived from hemp. Much like THCp, THCb is thought to be exceptionally potent, but due to its recent discovery experiential reports and scientific data is scarce.

Tetrahydrocannabihexol (THCh)

Tetrahydrocannabihexol (THC-h) was discovered in 2020, and is another THC homologue that can be derived from the hemp plant. Due to its quite recent discovery, there is very little known about this molecule.

Tetrahydrocannabiphoral (THCp)

Tetrahydrocannabiphoral (THCp) was discovered in 2019 at the same time as THCb. It is derived from hemp, and many tout it as being up to 33x stronger than THC. Because of its recent discovery, there is a lack of information about this new cannabinoid and its effects.

Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV)

Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) is a psychoactive cannabinoid found most prevalently in ‘Sativa’ strains of cannabis. It is purported to have appetite suppressing and energy-boosting properties, and there is research into its possible benefits in treating a wide variety of ailments.

THCVA

Tetrahydrocannabivarinic Acid (THCVA) is the carboxylic acid precursor of THCV.

THC acetate ester (THC-O or THCOA)

THC acetate ester (THC-O or THCOA) can be created using THC or THCA. It’s now commonly derived from hemp, even though it is not directly found int that type of Cannabis sativa plant. Even though “THC ester” has been around in some form since before the 1970’s, research and documented information on its potency and effects is sparse.

α-terpineol

α-terpineol is the most common of the four known terpineol isomers. Like many of my favorite terpenes, it has two scent profiles: α-terpineol in strong concentrations smells of pine, while when it’s more dilute it has a lilac-like scent. This makes it extremely useful in perfumery. Its long-lasting scent is part of the reason it’s included in so many holiday candles. Because of its presence in the pine smoke that is used to prepare lapsang souchong tea, it’s one of its primary aroma constituents. If you’ve never had a cup of lapsang souchong, I recommend the experience. Even a single experience of that variety of tea has a lot to teach fans of terpenes.

In Arctander’s reference volume “Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin,” he explains that “α-terpineol is one of the most commonly used of all perfume chemicals… As a basic component in lilac perfumes and a major component of many varieties of Pine fragrances (lower grades of Terpineol will usually suffice) as common ingredient of Fougeres, Apple blossoms, fragrances for household products, soaps, detergents, etc. it has very little competition.”

Arctander also explains that in the United States, terpineol is industrially derived from pine oil, while in Europe it’s derived via synthetic processing of turpentine.

In addition to being synthesized from pinene, α-terpineol can also be synthesized from limonene.

General Uses

Its interesting properties make it useful in a variety of perfumery applications. Because when it’s dilute it has a floral scent, it can be found in scents that evoke strawberry, anise, cherry, raspberry, bergamot, citrus, and grape as well as pine. Because of its versatility, it has a long list of fragrance uses. It also has high stability across a range of products that includes deodorant, fabric softener, alcohol-based lotions, and others.

Some patents include it in flavoring for an anti-microbial mouth rinse. A patent for agave-based spirits includes mention of alpha-terpineol after the fermentation process. As with other terpenes, α-terpineol has been used in the advancement of materials science, and it’s included in a terpene-based resin for a golf ball. Its citrus flavor means it’s no surprise that it’s part of a patent application for a sweetener. Because of its smell and other useful properties, it should be of no surprise that it’s also included in a food contact surface sanitizer.

Medical Uses

α-terpineol’s gastroprotective effect was studied in rat models of gastric injury, and it showed promise despite its lipophilic nature and brief half-life.

α-terpineol was identified as having a possibility of promoting cardiac integrity after it prevented myocardial infarction in Wistar-Kyoto rats. This study was done in response to the medicinal uses of the Protium heptaphyllum . This South American evergreen was used in indigenous medicine to treat cardiovascular disease.

A recent paper called for more research into the abilities of α-terpineol to reduce the oxidant and inflammatory activities associated with a high-fat diet after observing a significant impact in rats.

A series of α-terpineol derivatives were identified as having promise as anti-asthma agents.

In Cannabis

Terpineol can be found in a wide variety of strains, such as Girl Scout Cookies and Jack Herer, but the best way to be sure that you are experiencing terpineol is to purchase from farms and laboratories that perform full testing that you trust.

Other Info

Boiling Point: 424°F

Other Sources: Ajowan, Protium heptaphyllum, anise, allspice, apple, apricot, basil, bergamot, cassia, celery leaf, cinnamon, angelica, bay leaf, blueberry, buchu, cabbage, blood orange, cassia leaf, celery, chamomile — the list goes on and on!

Scents: lilac, pine, terpenic, woody, citrus

Flavors: citrus, woody, lemon, lime, soap

β-Caryophyllene

Black Pepper, Cloves, Cinnamon, and Cannabis all contain beta-caryophyllene. Image Source: Author.

Beta-caryophyllene (BCP or caryophyllene) is the terpene that gives certain strains of cannabis that spicy smell. It’s also found in spices like cinnamon, pepper, and cloves. Because it interacts with the endocannabinoid system’s CB2 receptor like a cannabinoid (THC, CBD, etc.), it also has some exciting medicinal potential. This has also made some researchers argue for its inclusion as a cannabinoid. Common in both cannabis and nature, this terpene is also an FDA-approved food additive. It was also the first cannabinoid classified as a dietary cannabinoid!

General Uses

In the perfume world, beta-caryophyllene’s long lasting spicy, woody scent is versatile, and excels in many different applications such as soaps, perfumes, and fabric softeners.

With this vast array of uses and US government approval to use beta-caryophyllene in food, beta-caryophyllene is in thousands of patent applications. It’s included in applications for products that include CBD, melatonin, and beta-caryophyllene to promote sleep, it is included in topical applications to clear up acne. Because of its flavor it’s included in a stevia sweetener patent that includes taste profile modifiers.

Medical Uses

The many uses of beta-caryophyllene are also standing up to the rigors of science. Its ability to interact with the CB2 receptor has made it a focus of many different studies across several disciplines. The CB2 receptor is the peripheral receptor of the endocannabinoid system in the body, and it is believed that it helps regulate immune-signaling and inflammatory responses within the body.

Researchers have determined caryophyllene has great potential to treat neuropathic pain due to its ability to act as a CB2 receptor agonist.

Brazilian researchers found BCP suppresses neuroinflammation and motor control in models of Multiple Sclerosis, as well as having an immunomodulatory effect by inhibiting microglial cells in addition to diminishing axonal demyelination.

Other researchers have posited that spices themselves should be studied as part of cancer prevention, citing the large body of work that demonstrates the effectiveness of some of these plant compounds.

Orally administered caryophyllene is an effective treatment in mouse and rat models of neuropathic pain .

Research demonstrated beta-caryophyllene is effective in creating behavioral changes in depressed and anxious mice. These pre-clinical trials found that the CB2 receptor could be an effective way to treat anxiety and depression, and that BCP warranted further study.

Caryophyllene had an anti-oxidant effect and thus was an effective treatment for fibrosis in rat livers.

Caryophyllene had a positive impact on

It was found to have beneficial effects on diabetic rats’ ability to reach glucose homeostasis.

Oral treatment with BCP reduced colitis disease activity and was found to be a possible treatment for inflammatory bowel disease.

Beta-caryophyllene is exciting — not only does it have the medicinal, aroma, and flavor possibilities of other terpenes, but it also has that amazing ability to interact directly with the CB2 receptor. To find strains that are high in caryophyllene, it’s important that you work with farms and dispensaries that provide full lab test results so you know exactly what you are consuming. You can often find caryophyllene in strains like Bubba Kush, ChemDawg, Sour Diesel, and strains that come from these lineages.

Other Info

Boiling Point: 264 to 266 °F

Other Sources: Cloves, cinnamon, black pepper, basil.

Scents: Spicy, sweet, cloves, dry, powdery

Flavors: Woody, spicy

Bisabolol

The sweet floral scent of chamomile tea wafting from a mug is full of a terpene named bisabolol. These bright tiny flowers are brimming with Bisabolol, or α-bisabolol, which is the primary constituent of the oil from German chamomile. Bisabolol is found in two forms — alpha and beta. While this article is concerned with alpha-bisabolol since its the one in cannabis, I still thought it would be fun to note that beta-bisabolol is found in corn and cotton.

alpha-bisabolol contributes to chamomile’s light floral scent. German chamomile has been in use for hundreds of years for its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties when used directly on the skin, and its anti-anxiety and digestive aid properties when used in a tea (chamomile tea is the gateway to many people’s entry into herbalism!). In Meyer’s ‘American Folk Medicine’ over 30 uses for chamomile are listed, featuring uses such as nausea, bad breath, abortion, menstrual problems, stings, and indigestion. Which, honestly, seems like a pretty wide list of herbal remedies.

The sweet, delicate scent of alpha-bisabolol is one reason it’s been added to so many cosmetic products. In addition to its good smell, bisabolol also aids percutaneous absorption and reduces inflammation, which is largely welcome in any skincare routine. As with any terpenes, some people will find their skin sensitive, so be sure to patch-test any products boasting this terpene before going ‘all-in.’

General Uses

Since chamomile has such a large range of uses, it should be no surprise that bisabolol is featured in a wide array of patents and products. In one, bisabolol is used as part of an oat lipid extract. In another patent application from Mary Kay, bisabolol is included in a skincare product. An Allergan patent also uses bisabolol to help heal the skin — specifically this product is geared towards healing aging and injured skin. Yet another included bisabolol in a composition meant for nanoemulsion that would suppress, prevent, or eliminate allergic or inflammatory disease. Good luck, dear patent applicant.

Medical Uses

In a recent study, α-bisabolol was found to suppress the inflammatory response, making it have potential in the treatment of osteoarthritis.

Bisabolol is a major constituent of an essential oil that was found to be an effective anti-microbial against many different strains, in addition to having a synergistic effect with anti-microbial medications.

Bisabolol was found to reduce neuropathic orofacial pain in rodent models, which demonstrates potential as a treatment.

Bisabolol was shown to cause cell death in , the parasite that causes Chagas disease.

Bisabolol coupled with tea tree oil was shown to have an anti-bacterial effect against Solobacterium moorei , one of the bacteria that cause halitosis.

Bisabolol protected the kidneys against ischemia/reperfusion damage related to acute kidney injury in rats.

Bisabolol demonstrated cytotoxicity in brief exposures against Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Cells in 26 patients.

One study found bisabolol to be associated with a variety of gastroprotective effects.

Another study found bisabolol aided in percutaneous absorption / as a penetration enhancer for transdermal medications.

I regularly pair chamomile tea with my bedtime routines, so it should be no surprise that most strains featuring bisabolol will be associated with the term ‘indica.’ Its anxiolytic and relaxing properties join well with the other terpenes in those strains.

Other Info

Boiling Point: 308° F

Other Sources: basil, bergamot, chamomile, carrot seed, cedarwood, corn, fleabane, ginger, guava, lavender, lemon, lime, orange, pine, tansy, wormwood, yarrow, ylang ylang. primary constituent of German chamomile oil which contains up to 50% alpha-bisabolol.

Scents: Floral, sweet, spicy.

Flavors: Floral, sweet, spicy.

Camphor

Camphor has such a long history with humans (dating back to at least the 6th century!) that it has even garnered its own adjective to describe its smell: camphoraceous (terpenes do have a lot of fun words associated with them!). I would even say that ‘camphoraceous’ encompasses a physical experience along with a smell — how else to describe that visceral, mentholated wake-up call from a bit of Vicks Vapo-Rub?

Camphor gets its name from the camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora). Camphor is used in Hindi puja ceremonies, where its properties can be interpreted as symbolic of surrendering the ego to the divine (when burned, camphor can burn very bright, leaves a sweet smell, and is completely consumed — leaving no ash behind).

Camphor has also been used for a variety of purposes in folk medicines where it’s been used as an aphrodisiac, an abortifacient, rodent repellent, and even for bruising According to the Encyclopedia of Folk Medicine by Gabrielle Hatfield, camphor has additional uses ranging from ‘breast’ (folk traditions believed coupling camphor with cabbage could help reduce breasts that were too large) to ‘hay fever’ (where, in something resembling putting Vicks in vaporizers, steamed camphor was used to relieve some of the breathing symptoms). Topically, camphor is still used to relieve pain, increase blood flow, and act as a counter-irritant, and reduce itching. Topically, Camphor’s effectiveness has been proven to the point that the FDA has approved its use for several purposes: as an anti-cough medication (anti-tussive, if you want to be technical), an analgesic, an anesthetic, and to treat itching. Camphor has also been associated with vaporized treatments for a long time.

General Uses

Camphor is so powerful that needs to be used with great caution in children. There have been issues with clinical toxicity, especially in cases of exposure to extracted camphorated oil (a mixture of up to 20% camphor in cottonseed or other oil). A toxic situation can occur through ingestion or even in extreme cases through the skin. Believe it or not, even Vicks Vapo Rub has been associated with some pretty drastic events. But you needn’t worry about any of that with cannabis — camphor isn’t a particularly common terpene in cannabis, nor is it found in very large amounts.

Camphor found itself particularly popular in Europe during the 14th century, as it was one of many items used in the beaks of Plague Doctors in addition to its wider use as a fumigant. Ever versatile, camphor was used to flavor early ice cream. Camphor found other ways to be useful as well — a recent study involved researching how camphor impacted the performance and emissions of an engine when mixed with gasoline. In the early days of plastics, camphor was used as a plasticizer. Due to its proven anti-microbial properties, camphor is used in embalming fluid.

Camphor’s also been found some new, exciting applications. For instance, it can be useful in helping to form carbon nanotubes. Camphor’s flexibility means that it is included in a wide variety of patents. Of course, it’s included in a ‘composition for joint health.’ It’s also, of course, included in several pest repellants. Camphor features in a patent about light-emitting devices. It’s also found in transdermal patent applications.

Medical Uses

As mentioned, Camphor’s medical uses have been established well enough that the FDA has approved its use as a topical analgesic, a topical treatment for cough suppression, and a topical anti-itching treatment, but that isn’t where camphor’s medical applications end.

Camphor’s power as an anti-viral, specifically in the context of influenza, is being examined with interest.One study found evidence that suggested camphor might ‘activate the skin immune system’ and assist in anti-tumor activities against non-melanoma skin cancer.Camphor demonstrated the ability to increase the radiosensitivity of some transplanted mammary tumors in mice, making radiation therapy more effective against them.

While camphor isn’t prevalent in cannabis, it is present, and can often be found in strains high in

Other Info

Boiling Point: 408℉

Other Sources: Camphor. Rosemary,

Scents: Camphoraceous. Medicinal. Terpenic. Mentholic.

Flavors: Camphoraceous. Medicinal. Terpenic. Mentholic.

Eucalyptol

If you made the assumption that eucalyptol, also known as cineol, is found in eucalyptus oil, you made the right assumption. Eucalyptol can be up to 90% of the oil! Spicy, mint-like, and cooling, eucalyptol’s memorable scent is familiar to anyone who has used Vicks Vapo Rub or a variety of other products. French chemist François Stanislas Cloez isolated and named eucalyptol in 1870, and another species of eucalyptus, E. cloeziana, was named for him.

Eucalyptus isn’t the only place that eucalyptol is found — and you’ll encounter this terpene quite a bit during the winter holidays as its featured in many spices. Its flavor means that its been used as a flavoring agent in a large variety of products, but only in small doses — eucalyptol in large doses is toxic. In fact, in 1981 M. Verma and C. E. Meloan determined that the eucalyptol (also known as cineole) in bay leaves could be an effective cockroach repellent.

Meloan was inspired to try to isolate the chemical responsible after hearing that bay leaves and sliced cucumbers would keep cockroaches at bay. As science can go, there were some stumbling blocks along the way. One of the first ones was attracting cockroaches to begin with — you can’t drive away a roach that isn’t there. Then, another when when it was found that just putting cucumbers in cabinets didn’t work to ward off the cockroaches, until they realized that slicing, cutting, or crushing would release the chemical.

General Uses

Eucalyptol is used in oral hygeine products for its antiseptic and antibacterial properties. It’s also used in topical products such as lotions for its anti-inflammatory effects. Of course, its also used in insecticides.

The patent office lists thousands of entries including eucalyptol. There are, of course, cannabis strains that contain it.

There is also a sanitizing liquid for food contact surfaces, which makes a lot of sense since small amounts of eucalyptol are edible. Eucalyptol is also contained in a treatment for antibiotic resistant acne. There’s a water-soluble cannabinoid extract that contains eucalyptol. Eucalyptol is mentioned as a possible antimicrobial agent that could be used in conjunction with a nanobubble stabilizer. And of course, it’s included in oral care products.

Medical Uses

Inhaled, eucalyptol proved to have anti-inflammatory properties against bronchial asthma by increasing the effectiveness of steroidal dose needed in asthma patients.

Topically, eucalyptus was found to help reduce scalp scaliness and other effects of scalp dermititis. Patients with bronchitis showed significant improvement after exposure / use of eucalyptol (cineol).

Eucalyptol has a bronchodialating effect in patients with COPD, and this has also been shown to be true in patient with acute bronchitis.

Eucalyptol helped relieve symptoms in patients with acute non-purulent rhinosinusitis.

Eucalyptol can cross the blood-brain barrier, which might make it useful for transport of other chemicals and treatments.

Eucalyptol, because of its wide variety of medical uses, has been identified as a promising area of research in the treatment of chronic disease.

Eucalyptol was identified as an extremely effective anti-microbial / anti-bacterial.

Eucalyptol was found to have a measurable impact on the cognitive function of senior nursing home patients when administered via diffuser.

In Cannabis

Girl Scout Cookies, and Super Silver Haze often contain Eucalyptol. As with other terpenes, it’s best to ensure you have a full terpene analysis for the farm / strain combination that you have to ensure that you’ll be encountering this terpene.

Other Info

Boiling Point: 350°F

Other Sources: eucalyptus, bay leaf, cardamom, rosemary, sage, allspice, basil, bergamot, calamus, cassia bark, brazillian cherry leaf, cinnamon, clary sage, cumin, dill, horsemint, laurel leaf, lavender, lemongrass, mandarin, marjoram, oregano, black pepper, pine, thyme, watermelon, wormwood, yarrow, ylang ylang, yuzu peel.

Scents: camphoraceous, cooling, minty, herbal, fresh

Flavors: minty, camphoraceous, medicinal

Farnesene

‘Farnesene’ refers to a group of six sesquiterpenes, at least three of which occur in cannabis terpene results I’ve seen (β-Farnesene, cis-β-Farnesene, and α-Farnesene). Like many of the terpenes that represent a large number of isomers, α-Farnesene and β-Farnesene are found in different sources and can have slightly different properties. α-Farnesene is responsible for that characteristic green apple smell and contributes to the brown spots indicating bruising of the fruit. β-Farnesene is found in basil and cardamom.

General Uses

There’s a company, Amyris, that is dedicated to the production of farnesene through a fermentation process, they specifically produce trans-β-Farnesene. Their website boasts that farnesene has a versatile and useful chemical structure for a broad range of applications — from materials science, adhesives, and crop protection to vitamins. Farnesene is also being studied for other possible advances in materials science, and more synthesis methods for farnesene are being evaluated regularly.

Obviously, farnesene is some pretty handy stuff, and that means that it appears in a wide variety of patents and patent applications that go beyond the normal cannabis strain applications. It’s included in a copolymer for golf balls. Like many other terpenes, it is included in patent applications for sweeteners. Possibly harnessing some of its power as a terpene, it’s included in a lice control treatment. It’s pretty normal to see terpenes listed for hemp plants and cannabis plants, but I’m super interested in the cannabis ruderalis / Humulus lupulus high-yield cross called “Anew.”

Medical Uses

Contributing to farnesene’s medical importance is the fact that farnesene is one of the terpenes in black pepper (Piper nigrum). Because of black pepper’s esteemed history of medicinal uses, this interest isn’t unfounded!

Alpha-farnesene was mentioned in a study as a component of citrus reticulata (mandarin orange) peel oil and a possible contributor to its (possible) ability to prevent LDL oxidization.

Farnesene was identified as a component of Ocimum gratissimum (clove basil), which was effective against gastrointestinal pathogenic microbes.

Farnesene’s anti-fungal properties were put to the test, as it is part of the essential oil of the vitex agnus castus (or chasteberry tree), that was effective in fighting

Farnesene was found in the essential oil of German chamomile ( Matricaria recutita), whose antioxidant properties were presented at a conference.

In Cannabis

Sweet-smelling farnesene in its many forms features in many different strains of cannabis. It’s always best to determine what contains farnesene by looking at lab results from a reliable lab, but if that information isn’t available, strains such as Sundae Driver have had high alpha-farnesene, and strains like pineapple have high amounts of beta-farnesene.

General info

Boiling Point: α-Farnesene at 503 °F, β-Farnesene at 523.4 ° F, and

Other Sources: Green apples, ginger, basil, bergamot, turmeric, ginger, olives, chamomile, mandarin oranges.

Scents: Green, floral, herbal, sweet, warm, woody, gin, citrus.

Flavors: Herbal, green, woody, vegetable, floral.

Humulene

Humulene, a monocyclic sesquiterpene, gets its name from the scientific name of the hops plant, humulus lupulus, which is a fun scientific name to say. Humulus was apparently ‘Latinized from a germanic h*m*l cluster.’ Lupulus, meaning ‘small wolf’ was derived from a nickname for hops — ‘willow-wolf.’ Hops was known for growing above other plants such as willows and strangling them (‘like a wolf does a sheep’). Hops are also a member of the family cannabaceae, along with cannabis! Humulene is a magnificent name for this terpene.

Abundant in nature, Alpha-humulene is often found in conjunction with beta-caryophyllene. Alpha-humulene is also known as alpha-caryophyllene because science synonyms are fun. Alpha-caryophyllene / humulene is a ‘ring-opened isomer’ (referring to a ring in its chemical structure) of beta-caryophyllene — but it doesn’t influence the CB2 receptor as beta-caryophyllene does.

Do you know that bright, green, delicious smell that hits you when you walk into a dispensary? That smell is part humulene and part myrcene, two terpenes with the longest linger time. Humulene manages to smell woody without any astringency. Think of how your hand smells after you picked tomatoes, the smell of some fresh hops, or that crispness of a hoppy beer. The bright, herbal scent lingers for quite some time.

General Uses

The contribution of hops (and therefore humulene) to beer can’t be understated. It should be no surprise that humulene features in many patents for various fermentation processes. Another really interesting patent is on a plant that is a cross of cannabis ruderalis and Humulus lupulus (I love excuses to write it!), that produces CBD but no THC.

Humulene, like many other terpenes, is also listed as part of an insect repellant composition. Exposure to humulene was found to reduce fruit fly mating. Humulene is also included in a patent for an agent meant to increase plant growth.

Medical Uses

Valued as a relaxing herb long before even becoming an ingredient in beer making, humulene-heavy hops have a long tradition of use in folk remedies and folk medicine, especially as a way to help people relax. Because of its natural prevalence even outside of cannabis, there has been a generous amount of research on humulene and its medical uses (humulene in the context of whole-plant cannabis medication has not yet been extensively studied due to the difficulties of working with a federally criminalized substance). A dry extract of hops was found to reduce anxiety in study participants.

The findings of one study definitively found alpha-humulene to have efficacy as an anti-inflammatory agent.Humulene also appears to be relevant outside of humans, as Evarcha culicivora, a type of jumping spider, is capable of detecting alpha-humulene (among other terpenes).Humulene has been found to enhance the anti-cancer effects of beta-caryophyllene in human tumor cell lines.Balsam fir oil, which contains humulene, was found to be effective against certain cancer lines. Humulene is a contributor to the anti-microbial potential found in the essential oil of valerian.In rats, the essential oil from Casearia sylvestris leaves was found to be a powerful anti-ulcer / anti-inflammatory agent.Balsam fir oil has also been studied for being an effective anti-bacterial agent.

Humulene is prevalent in many strains of cannabis often with its isomer / friend beta-caryophyllene. It’s often associated with ‘sativas.’ Sometimes you’ll find quite a bit of humulene in a strain with a name like “Skunk” or “Diesel.” The best way to ensure that you are experiencing a strain with humulene is to make sure you are consuming cannabis that has its full terpene tests from a reliable lab available.

Other Info

Boiling Point: 223° F

Other Sources: Hops, sage, spearmint, basil, ginger, Vietnamese coriander, yuzu leaf, ylang-ylang, yarrow oil, wormwood, tomato leaf, thyme, tea, tamarind, cloves, rosemary, raspberry, bergamot, black pepper, parsley, pennyroyal, oregano, orange peel. nutmeg, marjoram, mandarin, lime, lemongrass, juniper, clove, cinnamon, valerian, Cyprus, blood orange, marsh elders, oranges, turmeric. There have been reported cases of hops oil comprised of up to 36% humulene.

Scents: woody, spicy, herbaceous.

Flavors: Woody, spicy, and herbaceous.

Limonene

Limonene helps explain terpenes to the uninitiated. The zesty citrus smell emanating from flower helps demonstrate that different plants can share the same terpenoids. A monoterpene, limonene can be found in citrus (obviously), and there are two isomers — D-Limonene (with a citrus smell) and L-Limonene (with a piney smell).

General Uses

D-Limonene, which is the terpene that is also found in cannabis, is the isomer that is found in citrus peels. This versatile terpene isomer is not only found in perfumes and foods, but also regularly used as an industrial degreaser, is a key ingredient in some cleansers, and is in use in many insecticides. The bright, citrus smell can be found in a variety of natural sources, and limonene is present across cannabis strains in varying amounts.

Because there are so many uses for limonene, it stars in a lot of patent applications. One of my favorites describes a cannabis chewing gum. Another one is for a limonene-based flame retardant. Because limonene has such versatile and long-standing uses in perfumes and food , there are a variety of patents leveraging limonene in those areas. This includes laundry detergents, perfumes, household cleaners, shampoos, conditioners, pet products, and more. Limonene’s power as a cleanser should not be forgotten , nor should its inherent usefulness as a natural insecticide.

Medical uses

Limonene has been studied along with other terpenes in their effectiveness to assist the percutaneous absorption of some poorly-absorbed drugs. That study demonstrated that terpenes like limonene and nerolidol were increased the effectiveness of topical medications — limonene was particularly adept at helping the absorption of lipophilic medications.

Because limonene is found in so many consumer products and has been available outside of cannabis for years, it has already come under some amount of scrutiny. While male lab rats might have issues with limonene in the liver, the reasons are

A study in 1998 found limonene was well-tolerated and worthy of further study for its impact against cancer. Further studies have showed a distinct in vitro impact against cancer.

The oral administration of limonene was found to reduce inflammation due to colitis in rats in a study conducted in 2013, with the recommendation to move forward to human subjects. Limonene is a solvent for both cholesterol and gallstones. Limonene was present in an essential oil found to be effective in the treatment of IBS. Limonene was suggested for further study in the clinical context of COVID-19 due to its other clinical uses. Limonene has a gastric-acid neutralizing effect and is used in the treatment of GERD.

The advantages of limonene don’t all require a direct contact with the chemical itself. Forest bathing and high exposure to limonene aerosols contribute to lower blood pressure and better mood.

Limonene was identified as one of the anxiolytic / antidepressive therapeutic compounds and it has been studied and found to be effective as an inhaled anti-emetic.

Limonene has a variety of uses, and this little powerhouse of a terpene is found in every strain of cannabis I’ve encountered (and that’s a lot!).

Other Info

Boiling Point: 352° F ( 176 °C)

Other Sources: Oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, bay leaf, cardamom, celery, dill, pepper, rosemary, tea tree. While its name comes from lemons, the highest concentration of natural limonene is found in orange rind, whose oil is up to 97% limonene.

Linalool

Linalool is the main feature in lavender oil ( linalool can make up to 28% of garden / English lavender oil and nearly 50% of broad-leafed lavender oil!). Linalool is also a key aroma compound in some cultivars of camellia Sinensis, or tea, where linalool’s presence is prized for creating a sweet, floral aroma and flavor to the tea. Whenever I’m feeling too on the edge, anxious, or sleepless, I seek out a form of linalool.

General Uses

Linalool features in many interesting patents, I’m sure you can imagine that a large bulk of them use linalool’s aroma and flavor properties. One such usage would be in an oral care / tooth-whitening product. Another interesting patent that includes linalool is for a self-cleaning toilet, where linalool could be dispatched post-cleansing (along with a host of other possible terpenes we’ve reviewed). Yet another patent includes linalool is an analgesic based on snake venom.

Linalool also has insect-repellent and insecticide uses — after all, that’s one of the reasons that plants produce terpenes. Thus, linalool has been used in some insecticides. It is this use of linalool that created a legal scandal for water-maker LaCroix. LaCroix was sued by an Illinois defendant in a class-action lawsuit disputing its 100% natural claims. The lawsuit alleged LaCroix’s water included an ingredient that “kills cockroaches.” Eventually, the plaintiff dropped the lawsuit, acknowledging that the laboratory she worked with was unable to determine if the linalool (and limonene!) were synthetic.

The FDA has approved linalool’s use in food, with the highest average amounts found in hard candies and gum.

Medical Uses

In addition to these applications, like many other cannabis terpenes, linalool has a list of possible medical applications.

There is already a robust body of study around the anxiolytic effects of linalool that sprung from lavender’s many uses in folk medicine. This effect of linalool has been very, very well-documented! The scent of linalool is distinct and smells like the sweet side of lavender — woody, floral, and fresh. It also lasts for a long time on an odor strip. This makes linalool a frequent ingredient in beauty products for its delightful scent — it’s found in at least 60% of perfumed hygiene products, according to its Wikipedia entry.

Some preliminary studies examining linalool’s possible use in cancer therapy found linalool to help inhibit (but not kill) lung cancer cells.A study identified linalool as the major contributor to the ability of some essential oils to reduce inflammation.Pain and inflammation are linked to oxidative stress and neurodegeneration, and linalool’s neuroprotective abilities have been studied.Lavender oil, and specifically linalool, have been established to have anti-psoriatic effects.Linalool has been established as a promising candidate to help relieve uremia.

Linalool features in Sundae Driver (54 Green Acres won the G.O.A.T. Cup with theirs!), Purple Punch, Hindu Kush, and Jack Herer can all feature linalool. Whenever I’m looking for a strain to help me deal with anxiety or sleeplessness, I look for linalool.

Bonus — It’s also one of the more fun terpenes to say!

Other Info

Boiling Point: 198 to 199 °C

Other Sources: Lavender oil, tea, neroli, coriander, bergamot, basil, anise seed oil, blood orange, lemon balm, orange, peppermint, oregano

Scents: Sweet, earthy, floral, fresh, citrus, waxy, rose, lily of the valley, coriander

Flavors: Citrus, sweet, woody, orange, floral, coriander seeds,

Myrcene

Myrcene is named for the plant genus Myrcia, which describes around 770 species of neotropical flowering plants. Pinene may be the most prevalent terpene in nature, but myrcene is the most prevalent terpene in cannabis (and interestingly, pyrolysis (burning) of pinene is often how myrcene is synthesized). Myrcene is so abundant in cannabis it can represent up to 20% of a cultivar’s terpene profile.

It has a particularly captivating smell, and Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin by Steffen Arctander says that myrcene is “refreshing, almost citrusy, but warm-balsamic, and ethereal-sweet”. Because of this, myrcene is often used to add some complexity to citrus and spicy perfumes.

General Uses

Myrcene had long been used as a food additive, but it was removed from use in food in 2020 due to invocation of the Delaney Clause which states that no carcinogen can be used in food — myrcene is a rat carcinogen (the type of neoplastic activity demonstrated by myrcene in rats is not demonstrated or relatable to humans, however, The study also featured giving a nearly pure, high dose of myrcene daily for 2 years. Poor rats!).

This doesn’t affect its natural isolate’s inclusion on lists of safe additives — but it does net a carcinogen warning for all types of β-myrcene in California.

Like other cannabis-associated terpenes, myrcene features in patents like sedative toothpaste , cannabis sweeteners , cannabis snuff , and CBD transdermal delivery systems. But myrcene is cited in many more patents. Myrcene is included in a patent for a topical analgesic. It’s also used in a lice control patent. Cannabis isn’t the only plant to seek a patent and use its terpene profile — there’s also a patent seeker for an Oregano Plant, ‘Eli.’

Myrcene’s also making its way into biofuels.

Myrcene is protective of cardiac tissue in rats , but it’s unsure how that translates to humans. It’s also a carcinogen, so — myrcene gives, myrcene takes, I suppose. In the gives column for our rat-friends is the fact it’s also been found to have an impressive analgesic effect for them.

Myrcene has been proven effective as an ameliorative against Alzheimer’s for mice, where it also is neural-protective.

Let’s get to humans — Some species of Myrcia were used in traditional medicines as a treatment for a variety of ailments , such as diabetes, diarrhea, inflammation, and pain.

About those renal effects in mice — they have been proven to not be mimicked in humans. A study found there was no renal effects from dietary β-myrcene in humans. There is a current clinical trial (as of October 2021) regarding the subjective effects of myrcene as compared alone and in conjunction with THC., The study will be complete in 2024. Paradoxical to standard belief on terpenes and anxiety, myrcene was found in abundance in some strains that were least effective against anxiety. I’m looking forward to more comprehensive studies, with larger sample sizes.

In Cannabis

Cannabis-wise, myrcene’s place as the most prevalent of all also means that it finds itself central to many cannabis myths. I’ve personally seen the recommendation that eating mango will enhance your high — and that wasn’t my experience when I tried it. And while Dr. Ethan Russo may have originally posited that myrcene might alter interaction at the blood-brain barrier, science has yet to substantiate that. Keep in mind, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t at all, or that other terpenes don’t (they do), but it means that as of yet we have not found proof. Myrcene is also said to be the determining factor between indicas and sativas — and I’m sorry friends, the only thing those terms really describe anymore is how cannabis plants grow. While the presence of myrcene won’t tell you how the cannabis plant will grow, myrcene is often found in its highest quantities in strains identified as “indica” (and sometimes hybrid).

Myrcene, in cannabis (just as it is in hops and in lemongrass), is a terpene associated with relaxation.

Look for myrcene in some of my favorites — 9 lb Hammer, Blue Dream, Granddaddy Purple, and his purple family (Ultimate Purple I miss you!).

General Info

Boiling Point: 332 F

Other Sources: Coffee, Beets, carrots, verbena, wild thyme, bay leaf, clary sage, bergamot, blueberries, pomelo, cardamom, celery leaf oil, celery seeds, chamomile, cinnamon, citronella, coriander, cumin, black currants, dill, allspice, eucalyptus, fennel, frankincense, geraniums, apricot, grapefruit, guava, hops, hyacinth, juniper berry, blood orange, lavender, lemon balm, lemon leafs, betel leaf, lemongrass, limes, anise, mandarin, mango, marjoram, myrcia, neroli, nutmeg, oranges, oregano, parsley, black pepper, peppermint, rosemary, sage, spearmint, tamarind, basil, caraway, tarragon, tea leaf, thyme, wormwood, ylang ylang, yuzu. . .

Scents: earthy, spicy, peppery, terpenic, balsalmic, woody, celery, shar, laurel-leaf

Flavors: camphoraceous, woody, vegetable, citrus, fruity, tropical, mango, leafy

Nerolidol

Today’s terpene starred in my breakfast of greek yogurt and fresh strawberries. In addition to being found in lavender, jasmine, and an orchid native to Mexico, it’s also a prevalent terpene in strawberries (in addition to being found in cannabis!) Nerolidol (also known as peruviol) has a floral and sweet woody scent (much like the bitter orange tree that names the terpene) and the smell can sometimes be described as ‘waxy.’ Because of its wonderful scent nerolidol is used to create many scented products such as lotions. In perfumes, it’s used for apple, honey, and other fruity scents. Industrially it was synthesized as part of the process to synthesize linalool.

General Uses

Nerolidol has found a way to be extremely useful. It can be also found in patents for stevia flavoring , a film that controls medication dosage, fungicides, and of course that cannabis toothpaste.

Nerolidol has been a component in sleep aids for many years due to its sedative effect. In cannabis, its presence is found in strains largely associated with anti-anxiety properties. While nerolidol has been reported to have a sedative effect for many years, there is a lot of power and potential in its anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, and anti-parasitic abilities. If you are seeking relief from anxiety symptoms or those from PTSD, it might be worth it for you to explore nerolidol.

Medical Uses

There have been a couple of studies examining nerolidol’s antibacterial properties, There have been studies that demonstrated it was effective against some types of parasites. and one found that low concentrations of sesquiterpenes (one of which is nerolidol) increased the efficacy of certain antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, clindamycin, vancomycin, and tetracycline) by increasing the sensitivity of drug-resistant Escherichia coli to ciprofloxacin, clindamycin, vancomycin, and tetracycline.

Like many cannabis-related compounds, research into how nerolidol impacts a cannabis users’ experience has been greatly inhibited. But initial findings into nerolidol as a pain management tool have found that it exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activity . Since nociceptors are part of how the body reacts to pain, this insight into nerolidol’s possibilities is exciting.

Nerolidol isn’t a highly well known terpene and doesn’t appear in a lot of top 10 lists or in search tools like those from Confident Cannabis . Because of my work with 54 Green Acres , and their dedication to transparency on terpene tests, I can attest that Hindu Kush, Green Dragon, Blue Cheese, Huckleberry Diesel, Kali, Lemon Skunk, and Pineapple strains. Make sure to work with dispensaries and products that test and list terpenes if you want to explore this great-tasting powerhouse of a terpene!

Other Info:

Boiling Point: 251 F

Other Sources: Neroli, basil, guava, lavender, tea tree, strawberries, ginger, jasmine, and lemongrass. It’s the major scent compound in the Mexican orchid .

Scents: Woody, Floral, green, waxy, citrus.

Flavors: Green, Fresh, floral, sweet.

Ocimene

Basil’s genus name, ‘ocimum’ gives ocimene its name. Found in a variety of plants, ocimene is used in a variety of perfumery products for its relatively strong sweet smell. Ocimene has three isomers — an alpha isomer and two beta isomers (one and one ). Alpha-ocimene is found in green vegetables and contributes to the smell of unripe mangoes, while beta-ocimene is found in the leaves and flowers of a large variety of plant species. Highly volatile in air, the smell of ocimene has a lot of impact, but is not as long-lasting as other terpenes. The sweet, woody smells and flavors produced by ocimene complement many other terpenes in the cannabis plant.

General Uses

In addition to adding aroma and flavor ocimene has been identified as one of the protective terpenes that assist in pest resistance. Ocimene is also a subject of study for its possible impact on pollinator syndromes (which is a way of describing how particular plants attract their pollinators). Trans -ocimene, more abundantly found in floral scents, is used as a pheromone in honeybee colonies to communicate food needs. In that context, ocimene is used to communicate to worker bees the need to increase food production for insect larvae.

In theory, this is how that viral video of ‘cannahoney production’ was made a few years ago. ( I only know of terpene-infused honey ). Ocimene was also identified as one of the chemicals involved in plant-to-plant signaling by tea plants.

Ocimene features in a large array of patents. A cannabis-based, moist- non-tobacco snuff uses ocimene. Ocimene is included in a sweetener. One patent describes a detective molecule and kit meant to detect scent in orchids — which includes the terpene ocimene.

Medical Uses

As with other terpenes, ocimene is currently the subject of quite a bit of medical research — both on its own and within the context of the entire cannabis plant.

In research that cites Iranian folkloric medicine an essential oil containing large amounts of ocimene was found to be an effective anticonvulsant. Ocimene’s possible antiviral properties are currently being reviewed, along with other compounds in essential oils. The anti-fungal properties of the essential oil of angelica major , which has ocimene as a major component, have recently been studied and published in the Journal of Natural Medicines.

The essential oil of the hemlock water-dropwort (Oenanthe crocata) was found to have antifungal, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. This essential oil has a total of over 40% ocimene ( -ocimene (31.3%) and — -ocimene (12.3%)). It was found to be very effective against dermatophytes (ringworm) and Cryptococcus neoformans.

Ocimene can be found in many varieties of cannabis. Some strain names associated with ocimene content are Jack Herer, Green Dragon,

Ocimene has already demonstrated a variety of uses and potential, and like many terpenes and cannabinoids, is worthy of more study.

Other Info

Other Sources: Basil, mint, coriander, cotton, black currant, mango, marjoram, neroli, kumquats, parsley, mandarin, pepper, rosemary, tarragon, thyme, orchid, hops, bergamot, pine.

Green, sweet, citrus, herbal, terpenic, woody, floral, astringent.

Green, woody, tropical, clean.

Phytol

In 1909, German chemist Richard Wilstätter obtained the diterpenoid phytol by hydrolosis of chlorphyll (he shot water at it). This terpene has found a way to be useful to humans since then. Whether it’s being used to synthesize Vitamin E or K or as a fragrance in a host of commercial products, phytol has proven its worth. It’s also useful to insects — for the sumac flea beetle it’s a key contributor to their defenses against predation. In ruminants, phytol is liberated by the fermentation of chlorophyll in the gut before being converted into phytanic acid that is then stored in fats. While there are non-human primates that are able to derive phytol from hindgut fermentation, human sources of phytol ingestion are mainly dietary. Refsum Disease causes some people to limit their intake, as its symptoms that include hearing loss and ataxia are caused by an overaccumulation of phytanic acid and free phytol.

Phytol is often used as a diluent in some vaporizer cartridges, and was a key concern for consumers during the Vape Crisis of 2019 (which, since COVID, feels like it was about a decade ago). As a terpene, I’ve seen cannabis tests that claim both cis- and trans- Phytol are present in strains.

A teensy bit soluble in water (but mainly in alcohol), phytol has a delicate green, vegetal, floral scent and flavor. We humans dig it so much we can use up to a metric ton of it a year!

General Uses

As phytol has already found a wide array of uses, it’s no surprise that it can be featured in a lot of patent applications. As a terpene that smells nice and light, it should be of no surprise that it’s included in some scent patents. One describes A device to help speed up cannabis extraction. Another patent uses phytol as a stabilizer in a heat transfer composition. It’s included in patents for kits that detect certain cannabinoid production levels in plants. Like many other terpenes it can be found in trans-dermal delivery system patents. Due to its dietary import, it’s included in a food supplement application as well.

Medical Uses

A paper written by a group in scientists in 2018 called “Phytol: A review of biomedical activities” summarizes a wide variety of medical uses that bear investigation. It’s beautifully summarized in this sentence: Recent investigations with PYT demonstrated anxiolytic, metabolism-modulating, cytotoxic, antioxidant, autophagy- and apoptosis-inducing, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, immune-modulating, and antimicrobial effects.” These scientists spent quite a bit of time examining phytol and its medicinal usefulness.

A 2014 paper concluded that phytol showed promise in treating anxiety. Another study found that phytol had an impact on the metabolism of sheep. Phytol supplementation was found to have an anti-oxidant effect in carp. Another study concluded that phytol has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and hepatoprotective activity in rat models. Phytol derivatives were found to be effective immune boosters in a 2011 study.

In Cannabis

Cannabis strains that include phytol are strains like Purple Hindu Kush, Sour Diesel, M.A.C., and Lemon Kush. As with any cannabis product, it’s really important to have terpene information available to know if the product you are purchasing includes phytol.

Other Info

Boiling Point: 396°F

Other Sources: jasmine, cardamom, betel leaf, flax, coriander.

Scents: jasmine, green, light, floral, vegetal, balsalmic

Flavors: jasmine, green, light, floral, vegetal, waxy

Pinene

Pinene’s name clues you into what this monoterpene smells like. While alpha-pinene is the isomer found more frequently in cannabis, beta-pinene is also present. While both smell very piney and like turpentine with spicy nuances and a camphorous twist, beta-pinene is more dry and cooling than alpha-pinene. In addition to being found in the resins of conifers, pinene is also found in sagebrush and camphorweed. The smell itself is not long-lasting and only stays on a smelling strip for about an hour.

General Uses:

Pinene has been used in cleaning products and air fresheners to give them that fresh pine scent, in addition to its properties as a solvent. Both pinenes are present in turpentine.

Pinene is one of the most frequently occurring terpenes in nature, and also has uses in the insect world. While it’s considered to be highly repellent to insects, a recent study found that pinene helped boost mating success in olive fruit flies. It is “the first time that a single plant volatile has been reported to induce such a phenomenon on both sexes of a single species.” So, it’s at least got a very complicated relationship with the insect world.

Pinene features in a lot of patent applications — it’s included as a detoxifying agent in a fire extinguisher , as part of cannabis-based moist snuff , as a tackifying resin on a poly film, and in a tread enhancement for tires.

Medical Uses

Using pine bark to make an antimicrobial wash or poultice, or drinking pine needle tea are ways that pine has been used, and it’s been shown to have an extensive amount of potential in the medical field. A paper summarizing research on pinene’s medical potential is 40 pages! Pinene has been found to have some antimicrobial and Antimalarial , anticoagulative/antiplatelet , anti-inflammatory, , antioxidant , gastroprotective , anti-anxiety

neuroprotective , antibiotic resistance modulation , and anticonvulsant effects. Pinene also modulates percutaneous infusions — meaning that like other terpenes, it can be absorbed through the skin and help other oils to be absorbed as well. Pinene also was a star in the research around forest bathing and was one of the terpenes that contributed to the positive effects that were measured in participants. Many of these studies include human participants as well.

For real, pinene’s list of potential results reads like a wish list for humanity’s health. It’s exciting!

In Cannabis

Because of its ubiquitous presence in cannabis through two isomers, pinene can be found in many different strains like Blue Dream, Grape Ape, and Lemon Skunk. Pinene announces itself with that fresh, astringent smell. It will be exciting to see what research will begin to uncover as cannabis research continues.

Other Info

Boiling Point:

Other Sources:

Pines, Sagebrush, camphorweed, basil, rosemary, thyme, dill, cedar, eucalyptus, orange peel oil.

Scents:

alpha-pinene: woody pine terpenic cooling camphoreous fresh herbal sweet

beta-pinene: dry woody resinous pine hay green cooling peppery nutmeg

Flavors:

alpha-pinene: woody pine terpenic camphoreous herbal spicy tropical

beta-pinene: fresh pine woody terpenic resinous minty camphoreous spicy

Solubility:

Oil-soluble. Water-insoluble. Ethanol-insoluble.

Sabinene

Sabinene was discovered by Dr F. W. Semmler , who published his findings in Schimmel & Company’s semi-annual report in 1901. Schimmel & Company was founded in 1829 in Leipzig, Germany as a botanical-based drug manufacturer named Spähn and Buttner, Schimmel & Company’s rose oil would help boost it to become the leading fragrance and flavor company in the world. In fact, they are still doing business today as Bell Flavors & Fragrances).

Schimmel was considered the leading fragrance company for around 100 years, and since Bell’s acquisition of it, they have undertaken efforts to preserve key assets (many of which are still in use), such as the company’s library. Undoubtedly that restored library contains the very semi-annual report published by Semmler in 1901, in which he identified and named “sabinene,” a hydrocarbon he discovered in savin oil which is created by steam distillation of Juniperus sabina. Savin oil is toxic and dangerous enough to be banned for sale in many countries.

Sabinene, a bicyclic unsaturated monoterpene, is partially responsible for the spicy kick in black pepper and is also prevalent in carrot seed oil. Arctander’s Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin, a key perfumery text, describes the scent as “Warm, oily-peppery, woody-herbaceous and spicy odor of moderate to poor tenacity.”

General Uses

I think that gin at least deserves to make it to the list of general uses, as sabinene can be found in some varieties of gin, depending on the juniper berries used!

Its pleasing smell means that like many other terpenes, and the perfume industry uses it to as it’s useful to add light pepper notes.

Like many terpenes, it’s found in patents for CBD formulations . It’s also included in some cannabis strain applications.

And, like many other terpenes there are patents that include it in the biosynthesis of hydrocarbons.

Because of its scent, sabinene is included in a patents for things like perfumes and even one for ‘ coffee scenting,’which is worth a click-through — it’s a wild read, because it’s for “ The invention relates to a device and method for transferring an aroma from a aroma providing substance to a an aroma-adsorbing substance by a gas flow and without the aroma-providing substance and the aroma-adsorbing substance getting in direct contact. “

Medical Uses

Inhaled essential oil of coriander, which includes a generous amount of sabinene, was found to have anxiolytic and anti-depressant effects as well as helping to restore oxidative status in a rat model of Alzheimer’s. The paper concluded that this should be investigated more for treatment of dementia.

Sabinene was found in the essential oil of the Oenanthe crocata, which was particularly potent dermatophytes and Cryptococcus neoformans, in addition to antioxidant and antifungal action.

Initial findings of a study found that sabinene was effective in fighting models of leukemia.

The essential oil of Bunium persicum, a hermaphroditic plant that is also known as ‘black cumin’, which contains sabinene, was found to have antifungal properties.

Sabinene’s antifungal properties can be observed in a variety of ways.

Sabinene and terpenine were able to additively impact leaf endophytic fungi.

Another article found that Seseli annuum, a plant growing in Serbia whose oil contains up to 10% sabinene, also was effective against fifteen different fungi.

Sabinene is present in tea tree oil, which has a variety of medicinal properties and potentials.

In Cannabis

Sabinene can be found in strains like Super Silver Haze, Super Lemon Haze. As with other terpenes, it’s vital to seek out products (flower and concentrate) with accurate lab information to ensure you are experiencing this exciting terpene.

Other Info

Boiling Point: 327.2°F

Other Sources: Pepper, Allspice, basil, norway spruce, carrot, holm oak, nutmeg, carrot seed oil, angelica, anise, bergamot, juniper, pimento, peppermint, pennyroyal, parsley, oregano, orange peel, nutmeg, marjoram,blood orange, boldus leaf, cardamom, cassia, celery, yuzu, yarrow, worwood, tumeric, thyme, tansy oil, tangerine, sage, mace, lime, lemon, lavender, hyssop, ginger.

Scents: Spicy-pepper, warm, woody, herbaceous, oily with some camphorous notes.

Flavors: oily, spicy, citrus

Terpinolene

Terpinolene (or γ-Terpinene and δ-terpinene) is a monoterpene that, in addition to cannabis, can be found in lilac, apple, cumin, and tea trees. Industrially, terpinolene is produced by synthesizing it from the more abundant pinene. The variety of natural sources of terpinolene help explain the complex descriptions of its flavors, as the experience roams through woody tones to bright citrus finishes. While relatively rare in cannabis, it’s found in the greatest concentrations in parsnips.

General Uses

Terpinolene is an extremely a versatile terpene, and current patents that leverage terpinolene include cannabis toothpaste , air fresheners , and a toilet with a rim block that releases a perfume that contains terpinolene. Research into terpinolene ranges from medical benefits to usage in materials science, and its uses will continue to be discovered as it will now be able to be studied in the context of cannabis use.

Medical Uses

In medical research, terpinolene has been documented as an antifungal and larvicidal agent.

It has also been studied as an antiproliferative drug for particular tumors. Monoterpenes and terpinolene in particular are being studied for their effectiveness in antitrypanosomal drugs.

While studies have found terpinolene to have a sedative effect in mice, colloquially in humans it’s associated with stimulating sativas. The mouse research has been widely misreported as impacting humans as well.

In Cannabis

Terpinolene’s fresh, clean scent is a key component of Jack Herer. Terpinolene is actually present in quite a few cannabis strains, but only in small amounts. Since its flavor profile is only of medium strength, taste-wise it’s most often experienced in tandem with other flavors, or as a citrusy finish to a lung-challenging hit. This terpene can also be found in Dutch Treat, but the way to find out what flower has this terpene is to invest with brands that post their terpene results, and dispensaries that bring that information front and center. As I’ve written about before — there is a lot of ‘looseness’ around the rules for strain names, so if you are seeking this terpene for its medicinal properties, it’s important to see test results!

Other Info

Boiling Point: 365° F (183.00 to 185.00 °C)

Other Sources: sage, lilac, rosemary, conifer trees, apple trees, tea trees, fir, pine, turmeric leaf, cumin, nutmeg, cardamom. Highest concentration found in parsnips.

Scents: fresh, woody, sweet, pine, citrus, a fresh lime-pine top note

Flavors: woody, terpy, lemon and lime-like with a slight herbal and floral nuance

Valencene

With a name that’s derived from Valencia oranges, it should be no surprise that this sesquiterpene contributes to the aroma of many citrus fruits. Valencene has a long-lasting scent and is already in use in a variety of beauty and household products in addition to being found in cannabis. Valencene’s sweet, zesty, long-lasting smell made it prized in the perfume industry, but it wasn’t until a fermentation process was discovered that it became more accessible and more efficient to produce. Allylix, the same company that created the valencene fermentation process, later used its valencene to synthesize nootkatone, a sesquiterpenoid that contributes to the smell of grapefruit, for the food and beverage industry. Because of the huge import of nootkatone (which is also useful as a bug repellent), valencene’s importance commercially is related directly to that relationship. Valencene, along with patchouli, was one of the first micro-organism synthesized food flavoring chemicals to reach market.

General Uses

Patent-wise, valencene is used in regular cannabis-related inventions, such as extracts, or is mentioned in extraction devices, or as part of a strain. It’s also included as part of the composition of special ink. One patent discusses the use of valencene and other terpenes and cannabinoids in addition to psilocybin for the treatment of a variety of disorders. Due to its usefulness as a flavoring agent, valencene is cited in a patent as a possible flavoring for an appetite stimulant. It’s listed as a possible aroma ingredient in a cream with long shelf-life.

Like nootkatone, valencene can be an effective insect repellent.

Medical Uses

In medical research, valencene is being researched for a variety of different uses, and the ability to synthesize it has recently (2010) increased its accessibility for research.

It was a component of essential oil extracts from Origanum floribundum Munby a medicinal plant found in Algeria, that had an anticandidal activity. Valencene is one of many terpenes in that oil. Valencene is one of the components of an essential oil found to have anti-microbial properties.

Valencene is one of the terpenes in the essential oil of the Brazilian folk medicine plant Piper caldense. The Piper Caldense is used to remedy a variety of maladies.

Valencene was identified during a data mining project on Korean skincare products and routines that identified possible medicinal herbs for skin care.

As with many of the terpenes, valencene within the context of cannabis will be studied as legality, de-scheduling, and good testing allow. If reliable test results aren’t available, valencene can be found in citrusy and juicy strains like Orange MAC and Lemon Kushes.

Other Info

Other Sources: blood orange, Origanum floribundum Munby, cedarwood oil, cocoa, grapefruit, labdanum oil, limes, mandarins, orange, sage, tagete, thyme, tansy oil.

Scents: Fruity, citrus, juicy, orange, woody

Flavors: fruity, citrus, juicy, orange, woody.