Get to Know a Cannabis Terpene: Limonene
The fresh citrus smell of the cleaner I used this morning inspired the research behind today’s terpene, 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).
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…
