Cannabis terpenes

Terpenes are the aroma compounds that give cannabis its smell and taste. They form in the same resin glands as cannabinoids, and they are not unique to cannabis: the same molecules turn up in citrus peel, pine needles, hops, and black pepper. Terpenes are the reason one product smells like lemon and another smells like diesel or lavender. You will see them discussed two ways: as part of a flower or extract's natural aroma profile, and as standalone terpene products, sold in small bottles and used to add aroma and flavor to concentrates. Terpene content appears on a lab report as a percentage by weight, well below the cannabinoid figure. Bottled terpenes come in small volumes and are meant to be blended into an extract rather than used on their own. Sold where legal.

Genetics set the range, but the aroma profile that actually shows up shifts with growing conditions, harvest timing, and handling after the cut. Two jars of the same cultivar can read citrus in one batch and gas in the next. That is why menus describe aroma as a profile rather than a single number, and why a full terpene panel lists each compound separately as a percentage by weight instead of one combined total.

Standalone terpene products are not stocked everywhere. Check licensed dispensaries near you on Leafly, and browse terpenes on Leafly to see which aroma profiles are listed in your area. What is available depends on your state.