Terpenes are aroma molecules found in hemp and loads of other plants. They’re the reason one strain smells like lemon, another like pine, another like fuel, sweets, or lavender.
In CBD products, terpenes are a huge part of what people mean by “flavour” and “strain character”.
You’ll hear names like:
Limonene — citrusy
Myrcene — earthy/musky
Pinene — pine/forest
Linalool — floral/lavender
Caryophyllene — spicy/peppery
Different mixes = different strain identity.
People often talk about terpenes as part of the “entourage” conversation — meaning the overall experience can feel different depending on the mix of compounds, not just CBD alone.
Everyday translation: terps don’t just change the smell — they change how people describe the strain.
Terpenes show up loudest in flower, then in hash/concentrates as condensed aroma, and in oils/vapes where terps are kept or reintroduced for flavour. Isolate products tend to be much more neutral.
Do terpenes get you high?
No — they’re not intoxicating.
Are terpenes only in cannabis?
No — citrus, herbs, pine, spices… everywhere.
What if my flower has no smell?
Often old stock, poor cure, or weak quality. Terps are a quality signal.
Freelance writer
I have always been passionate about natural wellness and innovation in health. As a writer
specializing in CBD and hemp-based products, I decipher and simplify the complex world of cannabinoids and the benefits they can offer.
