Terpenes

Terpenes are natural compounds found in many plants, not just cannabis. These compounds are responsible for giving a plant its specific effects, scent, and (sometimes) taste. Many CBD products contain specialized terpene profiles to enhance the CBD's effects. Also known as “terpenoids” or even “terps” to some cannabis users, terpenes contribute to the bioavailability of our CBD products and are known to aid in the Entourage Effect.

There are many, many terpenes, so here’s our list of terpenes that you need to know about, starting with the terpenes most commonly found in the cannabis genus.

Common Cannabis Terpenes

Bisabolol

• Scent-Flavor: floral, chamomile
• Effects: antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-irritant, analgesic

Borneol

• Scent-Flavor: menthol
• Effects: anti-anxiety, insecticide

Camphene

• Scent-Flavor: musky, earthy, fir, woody
• Effects: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, lowers cholesterol

Caryophyllene

• Scent-Flavor: sweet, woody, spicy, peppery
• Effects: analgesic, anti-inflammatory

Delta-3-Carene

• Scent-Flavor: sweet, musky, fir
• Effects: anti-fluids (i.e. excess mucus, watery eyes, etc.)

Eucalyptol

• Scent-Flavor: spicy, minty
• Effects: anti-anxiety, analgesic, increased circulation

Geraniol

• Scent-Flavor: rose, fruity, lemon, tobacco
• Effects: antioxidant, neuroprotectant

Humulene

• Scent-Flavor: hoppy
• Effects: antibacterial, antifungal

Limonene

• Scent-Flavor: citrus, lemon, orange
• Effects: anti-anxiety, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory

Linalool

• Scent-Flavor: floral, citrus
• Effects: anti-anxiety, anticonvulsant, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory

Myrcene

• Scent-Flavor: earthy, musky
• Effects: anti-anxiety, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory

Nerolidol

• Scent-Flavor: woody, citrus, floral, fruity
• Effects: antioxidant, antiparasitic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial

Ocimene

• Scent-Flavor: herbal, earthy, sweet, citrus
• Effects: antiviral, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, antiseptic, decongestant

Pinene

• Scent-Flavor: fresh, piney
• Effects: antiseptic, expectorant, anti-asthma, increased alertness

Terpineol

• Scent-Flavor: floral, citrus, lime
• Effects: anti-anxiety

Terpinolene

• Scent-Flavor: citrus, floral, piney, fresh
• Effects: anti-anxiety

Valencene

• Scent-Flavor: citrus, orange
• Effects: insecticide

Other Known Terpenes

Abietic Acid

• Scent-Flavor: amber, woody
• Effects: increased circulation

Amyrin

• Scent-Flavor: herbal
• Effects: anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, anti-irritant

Aromadendrene

• Scent-Flavor: earthy, woody
• Effects: increased cannabinoid bioavailability

Benzyl Benzoate

• Scent-Flavor: sweet, balsamic
• Effects: antiparasitic, antispasmodic, anti-anxiety

Bergamotene

• Scent-Flavor: woody, herbal
• Effects: antibacterial, analgesic, anti-anxiety

Cadinene

• Scent-Flavor: woody
• Effects: anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, increased alertness

Cafestol

• Scent-Flavor: oily, bitter
• Effects: antidiabetic

Camphor

• Scent-Flavor: woody, fresh
• Effects: antimicrobial, antifungal, analgesic, insecticide, increased circulation

Carvacrol

• Scent-Flavor: herbal, spicy
• Effects: antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, analgesic

Carvone

• Scent-Flavor: sweet, minty, spicy, rye
• Effects: antibacterial, expectorant

Cedrene

• Scent-Flavor: fresh, woody
• Effects: astringent, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory

Citral

• Scent-Flavor: lemon, sweet
• Effects: analgesic, antispasmodic, anti-irritant

Citronellal

• Scent-Flavor: grassy, floral
• Effects: antibacterial, antispasmodic, analgesic, increased alertness

Citronellol

• Scent-Flavor: floral, fruity, rose, citrus
• Effects: anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, insecticide

Copaene

• Scent-Flavor: woody
• Effects: antioxidant

Cymene

• Scent-Flavor: woody, sweet, citrus, lemon
• Effects: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-anxiety, antimicrobial

Elemene

• Scent-Flavor: fresh, herbal
• Effects: anti-inflammatory

Elemol

• Scent-Flavor: woody, citrus, floral
• Effects: anti-inflammatory

Eudesmol

• Scent-Flavor: woody
• Effects: anti-inflammatory, neuroprotectant

Farnesene

• Scent-Flavor: hoppy, woody, citrus, floral, herbal
• Effects: anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial

Farnesol

• Scent-Flavor: citrus, rose, floral
• Effects: anti-inflammatory, anti-asthma, anti-allergen

Fenchol

• Scent-Flavor: floral
• Effects: antioxidant, antibacterial

Forskolin

• Scent-Flavor: earthy
• Effects: anti-inflammatory, digestive aid, increased circulation

Geranyl

• Scent-Flavor: floral, fruity, rose
• Effects: antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory

Guaiene

• Scent-Flavor: earthy, spicy, woody
• Effects: anti-irritant, increased cannabinoid bioavailability

Guaiol

• Scent-Flavor: piney, woody, rose
• Effects: antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, digestive aid

Labdane

• Scent-Flavor: floral, herbal, sage
• Effects: antiviral, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory

Longifolene

• Scent-Flavor: piney, woody, floral
• Effects: antifungal, antibacterial, antioxidant

Menthol

• Scent-Flavor: peppermint
• Effects: increased alertness, antibacterial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-asthma

Norpatchoulenol

• Scent-Flavor: woody, earthy
• Effects: anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, antiseptic, aphrodisiac

Octanol

• Scent-Flavor: floral, sweet, citrus, coconut
• Effects: antispasmodic, neuroprotectant

Patchoulol

• Scent-Flavor: woody, earthy
• Effects: antidepressant, anti-anxiety, insecticide, digestive aid

Phellandrene

• Scent-Flavor: peppery, minty, citrus
• Effects: anti-inflammatory

Phytol

• Scent-Flavor: grassy
• Effects: anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, antioxidant

Piperitone

• Scent-Flavor: peppermint, herbal, minty
• Effects: antibacterial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, expectorant

Pulegone

• Scent-Flavor: fresh, menthol
• Effects: antispasmodic, anti-anxiety, analgesic, digestive aid

Rose Oxide

• Scent-Flavor: herbal, fruity, grassy
• Effects: anti-anxiety, antidepressant

Sabinene

• Scent-Flavor: piney, orange, woody
• Effects: anti-inflammatory

Safranal

• Scent-Flavor: sweet, floral, woody, herbal
• Effects: antioxidant, anti-anxiety, antidepressant, analgesic, digestive aid

Santalol

• Scent-Flavor: woody, floral, citrus
• Effects: anti-anxiety, antibacterial, antimicrobial, sleep aid

Santene

• Scent-Flavor: piney, woody
• Effects: antibiotic, anti-anxiety, expectorant

Selinene

• Scent-Flavor: unscented, unflavored
• Effects: anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic

Terpinene

• Scent-Flavor: woody, citrus
• Effects: antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative

Thujene

• Scent-Flavor: spicy, herbal, woody, pungent
• Effects: antifungal, insecticide

Thymol

• Scent-Flavor: herbal
• Effects: antispasmodic, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic

Verbenone

• Scent-Flavor: fresh, menthol, spicy, piney, herbal, citrus
• Effects: anti-anxiety, antidepressant, increased alertness

Vetivazulene

• Scent-Flavor: woody, spicy, fresh
• Effects: antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic

Zingiberene

• Scent-Flavor: 
• Effects: antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, lowered blood pressure, lowered cholesterol, increased alertness