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