Do you know what makes cannabis smell and taste different from one another? One could smell like fresh lemons, another like sweet berries, or a pine forest. It could even be like diesel fuel.
This is all because of terpenes, the naturally occurring aromatic compounds found in cannabis and thousands of other plants.
In cannabis plants alone, there can be about 150 to 200 different terpenes present, but only a handful of them are present in large amounts that dictate what that specific strain will taste and smell like.
To make it simpler to understand, you can refer to a Cannabis Terpene Wheel, a visual tool that organizes terpene aromas into recognizable scent and flavor families. Cannabis terpene charts can help both consumers and retailers choose products based on flavor preferences.
In this article, let’s talk about how it works, the most common cannabis terpenes, and how they interact with vape products, and for retailers, how you can customize terpenes for your brand.
Vape Pens Wholesale offer strain-specific terpene blends that are crafted by in-house terpologists in two compliant US labs, using botanical-derived ingredients to replicate the aroma and flavor profiles of popular strains. These flavored terpene blends are food-grade and optimized for vape and extract formulation. Check out our full catalog here!
What Is a Cannabis Terpene Wheel?
The cannabis terpene wheel is a visual reference chart that categorizes cannabis aromas and flavors into organized scent families. It helps simplify complex terpene chemistry into an easy-to-understand format for consumers and retailers.
Business owners can even have it printed and posted in their dispensaries for easy customer reference, as you may see in wine, coffee, whiskey, chocolate, or perfume specialty shops.
Cannabis contains an average of 200 identified terpenes, making aroma descriptions difficult without a standardized system. It creates a common language that growers, producers, retailers, and consumers can all refer to.
Having the same “language” is important as cannabis markets become more sophisticated and many people become increasingly interested in learning about terpenes.
How to Read Cannabis Terpene Wheel
In our version of the cannabis terpene wheel, you can start reading it from the outer to the inner circle.
Outer Circle: The Major Aroma Families
In the wheel’s outer rings, you’ll see familiar but broad terms like citrus, floral, earthy, woody, and spicy. These are the typical scent characteristics you may notice in cannabis products because of the major terpene contributor to that specific strain (as seen on the second circle).
Citrus
Citrusy cannabis is often characterized as bright, fresh, and tangy, often similar to lemon and oranges. That’s because citrus terpenes can also be found in 300 other botanical sources like coniferous trees, specific culinary herbs, and citrus fruit peels, such as lemon, lime, oranges, and grapefruit.
The major cannabis terpenes in the citrus family are limonene and valencene.
Floral
Cannabis plants that emit sweet, lavender, and rose-like aromas typically produce floral terpenes, often associated with relaxation, mood elevation, and a sense of ease.
Linalool, Geraniol, and Bisabolol are some of the major cannabis terpenes in the floral family. Not only do they add perfumed notes, but they also naturally repel harmful bugs from cannabis plants while attracting helpful pollinators.
Earthy
The earthy terpene profile in cannabis is primarily driven by Myrcene, Humulene, and Caryophyllene, which create musky, woody, and herbal aromas. These are often compared to the smell of soil, mushrooms, and forest floor.
Earthy cannabis terpenes are also often associated with relaxation and heavy, body-focused properties.
Spicy
While Caryophyllene is earthy, it’s more inclined toward a spicy profile, often described as sharp, peppery spice with warm, woody undertones.
Terpenes like Humulene and Linalool are secondary spice compounds that also contribute a clove-cinnamon-like aroma and taste to the cannabis plant.
Woody
Woody aromas in cannabis come mainly from specific natural compounds called terpenes, with Humulene being the primary example. These oils give the plant its forest-like, earthy, and bark-like scents, similar to those of cedar, oak, and sandalwood, among others.
Pine
Pine terpenes in cannabis typically refer to pinene, an aromatic oil that smells like pine trees and occurs in alpha- and beta-forms. It may also smell like an evergreen forest, with reported benefits such as anti-inflammatory and alertness effects.
Other aroma families are not mentioned here, but you may still read in product labels, like herbal (smells like mint, basil, sage, and/or tea), sweet (honey-, candy-, and/or vanilla-like), diesel/fuel aroma (like gasoline, chemical, or even skunk), and fruity (like mango, apple, berry, peach, or any tropical fruit).
At Vape Pens Wholesale, we specialize in custom terpene blends created by our expert terpenologists in California and Oklahoma.
From fruity to earthy flavors, we craft unique profiles for cannabis products tailored to your needs.
You can talk to our specialists to discuss your custom formulation! Click here for more details of our Custom Terpene Blends.
Inner Circle: The Most Common Cannabis Terpenes Explained
Myrcene
Myrcene is known for its earthy, musky, and fruity aroma, as it is typically abundant in cannabis strains, mangoes, lemongrass, thyme, and bay leaves.
Its scent notes feature a peppery, spicy, and clove-like fragrance with subtle sweet citrus undertones.
Myrcene is the most common terpene found in top cannabis strains, like Northern Lights, Blue Dream, and OG Kush. This terpene has sedative properties, associated with the relaxing “couch-lock” effect, and has been studied for its potential anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and calming effects.
Limonene
Limonene is commonly found in the peels of lemons, oranges, and limes. Not only is it prominent in strains like Super Lemon Haze, Cinex, and Lemon Skunk for its uplifting, stress-relieving, and energizing effects, but it’s also popular as a flavoring and fragrance in sodas, candies, perfumes, soaps, and cosmetics.
In plants, including cannabis, limonene also acts as a pest control agent.
Pinene
A cannabis product with a sharp, fresh, and woody scent is often high in pinene, an aromatic compound found in plants that typically smell like pine or rosemary.
Pinene has two forms: alpha-pinene (smells strongly like pine needles) and beta-pinene (smells herb-y, like dill, parsley, or rosemary). Alpha-pinene is more common in cannabis than beta-pinene.
This terpene contributes to positive effects, such as alertness and improved memory, as well as anti-inflammatory benefits and easier breathing.
Popular strains like Blue Dream, Harlequin, Cannatonic, and OG Kush typically contain high levels of pinene.
Caryophyllene
Also known as BCP (short for beta-caryophyllene), this compound is naturally occurring in cannabis, as well as in cloves, black pepper, and rosemary. It has a unique direct interaction with cannabinoid receptors, leading to anti-inflammatory and pain-relief benefits.
It typically has a warm, pungent, peppery aroma, common to strains, like Girl Scout Cookies, Bubba Kush, Original Glue (GG4), and Wedding Cake.
Linalool
Cannabis products that have a floral scent are often rich in Linalool. This compound is found in cannabis, lavender, and over 200 other plants, and is known for its calming, stress-relieving effects.
Popular cannabis strains like Lavender Kush, Grand Daddy Purple, LA Confidential, Do-Si-Dos, and Amnesia Haze have high levels of Linalool.
Humulene
Humulene has an earthy, woody, spicy scent, similar to that of hops, sage, ginseng, and coriander (all of which contain it in high levels).
This compound is heavily researched for its potential anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and appetite-suppressing properties. Popular high-humulene cannabis strains are Girl Scout Cookies, Sour Diesel, Headband, White Widow, and Bubba Kush.
Terpinolene
Terpinolene is rarely a dominant compound in strains, but when it is, it shapes cultivars like Dutch Treat, Jack Herer, and Golden Pineapple.
It has a multi-dimensional scent, with floral, herbal, and fruity complexity. Tepinolene is also naturally found in lilacs, apples, nutmeg, and tea tree.
As a cannabis terpene, among its potential effects are anti-anxiety, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory, as proven in early studies.
Ocimene
This compound provides a sweet, citrus, woody, and herbaceous scent and is often the secondary or tertiary terpene in sativa-dominant varieties, like Strawberry Cough, Clementine, Dutch Treat, and Green Crack. It gives the feeling of alertness, uplift, and greater focus.
Early lab studies also suggest that ocimene may help lower inflammation, fight fungi, and act as a natural antioxidant.
Bisabolol
Bisabolol is a sweet, floral secondary terpene in cannabis, with hints of chamomile, honey, vanilla, and citrus. It also has herbal, sugary, and subtle peppery undertones, as experienced in strains like ACDC, Headband, Pink Kush, Harle-Tsu, and OG Shark.
This terpene also has anti-inflammatory, calming, and antimicrobial effects.
Geraniol
Rarely dominant, geraniol typically acts as a secondary or tertiary terpene with a sweet rose, peach, and citrus scent.
Popular strains with geraniol include Agent Orange, Black Cherry Soda, Jack Herer, and Amnesia Haze
Learn more about cannabis terpenes in this article: What are Terpenes and Do They Have Any Benefits?
See more of our terpenes here:
The Vape Pens Wholesale Advantage
Vape Pens Wholesale offers various terpene strains, each made for consistency, flavor accuracy, and smooth vaporization.
Check out our curated best-selling terpene profiles at this link: Buy Botanical-Derived Terpenes
You can also access thousands of flavor combinations through our customization services! Whether you're formulating disposables, carts, or infused products, we can blend terpenes on demand to fit your brand’s needs.
Looking for something custom? Request a custom terpene blend here.
You can also explore our other collections linked below!
We also offer customization services for brands, including custom-printed vape cartridge packaging with embossed logos, child-resistant design, UV spot printing, and soft-touch finish! Learn more here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between cannabis-derived terpenes and botanical-derived terpenes?
Cannabis-derived terpenes (CDT) are extracted directly from cannabis plants and used to recreate strain-specific aroma profiles.
Botanical-derived terpenes (BDT), on the other hand, are sourced from other plant materials, including fruits, herbs, and flowers, providing consistent, scalable flavor options for vape formulations.
How are terpenes extracted from cannabis?
Because terpenes are highly volatile, the extraction methods are designed to preserve their integrity, often with precise temperature control. Common techniques include stream distillation, hydrocarbon extraction, and cold trapping.
Do terpenes evaporate when heated?
Most terpenes have low boiling points, with some even evaporating at room temperature. High heat also alters their chemical structure, leading to degradation.
This is why a quality device with proper heating settings is important when vaping terpene-rich extracts.
Can different cannabis strains share the same terpene profile?
Yes, different cannabis strains can share the same terpene profile but differ in aroma and effect depending on the varying terpene ratios and cannabinoid composition.
Conclusion
The Cannabis Terpene Wheel is a useful tool for understanding the complex aromas and flavors found in the plant, and understanding how it works helps both consumers to compare products, retailers to educate customers, and manufacturers to create more consistent formulations.
Most importantly, it can help business owners customize their own unique smell and flavor by mixing their own terpenes.
Pay attention to terpene profiles, because they’re equally important as the cannabinoid percentages!
You can also learn more about terpenes in our articles linked below!
- 6 Different Ways to Use Terpenes
- Terpene Mixing Instructions
- What’s In Your Cannabis Vape Cartridge? A Complete Breakdown
We Value Your Feedback!
Did this guide help you better understand terpenes? Please share your experiences and thoughts below, or spread the knowledge on your social channels!
Explore affordable, quality-tested cartridges at VapePensWholesale.com today!
