What are terpenes?

 Terpenes are organic compounds found in various plants that contribute to their unique scent and taste. These compounds are responsible for the distinct aroma and flavor of every flower, herb, and fruit. Terpenes can be found everywhere, from the zesty smell of a freshly cut lemon to the fragrant scent of a jar filled with herbs. Even stopping to smell the roses is really stopping to smell the terpenes.

Although there is much to discover about terpenes, what's important to understand is that these aromatic compounds have a significant impact on our sensory experience. Whether we inhale, apply to our skin, or consume them, terpenes have the ability to enhance our enjoyment and greatly influence the flavors and aromas we perceive.

 The unmistakable aroma of cannabis is attributed to the unique musky, skunky, and pungent scent it emits. This scent is due to terpenes, the aromatic compounds that determine the scent of many flowers and herbs, which bestow cannabis with its distinctive odor and contribute to its flavor. With more than 150 types of terpenes present in cannabis, the combination of the most prominent ones gives different strains their signature scent profiles, each with their own unique character and personality. Terpenes also have diverse functions in the plant and can produce a range of therapeutic and mood-altering effects for cannabis consumers. 

 Terpenes are organic compounds found in the trichomes of female cannabis plants, which are small sticky glands that cover the surface of buds, leaves, and stems. They play a vital role in the plant's growth and survival, contributing to its aroma, flavor, and pigmentation. Furthermore, terpenes help protect the plant from harmful insects and herbivores while attracting beneficial ones, and they support the plant's immune system by conveying information about the environment and triggering immune responses.

Several factors affect the amount of terpenes a cannabis plant produces, including the plant's growing conditions, such as exposure to light, temperature, and nutrient levels. Terpenes are also volatile compounds and can be easily lost during standard extraction methods. However, new techniques such as live resin, which involves freezing the cannabis plant during the extraction process, can preserve these valuable compounds, resulting in a more flavorful and aromatic cannabis experience.

The use of terpenes for their delightful fragrance is not a recent discovery. For centuries, people have been extracting essential oils from terpenes to create aromatherapy products.   Terpenes have been discovered to have a multitude of medicinal benefits beyond the well-known stress-relieving effects. Despite the focus on the therapeutic qualities of cannabinoids like THC and CBD, terpenes are now being recognized as a crucial component of cannabis medicine. Each terpene has its own set of therapeutic properties, some of which overlap with their function in plants, such as their ability to fight off harmful microbes and pathogens.