The definition of terpene(s) is : organic compounds that provide aroma and flavor in cannabis and a variety of other organisms, including plants. Terpenes are responsible for the smell and taste of cannabis, and they actually influence the effects of a plant by interacting with cannabinoids.
...yeah okay, but like what are they????
You actually already know what terpenes you just didn't know it had a name. Terpenes are what gives an orange its citrusy smell. When you smell pine trees and their unique aroma, you are actually smelling...terpenes. Anyone in LOVE with all things lavender, whelp terpenes are responsible for its relaxing effects. They are chemicals that determine how things smell.
...alright gotcha, so does that get me high???
Kinda, so within a cannabis plant there is a lot going on, and a bunch of different things come together to make the plant as special as it is. Terpenes play a big role in this thing called the ‘entourage effect’. The entourage is when cannabinoids such as THC and CBD, with the terpenes, and some other compounds all work together. It’s the whole plant that does the best job, not just a single compound. Terpenes are aromatic molecules responsible for the unique smell of each cannabis strain. The appealing aromas and flavors we experience when we consume cannabis are all thanks to terpenes. Each cannabis strain has its own unique smell because it has its own distinct terpene content. So regardless of if you smoke flower, take dabs, or vaporize either, the terpenes are at work delivering tasty citrus, diesel, woody, pine, skunky, coffee, spicey, herbal, or tropical flavors to your palate. Terpenes can intensify or downplay the effects of the cannabinoids. This can create different effects from the same or similar strain. That’s another aspect of the entourage effect, which is driven by both cannabinoids and terpenes.
...oh now I got it!! So how many terpenes are there?
Well a lot...around 20,000 different terpenes in existence but in the cannabis plant, there are about 100 give or take. Most of the terpenes that do exist in cannabis plants, exist in other things as well, but there are a couple of terpenes that tend to always show up in cannabis plants. The are: Myrcene, Limonene, Pinene, Caryophyllene, Humulene, Linalool and Terpinolene.
...so what do they each do?
A lot actually and those are just the more common ones. We’ll restart our deep dive into all things terpenes, so stay tuned!!