If there’s one thing distinct to bud other than its high, it’s that sweet skunky smell: eau de Mary-Jane. This can be, for the most part, credited to our dear, aromatic friends, terpenes. These chemical compounds hold an aromatic fragrance in not just bud, but many fruits, flowers, and plants.
Among the 150+ terpenes in our favourite plant are distinct compounds that distinguish many of the strains we know and love, like Lemon Haze and Sour Diesel.
What do terpenes do?
Aside from the standout smells, there are some other quality factors to know about terpenes.
Since records began, humans have been noted to leverage the power of aromatherapy through the likes of herbal teas and essential oils to offer therapeutic results and mood-altering outcomes.
Similar to the likes of chamomile tea, different strains of bud are rich in certain terpenes that present stress-reducing qualities when ingested, which has been linked to lowering anxiety levels and creating the feeling of relaxation.
In recent years, it’s also been suggested that terpenes might offer other medicinal benefits as well as the cannabinoids found in bud, like helping to fight off bad bacteria and pathogens in the body, with some terpenes even being suggested hosts of anticancer properties.
What about the high?
Don’t worry, we weren’t going to miss this one out.
We’ve talked about the mesmerising concept of ’the entourage effect’ before - the idea that all compounds and elements within your bud work in a synergetic way to produce the multiple, incredible effects you feel when you smoke - and within this fairytale-feeling process, terpenes are said to boost cannabinoid activity and help drive the process of THC and CBD.
Pretty cool, right?
If you’ve got any questions, feel free to shoot us a DM on Instagram or head in-store to chat with the team!
