In 2021 CBD, Delta 8 THC, and other hemp-derived products are everywhere, and the market only keeps growing. More and more people now use one of these trending wellness products daily, and the growing demand for CBD and Delta 8 has resulted in the increased number of CBD brands and products.
Selecting the right fit for your goals calls for understanding the ins and outs of the hemp plant, so you know the aspects to consider when choosing the right solution. As the terpenes affect how CBD or other hemp-derived compounds interact with the human body, it’s essential to know what they are and what they can bring into your products.
Luckily you don’t need hours of research to learn how they work and why it matters. At The Hemp Doctor, it’s our passion to educate our customers, so we have put together a concise guide to help you understand these natural compounds in the cannabis plant, and here’s everything you need to know about terpenes.
What Are Terpenes?
Even if you haven’t heard of terpenes you have already witnessed their effects.
Have you smelled lavender to reduce anxiety levels? Or brewed a peppermint tea and enjoyed its sweet and a lingering cool effect in your mouth? Well, that taste and flavor are due to terpenes. Terpenes, terpenoids, or terps are the compounds that give aromas and flavors to plants, including cannabis.
Cannabis doesn’t only produce cannabinoids such as THC or CBD but also a diverse class of organic compounds such as terpenes that define the flavor and aroma of each strain. The terpene profile affects your body, directly and indirectly, and in the way it absorbs the main ingredient in a product.
Various plants also produce terpenes giving them their unique smell and taste that attracts pollinating insects and repel predators.
Terpenes are becoming a popular subject on the hemp market, with many CBD brands introducing new products with rich terpene profiles. Companies add these aromatic compounds to products to enhance their effectiveness and deliver varying aromas and flavors.
What are the Benefits of Terpenes?
Now that you know terpenes are why lemons have their zesty citrus fragrance, or pepper has its peppery smell, you may wonder the difference between the products with or without terpenes.
First and foremost, terpenes in CBD products are essential for the entourage effect, a theory that says when multiple cannabis elements are present together in a single product, they boost one another’s effects. In short, pure THC or CBD will not have the same effect as these compounds mixed with terpenes. Terpenes increase the absorption and effectiveness of cannabinoids, including CBD and Delta-8 THC.
Moreover, terpenes, like other cannabinoids, can bind to endocannabinoid receptors in the human body and affect how much other elements of cannabis pass through the blood-brain barrier. They can also affect the production of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. Different terpenes can signal your brain to produce various chemicals. For example, when you smell lavender it prompts your brain to release serotonin and dopamine which causes you to feel more relaxed.
Different smells can affect our moods differently and trigger certain emotions. Smelling food makes you hungry, smelling flowers makes you feel relaxed, or smelling certain unpleasant odors can put you in a bad mood.
The sense of smell is our most sensitive sense – our noses have up to six million odor detecting cells. Imagine seeing a beautiful flower that stinks. It’s gorgeous, but its unpleasant smell makes you feel uncomfortable and maybe even irritated. Would you buy that flower? Probably not. Scent can affect our mood, terpenes create scents, which means by the transit of properties that terpenes affect our mood.
When terpenes reach your limbic system through products you consume or inhale, they promote the release of certain chemicals in the brain that can affect pleasure, relaxation, or alertness.
Types of Cannabis Terpenes
There are different cannabis strains and you may have already noticed that they taste different. Some are spicier, others more floral or sweet – that’s because the different strains have different terpene profiles. Aspects such as climate, soil type, fertilizers, and age all influence a plant’s terpene profile.
There are more than 100 different terpenes in the cannabis plant with each strain containing varying terpene types. Terpenes may significantly affect how each cannabis strain affects consumers, going beyond the Indica and Sativa debate. Certain terpenes can promote relaxation, while others may keep us alert, depending on which chemical production in the brain they encourage. You don’t have to study all cannabis terpenes and their effects. Instead knowing the most common cannabis terpenes can help you understand how a product with those elements can affect your body.
Humulene
Humulene is one of the most common terpenes in cannabis, also called alpha-caryophyllene. Humulene combines earthy, woody, and spicy tastes. Beer lovers will particularly enjoy products with this terpene as hops and cannabis have humulene in common.
Humulene is present in many different cannabis strains giving the plant its distinct spicy and herbal aroma and taste.
Many therapeutic essentials oils feature this terpene, such as sage oil, used in remedies of ancient Chinese apothecaries. The famous Chinese ginseng featuring humulene is a renowned energy booster, a natural antibiotic, and an appetite suppressant.
Myrcene
Myrcene is another common terpene in the cannabis plant – more good news for beer lovers. The hops are also abundant in this terpene, creating its peppery and spicy fragrance. Lemongrass, increasingly popular in aromatherapy for relaxation, is also rich in myrcene, and this terpene is responsible for mango’s savory tropical flavor. Neat fact, Sativa strains commonly feature a smaller amount of this terpene, while Indica strains feature more.
Beta-Caryophyllene
Caryophyllene, commonly known as beta or b caryophyllene, is a prevalent terpene in cannabis, that creates a spicy taste. Many herbs and spices are rich in terpenes, such as black pepper and oregano.
What makes beta-caryophyllene so unique is its ability to bind with CB2 receptors in the endocannabinoid system of the human body, similar to other cannabinoids such as CBD. This is why it’s sometimes also classed as an atypical cannabinoid. CB2 receptors are mainly in the immune system which is what drives the belief that there are potential therapeutic effects of cannabis.
Terpineol
Terpineol consists of four monoterpene alcohol isomers, with the most common form being alpha-terpineol or a-terpineol. More than 150 plants, including cannabis, eucalyptus, pine trees, and lilacs, contain terpineol. Terpinol is widely used as an aroma agent in soaps and perfumes due to its pleasant flavor. The scent is similar to lilac, which is popular in aromatherapy to induce a calming effect and reduce anxiety. Products containing this terpene may be effective for relaxation.
Geraniol
Geraniol is a combination of fruity, floral, citrusy, and sweet aromas, naturally occurring in geraniums. This terpene is also prevalent in lemons peels, lemongrass, blueberries, roses, and so forth. Geranium oil a popular ingredient in perfumes and cosmetics as well as aromatherapy where it is used to address various health conditions, including anxiety. Bees also produce Geraniol for marking their territories. Geraniol is a primary part of rose oil, also famous for reducing anxiety symptoms. The terpene is frequently used as a flavoring agent to create fruity and citrusy flavors.
Limonene
Speaking of citrus, limonene is another famous terpene common in citrus fruits such as lime, lemons, and oranges. As the name suggests, it’s renowned for its strong citrusy and lemony scent. Combining the terpene with cannabinoids like CBD can enhance its effect on the human body and provide consumers with calming effects.
Eugenol
Eugenol is another common terpene with a spicy flavor and memorable aroma. Many probably associate this terpene with tooth pain or relief from pain. Clove oil is rich in eugenol and is a natural anesthetic and antibacterial agent. It is used to help numb and reduce pain to ease toothaches. Eugenol is also renowned for its natural anti-inflammatory properties. That’s why a lot of over-the-counter treatments recommended by your dentist also contain terpenes. Luckily, clove oil isn’t the only product with the terpene. Some cannabis strains are rich in eugenol.
Alpha-Bisabolol
Alpha-bisabolol, also called levomenol, is a rarer terpene, but it is present in both cannabis and chamomile. Chamomile is widely used in aromatherapy to treat anxiety, promote relaxation, and better sleep. Because of its soothing effects, muscle relaxation, better digestion, and improved sleep, many consume chamomile as a tea, extract, or capsules. Alpha-bisabolol in CBD and Delta 8 products bring a unique floral aroma and potential therapeutic effects.
Pinene
Pinene, an aromatic compound familiar in cannabis, will remind you of Christmas – it smells like pine trees. The terpene helps open airways, so products rich in pinene may leave you with positive feelings, like how you feel when you spend time in nature. Pinene also boosts energy levels and improves focus, so it may make you feel like cooking Christmas dinner even when it’s not the holiday season.
Borneol
Borneol is the fundamental part of traditional Chinese medicine, with Chinese herbalists using it as remedies against fatigue, stress, and many lingering illnesses. Borneol is amongst the most-hated terpenes for insects. It helps the plant defend itself against predators, making researchers believe it could be beneficial in fighting the spread of diseases caused by fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes.
Linalool
Using lavender to reduce anxiety is a common practice, it’s what makes lavender a popular ingredient in aromatherapy. Linalool is responsible for lavender’s soothing, pleasant and distinctive calming smell. Linalool is also present in certain cannabis strains and products with it can cause a calming sensation and produce sedative effects.
The Blended Terpene Profile
Without a doubt, terpene profiles play an essential role in your hemp-derived products, so you may want to find a solution offering varying effects.
At The Hemp Doctor – America’s Premier Dispensary, we have created a unique formula rich in different terpenes you can experience in one purchase.
Our Tincture flavor Zkittlez results from crossing Grape Ape, Grapefruit, and an undisclosed 3rd strain. It features Delta 8 THC, a hemp-derived compound, increasingly popular on the market, which is federally legal.
The mixed terpene profile in the product produces a fruity, citrusy flavor accompanied by very subtle earthy tones. Our tincture features beta-Caryophyllene, Humulene, Linalool, Terpineol, alpha-Bisabolol, beta-Pinene, Citronellol, Geraniol, Myrcene, alpha-Pinene, Borneol, Camphene, and Eugenol.
The unique combination of terpenes allowed us to create a flavorful formula that is just as sweet and fruity as the name implies. Zkittlez is an Indica-leaning strain consumers can enjoy anytime they want to relax and enjoy a unique mix of flavors.
Looking for Top-Grade Solutions? Begin Your Hemp Journey Today!
Terpenes indeed play a role in the effects of cannabinoids in the products. However, finding a quality product remains the most crucial aspect in your shopping journey for CBD and Delta 8 products. Hemp-derived products are everywhere – countless online and brick-and-mortar stores offer various solutions, different ingredients, and diverse prices. Selecting the right product for your needs may get challenging.
Aspects such as the origin of hemp, extraction methods, production methods, ingredients, packaging, third-party lab test results all define the quality of your hemp-derived products.
Shopping for CBD and Delta 8 should be a joyful experience rather than hours of research and trip between hundreds of stores, and luckily there is no need. At The Hemp Doctor, America’s premier Hemp & CBD dispensary, we offer unparalleled solutions that provide top-quality ingredients.
All our products are:
- Made from U.S. grown hemp
- Free of unwanted ingredients like heavy metals and pesticides
- Farm-Bill Compliant
- Third-party lab tested
- Safe to use daily
- Backed up by the money-back guarantee
Get started today, browse our wide assortment of products online and start experiencing the premium quality solutions on the hemp market.
