Terpenes are the aroma and flavor of cannabis
Terpenes are natural compounds found across the plant world. They are what makes a lemon smell like lemon, a pine forest smell like pine, and fresh lavender smell floral. Cannabis makes them too, and in a wide range, which is why one strain can smell like citrus peel and another like black pepper or damp earth.
In cannabis, terpenes are produced in the trichomes, the frosty resin glands that coat the flower and sugar leaves. Those same glands make cannabinoids like THC and CBD. So the aroma you notice when you open a jar comes from the same part of the plant that carries its potency.
A single flower usually contains many terpenes at once, in different amounts. That blend is called the terpene profile. The dominant terpenes tend to lead the smell, while smaller amounts add background notes, the same way a few ingredients define a dish and the rest round it out. This article covers aroma and flavor only, and does not make any health or effect claims about terpenes.
Terpene names you will see on a label
Cannabis labels and menu listings often name the two or three most abundant terpenes in a batch. The names that come up most are myrcene, limonene, caryophyllene, pinene, linalool and terpinolene, and each is simply an aromatic compound that also occurs in other plants, from citrus peel to pine needles to black pepper.
Those names are a shorthand for how a batch smells, not a promise about how it will come across. For a full aroma-by-aroma breakdown of each of these compounds and where else in nature they show up, see our cannabis terpene chart guide, which groups them by scent family.
How to use aroma to pick flower
Smell is one of the most useful tools you have when choosing cannabis, and it costs nothing. Open the jar, take a slow breath through your nose, and notice what you like. If you gravitate toward citrus and bright scents, look for flower where limonene leads. If you prefer earthy or peppery jars, myrcene or caryophyllene forward flower may suit you.
Aroma is also a good freshness signal. Well-cured flower smells rich and layered. Flower that smells flat, grassy like hay, or faintly of ammonia has usually been stored poorly or is past its best. A strong, clean aroma is a sign the terpenes are intact.
You do not need to memorize six terpene names to shop well. Start by naming what you smell in plain words, citrus, pine, pepper, floral, earthy, and follow the profiles you enjoy. Over time you will notice the same terpene names show up next to the aromas you keep reaching for.
If you are buying online, the terpene profile is often listed alongside the strain. Reading it tells you what the jar will likely smell and taste like before you ever open it.
Terpenes, cannabinoids, and reading a label
Terpenes and cannabinoids are two different things. Cannabinoids like THC and CBD are measured as a percentage and describe potency. Terpenes describe aroma and flavor and are usually listed separately, sometimes as a total terpene percentage and sometimes as a named breakdown of the top terpenes present.
A higher terpene content generally means a more aromatic, flavorful flower. It does not tell you the THC level, and a high THC number does not tell you how the flower will smell. Reading both parts of the label gives you a fuller picture of what you are buying.
On the live One Green Leaf menu, many products list their terpene profiles right on the product page, so you can match a strain to the aromas you already know you like before you order or visit.
Explore terpene profiles at One Green Leaf
One Green Leaf Dispensary is a licensed adult-use cannabis dispensary at 95 N Lakeview Dr in Gibbsboro, New Jersey, open every day from 9 AM to 9 PM. Our flower selection covers a wide range of terpene profiles, from bright citrus to earthy and spicy, so you can shop by the aromas you enjoy.
You can browse the full flower menu online, where product pages show available terpene information, then shop the way that works for you, in store, reserve-ahead pickup, drive-thru, or same-day delivery. To purchase, you must be 21 or older with a valid government photo ID. No medical card is required.
If you are new to reading terpene profiles, our team is glad to help you find flower that matches the scents you like. Bring the words you would use, citrus, pine, pepper, floral, earthy, and we will point you toward jars that fit.
Adult-use cannabis is legal in New Jersey for adults 21 and older with valid government photo ID; no medical card is required for recreational purchases.