Terpenes are the aromatic compounds that give plants such as pine, lemon, lavender, hops and cannabis their smell. Chemically, they are built from five-carbon isoprene units. More than 200 have been reported in cannabis, where myrcene, limonene, pinene, caryophyllene and linalool are among the best known. Claims that they change the effects of cannabis in people are still largely unproven.
Key facts
- What they are
- Plant compounds built from isoprene (C5) units; forms that contain oxygen are called terpenoids
- Number known
- About 15,000 to 20,000 fully characterised in nature; more than 200 reported in cannabis (Russo 2011)
- Main types in cannabis
- Monoterpenes (C10) such as myrcene, limonene and pinene, and sesquiterpenes (C15) such as caryophyllene and humulene
- Where they form
- In the glandular trichomes (resin glands), mostly on the female flowers
- Evidence on effects (as of October 2026)
- Lab tests found no direct action at CB1 or CB2 receptors; one small human trial (limonene with THC) so far
- Legal status
- Plant terpenes are not controlled substances
What does terpene mean?
A terpene is a hydrocarbon made by linking isoprene units, small molecules with five carbon atoms. Plants make them as secondary metabolites, compounds that are not needed for basic growth but help the plant deal with its surroundings. When a terpene carries oxygen, for example as an alcohol group, chemists call it a terpenoid. Linalool is a terpenoid; myrcene and limonene are terpenes. In everyday use, "terpenes" covers both.
Terpenoids are the largest group of plant chemicals, with roughly 15,000 to 20,000 fully characterised (Russo 2011). In cannabis, they, not the cannabinoids, are responsible for the aroma.
What are the types of terpenes?
Terpenes are grouped by how many isoprene units they contain:
- Monoterpenes (2 units, 10 carbons): small and volatile, so they evaporate easily. Examples: myrcene, limonene, pinene, ocimene, linalool.
- Sesquiterpenes (3 units, 15 carbons): heavier and less volatile. Examples: β-caryophyllene, humulene.
- Diterpenes (4 units, 20 carbons) and triterpenes (6 units, 30 carbons): larger, less volatile molecules.
The units can link in a chain (myrcene is open-chain) or close into rings (limonene has one ring, pinene two). That shape changes the smell and how quickly the compound evaporates. In cannabis, monoterpenes usually predominate (Russo 2011).
Which terpenes are in cannabis?
Cannabis makes its terpenes with a family of enzymes called terpene synthases. In the hemp variety 'Finola', researchers identified nine of them, whose products make up most of the resin's terpenes, including β-myrcene, (E)-β-ocimene, limonene, α-pinene, β-caryophyllene and α-humulene (Booth 2017).
| Terpene | Type | Typical aroma | Also found in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myrcene | Monoterpene | Earthy, musky | Hops, lemongrass, mango |
| Limonene | Monoterpene | Citrus | Lemon and other citrus peel |
| Pinene | Monoterpene | Pine | Conifers and many essential oils |
| Linalool | Monoterpenoid (alcohol) | Floral | Lavender |
| β-Caryophyllene | Sesquiterpene | Peppery, spicy | Black pepper |
Sources for the table: Booth 2017 (cannabis terpenes), Russo 2011 (other plants), Lorenzetti 1991 (lemongrass), Li 2017 (mango).
How much of each terpene a plant contains varies a lot. Genetics matter: in a study of more than 100 samples, plants labelled "Sativa" and "Indica" were genetically indistinct, and the label tracked only a few terpenes controlled by terpene synthase genes (Watts 2021). Strain names are therefore a poor guide. Only an analysis of the actual batch shows its terpene profile.
What do terpenes do in the plant?
Terpenes protect the plant. In cannabis, flowers favour terpenes such as limonene and pinene, which repel insects, while the lower leaves carry more bitter sesquiterpenes that put off grazing animals (Russo 2011). In soil experiments, terpenes slowed or boosted the growth of particular bacteria and fungi, depending on the compound and dose (Chou 2023).
They are made in the same resin glands as the cannabinoids, the glandular trichomes, which are most concentrated on unfertilised female flowers. Terpenes make up less than 1% of most cannabis samples but may account for up to 10% of the trichome content. Because they are volatile, yields drop with drying and storage (Russo 2011).
Are terpenes and cannabinoids the same?
No. Both come from the same resin glands and share a precursor, but they are different classes of compounds. Cannabinoids such as CBD and THC come mainly from cannabis. Terpenes occur across the plant kingdom: the limonene in cannabis is the same molecule as in a lemon. Read more in what are cannabinoids?
Do terpenes change the effects of cannabis?
That idea is part of the "entourage effect": the claim that terpenes and cannabinoids act together. The evidence so far is thin:
- In receptor tests, myrcene, α- and β-pinene, β-caryophyllene and limonene did not act on CB1 or CB2 receptors or change how THC or CBD acted there, apart from a possible weak effect of β-caryophyllene at CB2 (Finlay 2020).
- In a controlled study with 20 healthy adults, inhaled d-limonene reduced the anxiety and paranoia ratings caused by a 30 mg THC dose. Limonene alone did nothing measurable, and it is one small trial (Spindle 2024).
- A review notes that many medicinal claims about cannabis terpenes still need thorough scientific validation (Booth 2019).
For the full picture, see our guide to the entourage effect.
Where else are terpenes used?
Terpenes give essential oils their scent, so they are used in perfumes, cosmetics and household products. Many are common flavour components in ordinary foods and spices (Russo 2011). Hemp extracts keep some of the plant's own terpenes unless they are removed during processing.
From our production
We keep the hemp's natural terpenes in our oils rather than stripping them out. Many people underestimate terpenes and assume only the cannabinoids matter.
— Robin Roy Krigslund-Hansen, co-founder and CEO
Frequently asked questions
What are terpenes in simple terms?
Terpenes are the natural compounds that make plants smell the way they do, such as the citrus of a lemon peel or the scent of pine needles. Cannabis contains more than 200 of them.
What are the main types of terpenes?
They are grouped by size: monoterpenes (10 carbons, such as myrcene, limonene and pinene), sesquiterpenes (15 carbons, such as caryophyllene and humulene), and larger diterpenes and triterpenes. Monoterpenes usually predominate in cannabis.
Do terpenes get you high?
No. Terpenes are not intoxicating and are not controlled substances. Whether they change the effects of THC is still being studied; one small human trial found that limonene reduced THC-induced anxiety.
What is the difference between terpenes and terpenoids?
Terpenes are pure hydrocarbons, made only of carbon and hydrogen. Terpenoids are related compounds that also contain oxygen, such as linalool. In everyday use, both are called terpenes.
Do terpenes degrade over time?
Yes. Most cannabis terpenes are volatile, so their levels fall as the plant material is dried and stored.
Related guides
This article is general information about plant chemistry. It makes no claims about the effects of Formula Swiss products, which are cosmetics for use on the skin, and it is not medical advice. Read our full disclaimer.
Last reviewed:
Sources
- Russo EB. Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects. Br J Pharmacol 2011;163(7):1344–1364. doi:10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01238.x
- Booth JK, Page JE, Bohlmann J. Terpene synthases from Cannabis sativa. PLoS One 2017;12(3):e0173911. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0173911
- Booth JK, Bohlmann J. Terpenes in Cannabis sativa – from plant genome to humans. Plant Sci 2019;284:67–72. doi:10.1016/j.plantsci.2019.03.022
- Watts S et al. Cannabis labelling is associated with genetic variation in terpene synthase genes. Nat Plants 2021;7(10):1330–1334. doi:10.1038/s41477-021-01003-y
- Finlay DB et al. Terpenoids from cannabis do not mediate an entourage effect by acting at cannabinoid receptors. Front Pharmacol 2020;11:359. doi:10.3389/fphar.2020.00359
- Spindle TR et al. Vaporized D-limonene selectively mitigates the acute anxiogenic effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in healthy adults who intermittently use cannabis. Drug Alcohol Depend 2024;257:111267. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111267
- Chou M-Y et al. Terpenes modulate bacterial and fungal growth and sorghum rhizobiome communities. Microbiol Spectr 2023;11(5):e0133223. doi:10.1128/spectrum.01332-23
- Lorenzetti BB et al. Myrcene mimics the peripheral analgesic activity of lemongrass tea. J Ethnopharmacol 1991;34(1):43–48. doi:10.1016/0378-8741(91)90187-i
- Li L et al. Profiling of volatile fragrant components in a mini-core collection of mango germplasms from seven countries. PLoS One 2017;12(12):e0187487. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0187487
