We’re passionate about terpenes, the aromatic compounds that define the scent and experience of cannabis. These remarkable molecules bring a lot to the table, imparting captivating fragrances and a variety of potential wellness benefits.
Research suggests that terpenes play a major role in shaping the effects of cannabis, offering calming, energizing, and other unique properties, which is why we carefully handpick each of the terpenes in our products, each fine-tuned to impart specific effects and outcomes.
But how do terpenes have such a profound effect on us? The answer lies in the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a vital regulatory network that helps control such crucial functions as memory, immune function, pain response, and sleep. Though much about the ECS remains to be discovered, we know it’s a major signaling system—and terpenes seem perfectly designed to interact with it.
Want to know more? Learn about three key terpenes: citronellol, ocimene, and linalool. Belonging to the floral family, these aromatic compounds are reminiscent of certain flowers, and are among the most enchanting compounds in a cannabis strain. Read on and explore what makes each of them so special.
What Is Citronellol?
If you love the scent of fresh-picked roses, then you won’t forget this elegant and fresh essential oil. The citronellol terpene is a major aromatic component of roses and other flowers, and it’s considered so evocative that you’ll find it in all sorts of everyday products like perfumes and fragrances, soaps and detergents, and even as a flavoring agent in beverages, candies, baked goods, and ice cream.
Besides the flower’s being a symbol of romantic love, its characteristic scent invites us to slow down and breathe deeply to savor that luxurious aroma. Its beguiling attributes are part of the reason we include citronellol in our True-Infused Terpene blends.
Citronellol’s Scent & Taste
Clean, crisp, and intensely floral, citronellol is one of the star players in the world of cannabis terpenes. Like the roses in which it’s found, there’s more happening behind the scenes than you might imagine. Inhale pure citronellol, and you’ll not only detect rose but notes of sharp citrus, smooth wax, and even the unmistakable smell of leather.
On the tongue, citronellol presents a different side. You’ll still enjoy its rose flavor, but you’ll also taste the terpene’s citrussy character, followed by a green quality that suggests freshness and purity.
What Is Citronellol Found In?
Along with roses, citronellol is a major component of citronella, a popular natural insect and animal repellant distilled from two grass varieties. You can usually find citronella in various outdoor candles and sprays. Beyond that, the citronellol terpene appears in geraniums, basil, certain species of thyme, black tea, and wine.
Reported Citronellol Benefits & Effects
There’s some evidence that citronellol may impart potentially beneficial effects. One study focused on using terpenes as potential neuroprotectants or substances that protect brain cells from inflammation, injury, and other stressors. The study found that citronellol was the second most effective of all the essential oils tested.
Another study done on rat subjects suggests the terpene may impart antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and other therapeutic effects.
Shop the Citronellol Collection.
What Is Ocimene?
Sweet, floral, and woodsy, ocimene is a wide-ranging terpene with a unique aroma. Since it’s present in so many beloved herbs and fruits, you’ll find ocimene in all sorts of foods, beverages, and common household items like cologne and other fragrances, cosmetics and antiperspirants, fabric softeners, and hard-surface cleansers. Needless to say, ocimene is a significant player in the cannabis ecosystem, providing a backbone set of aromas to countless strains.
But what is ocimene doing in the cannabis plant in the first place? In nature, terpenes perform essential functions such as defending plants from insectile and animal pests and—as some studies have demonstrated—attracting beneficial pollinators. As it turns out, it’s not just humans who fall for this sweet, fragrant, and thoroughly appealing terpene.
Ocimene’s Scent & Taste
If citronellol is instantly recognizable as the main scent of rose, the ocimene terpene is a bit more nuanced. Warm, woodsy, sweet, and floral, ocimene’s sensory profile is hard to encapsulate in a single word. Some people detect a hint of pineapple in its sweetly citrus-like notes. Others find it reminiscent of sandalwood, palo santo, or other fragrant woods. There’s also a floral component that lightly evokes neroli oil, a fragrant product derived from the fruit of the bitter (Seville) orange.
What Is Ocimene Found In?
Given its complex aromatic profile, you won’t be surprised to learn that the ocimene terpene is found in an array of natural products. It lends its sweet, woodsy elegance to leafy herbs such as parsley, mint, and basil and to other plants and flowers like hops, orchids, and lavender.
Reported Ocimene Effects & Benefits
Studies on this distinctive and uplifting aromatic compound are still ongoing. However, as with many other cannabis terpenes, researchers speculate that ocimene’s effects may include anti-inflammatory and analgesic qualities.
Today, we know that the ocimene-containing oil called Compound Anshen may impart stress-relieving and sleep-inducing effects. As with other terpenes, ocimene’s effects may also include a strong antiparasitic action, which means it may find use in the fight against certain difficult-to-treat infections. Finally, the ocimene terpene may also help protect the kidneys from diabetes.
What Is Linalool?
As the main aromatic component of lavender, linalool is a true standout. Floral, calming, and slightly spicy, it’s an essential terpene not only in cannabis but in many herbs, fruits, and other natural sources. But just as citronellol is inextricably linked with the scent of rose, the linalool terpene is highly connected to lavender.
It’s believed that lavender first originated in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and India and that ancient Egyptians made perfumes and incense with it, just as we do today. When Tutankhamun's tomb was opened in 1922—some 3,000 years after the king’s death—traces of lavender were found there, and their scent could still be detected.
Linalool’s Scent & Taste
While the linalool terpene will always be associated with lavender, it isn’t the end of the terpene’s story. Inhale pure linalool, and you’ll detect notes of warm wood, a hint of spice, and light citrus-like notes woven throughout. You may also pick up a subtly sweet smell, which may be one reason many of us find linalool so pleasing.
What Is Linalool Found In?
Aside from lavender, in the culinary world, you’ll find linalool in mint, cinnamon, bay laurel, basil, and coriander. It ends its spicy notes with rosewood, its citrus-like accents to certain species of lemon and orange, and even fruits such as strawberry and blueberry.
Reported Linalool Effects & Benefits
Lavender’s naturally calming properties have been treasured for millennia, and we finally have some modern clinical studies to back it up. It’s suggested that the terpene may help us access deeper and improved sleep, along with the potential to help reduce anxiety without impairing motor skills. Other growing evidence suggests that linalool acts on our central nervous system as an all-natural antidepressant.
Stop and Smell the Roses With Urb
Terpenes are more than just the aromatic compounds behind the captivating scents of cannabis—they're powerful players in shaping its effects and potential benefits. Through their interaction with the endocannabinoid system, terpenes like citronellol, ocimene, and linalool bring unique properties, from promoting relaxation and stress relief to offering potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.
By understanding these fascinating compounds, we can better appreciate their role in enhancing the cannabis experience while tapping into their therapeutic potential. Whether it’s the floral allure of citronellol, the woodsy sweetness of ocimene, or the calming essence of linalool, these terpenes remind us of the intricate and enchanting science behind nature’s design.
Want to learn more about these fascinating plant-based compounds? Check out Urb’s complete terpeneverse!
