Terpenes 101
What Are Terpenes?
The cannabis industry has exploded in the past decade. Thousands of new and interesting cannabis infused products have emerged on the market, and the options are seemingly endless. This is due in large part to the compound most associated with marijuana known as terpenes.
You’re probably wondering, “What are terpenes used for?” The answer is simple — they are responsible for the aromas and medicinal properties of plants. Just like pine smells the way it does, terpenes give marijuana that very distinctive aroma and flavor when smelled or ingested.
Companies have been adding terpenes to all kinds of cannabis products, including tinctures, foods, and vape pens, just to name a few. When terpenes in cannabis interact with compounds found in the human body, part of the plant’s beneficial components are magnified. In short, terpenes may have potential health benefits outside of just making things taste and smell nice. We’ll discuss what terpenes are used for, if terpenes are safe to consume, and why they are important to marijuana products.
What Are Terpenes For?
As we mentioned earlier, terpenes are natural compounds produced by plants. Terpene flavors can be extracted and added to different foods, cocktails, or oils to add more aromatic properties to each product. Hundreds of different terpenes have been found in cannabis, but only a handful of them are prominent enough to mention. Below are a list of the 11 most popular terpenes in cannabis:
- Mycerne
- Caryophyllene
- Pinene
- Limonene
- Terpinolene
- Humulene
- Linalool
- Ocimene
- Nerolidol
- Bisabolol
- Guaiol
Each terpene is responsible for bringing out different smells. As we all know, smell and taste are subjective senses, and different terpenes will appeal to different people. That’s why at The Terpene Store, we offer tons of options to choose from for your own products! You can find all of our strain specific terpene flavors or our synfinite flavors here.
Are Terpenes Safe To Consume?
The terpenes found in cannabis are ‘Generally Recognized As Safe’ by the FDA, as long as they have been diluted first. Pure terpenes can be dangerous when ingested, so it is recommended to not use any below 3 percent concentration. Our terpenes at The Terpene Store follow these exact requirements — they are very concentrated, at 3 percent, so we recommend only using 1-2 drops to begin with.
Why Are Terpenes Important?
Terpenes don’t just make things smell and taste stronger — they may also possess potential health benefits. It’s believed that they can support other cannabis molecules to produce desired effects.
We usually ingest cannabis for one reason, right? We want to feel the positive effects from it. Terpenes, depending on which ones are added to your products, can make things more potent. This means they can aid medical cannabis in producing beneficial effects, and may have other groundbreaking attributes. A lot of research still needs to be done in order to back these claims, but the possibilities are exciting.
How Long Do The Effects Of Terpenes Last?
Terpenes are a chemical building block in organic life. They’re the reason that essential oils have a strong scent. Those terpenes can promote various health benefits, such as helping you sleep or boosting your energy level. Terpenes are known for their therapeutic effects. For example, diffusing lavender essential oil can help you relax and potentially get better sleep. That means the terpenes you use last as long as their source does.
Depending on storage conditions, terpene formulations can last as long as 12-24 months. We recommend storing them cold for long-term storage.
Looking to build up your stock and enhance your flower? You can check out all of the flavors and products we have to offer at The Terpene Store.