One of the most fun things about being a cannabis patient or consumer is the ability to smell the many fragrances that the plant’s flowers produce. With scents ranging from fruity, to cheese-like smells. So what exactly is behind these fragrances that trigger such connections? And what is it that makes them so unique?
Terpenes are organic hydrocarbons found in the essential oils of plants. You may have heard of terpenes or terpenoids, the chemical that gives cannabis its different types of scents. With the rise of the legal cannabis industry, the discussion around terpenes has recently heated up. Let’s break down what these chemicals are, and exactly what they are doing to make your cannabis experience so unique.
Are terpenes and terpenoids the same? We often use them interchangeably, even though the meanings vary. Terpenes are the naturally occurring combination of carbon and hydrogen, whereas terpenoids are terpenes that have been modified by the drying and curing process (chemical modification), changing the oxygen content of the compound.
Terpenes are made in the trichomes of the cannabis plant. Trichomes are the sticky, shiny, mushroom-shaped crystals that cover the leaves and buds. Trichomes on cannabis act as a defense mechanism in nature, and protect the plant from insects and animals by producing fragrant terpenes that repel these dangers. As humans, we smell these terpenes and can make inferences about the strain and possibly physiological effects that the strain may have.
There are over 100 different identified terpenes in the cannabis plant, and though the differences can be subtle, a lot of progress has been made in the classification of terpenes and their effects making it easy for patients and consumers to understand. Broadly, terpenes can be broken down into sweet, spicy, sour or bitter — with each category broken down further into more specific smells. These specific smells consist with certain strains, which in turn correlate to the effects of that plant. In fact, to help with this., many companies have produced terpene wheels to help people understand this. More on that later.
How Do Terpenes Affect your Mood?
Here’s an example: A sour-smelling flower may have a strong lemon scent to it. Lemon scented strains are often connected with strains like lemon skunk or lemon haze; these are zesty sativas that give the patient or consumer a boost of energy and euphoria. By better understanding terpenes and how they relate to the scents that you are experiencing, you are able to come to certain conclusions about the plant in front of you by simply smelling it. This is powerful information for consumers, patients, and growers.
Information and research about terpenes are becoming more available as the interest in cannabis continues to grow. However, the average cannabis shopper can still be unaware of the effects that terpenes have on their cannabis experience. Furthermore, testing profiles showing cannabinoid and terpene content are not widely available to consumers.
Companies are stepping in to fix this by changing how we talk about terpenes.
Profile charts provide an easy, visual way for consumers and patients to understand which terpenes produce particular effects. Generally, terpenes can be associated with different strains or products.
These visual aids can help educate curious consumers so that you can make informed purchasing decisions.
Recently, there has been an increase in companies who discuss their products based on feelings. Some brands advertise solely based on their intended effects. You can now buy a vape pen labeled “relax” or “energy.” This is a game changer for a few reasons. Two customers may walk into a dispensary asking for something sativa. The first customer may ask for a sativa, wanting to focus, while the other may ask for a sativa , for wanting higher levels of energy. Because different terpene content within sativa strains will make certain products better for certain effects, the use of mood-based branding provides solutions for different types of customers.
Custom terpene profiles can also be very beneficial to patients seeking relief.
Medical cannabis patients often suffer from several conditions at the same time, for example, stress, nausea, and pain,. The severity and sensitivity of conditions differ among patients making individual, customized treatment essential.
As more brands hit the market with custom terpene and cannabinoid profiles, patients are provided with increased treatment options, and in ways that we have not seen before. Because growing conditions and plant genetics determine terpene quality and content, growers are now able to make adjustments to the “how” and “what” they grow, in order to meet patient demand.
Thank you readers for your interest in the article. Please like and comment so we have more motivation to write articles
0 Comment:
Post a Comment