What do you think of when you take that first sniff of your favorite hemp? What does it remind you of? How does it make you feel? Smell is a sense so powerful, it has the ability to bring you back to a place in time or a vivid memory. Ever wonder how those scents are created? You can thank terpenes.
In the hemp plant, terpenes are secreted from the same glands that produce THC and CBD. These oils can create distinct aromas such as berry, citrus, pine, and diesel. No terpene is exactly the same, and external factors such as climate, temperature, and soil can affect them differently.
Recognizably, there are over 100 terpenes in the cannabis plant, and each terpene exudes a different smell. For example, there could be multiple blueberry offsprings that will bring up a smell of berries. In addition to hemp plants, foods can also be high in terpenes. Fruits like apples, mangoes, citrus fruits, and even broccoli and beer have terpenes.
When it comes to terpenes in hemp and topical products, some terpenes have the power to make you feel a special kind of way. One popular terpene found in topical products is Linalool, which is found in lavender, laurel, birch, and rosewood. When you smell linalool, it gives the body a sedating and calming effect that can help insomnia, stress, anxiety, and pain. Another example is Limonene found in citrus rinds, juniper, and peppermint which elevates mood and relieves stress.
It’s all pretty astonishing when we think about all the places terpenes are found.