Terpenes – The active ingredients of aromatherapy
What are terpenes and how are they related to CBD?
Terpenes are not an unknown substance, but the main component of essential oils. More precisely, they are secondary plant substances, chemical compounds that are mainly found in plants and trees such as conifers, hemp plants and insects. Terpenes are often responsible for the characteristic scent of a plant. The unmistakable scent of hemp is the result of a unique terpene mixture in the hemp plant. However, these terpenes not only serve as fragrances, but also support the positive effects of cannabinoids such as CBD.
They share a common chemical structure and composition, but have different appearances. This is why they can smell so different, for example like lavender or mint. At the same time, terpenes have a variety of effects in nature.
Terpenes in nature
When a tree secretes resin, it initially feels sticky on your fingers. However, only biology students know what the main component of the resin is: terpenoids.
Terpenes are found in all plants, but are often present in high concentrations in and on flowers. Their function is simple: their aroma attracts insects for pollination. At the same time, they act as natural insecticides and protect against pests. As temperatures rise, trees release more terpenes, helping to regulate the forest temperature. Therefore, the typical smell of conifers is sometimes due to the presence of terpenes.
Some insects also use terpenes because of their intense smell, releasing them to attract conspecifics to a food source.
What effect do terpenes have on humans?
The variety of beneficial effects of terpenes is astonishing. Some exert their effect through smell, which explains their use in aromatherapy. Who doesn't know the calming effect of lavender oil in an aroma lamp?
Terpenes are particularly effective when absorbed through the skin or taken as an extract. Essential oils rich in terpenes are therefore used in cosmetics and also serve as natural preservatives for food, as they inhibit the spread of bacteria. Their diverse properties are continuously being researched in science.
Terpenes you should know
Scientists have identified and characterized about 20,000 terpenes, making them the largest category in plant chemistry. About 200 of them have been found in the cannabis plant. Here are some examples:
Myrzene:
- Smell: Clove-like with citrus notes
- Taste: Sweet citrus fruits
- Occurrence: Balsamic, fruits, geraniums, herbs, cannabis
Limonene:
- Smell: Citrus fruits like lemon and orange
- Taste: Lemon and mint
- Occurrence: Orange, juniper, peppermint, cannabis
B-Caryophyllene:
- Smell: wood, cinnamon and cloves
- Taste: Hops and spices
- Occurrence: Basil, whole grains, figs, black pepper, cannabis
Alpha/Beta Pinene:
- Smell: pine forest and rosemary
- Taste: rosemary, cedarwood, pine, cannabis
- Occurrence: conifers, parsley, orange peel, cannabis
Linalool:
- Smell: Floral with a hint of spices
- Flavor: Coriander, Lavender, Lemon, Rose
- Occurrence: Lavender, mint, cinnamon, citrus fruits, cannabis
Humulenes:
- Smell: Spicy and earthy
- Taste: Hops, pepper and spices
- Occurrence: Coriander, basil, clove, cannabis
Terpinolene:
- Smell: Piney aroma and sweet
- Taste: citrus and sweet
- Occurrence: Cumin, cypress, lemon, hemp, marjoram, pine, lilac, sage, rosemary, tea tree, cannabis
Ocimene:
- Smell: Woody and sweet
- Taste: Mango, basil, mint and orchids
- Occurrence: Basil, marigolds, spearmint, oregano, rue plants, black currants, rosemary, cannabis
Alpha-Bisabolol:
- Smell: Floral, sweet and fresh
- Taste: honey, apples and chamomile
- Occurrence: Chamomile, Cannabis
Camphene:
- Smell: Fresh, woody, slightly lemony or tart like pine or turpentine
- Taste: Field as well as spicy and rough notes
- Occurrence: Camphor, lemongrass, cypress, orange blossom, ginger, valerian, turpentine, cannabis
Guaiol:
- Smell: Woody, pine-like aroma
- Taste: citrus and sweet
- Occurrence: guaiac wood, cypress, black pepper, parsley, sage, cannabis
Gamma-Terpinene:
- Smell: Woody, lime, lemon
- Taste: citrus and bitter
- Occurrence: Cumin, tea tree, cannabis
Nerolidol:
- Smell: Woody, Fresh, Lemon
- Taste: Strong, reminiscent of fir
- Occurrence: Neroli, ginger, jasmine, lavender, tea tree, lemongrass, cannabis
Geraniol:
- Scent: rose and lemongrass
- Taste: Passion fruit, lemon peel, peach
- Occurrence: Geranium, lemon, cannabis
Delta-3-Carenes:
- Smell: lemon, musk, pine
- Taste: Spicy, sweet, lemon
- Occurrence: rosemary, cedar, pine, cannabis
Eucalyptol:
- Smell: Eucalyptus and mint
- Taste: Spicy and cooling, like camphor
- Occurrence: Bay leaves, eucalyptus, tea tree, cannabis plant
Para-Cymene:
- Smell: Sweet-aromatic, mild, lemon
- Taste: Citrus
- Occurrence: Thyme, cumin, cannabis
Isopulegol:
- Smell: Fresh menthol
- Taste: Neutral
- Occurrence: Kumquat, parsley, alfalfa, lemongrass, eucalyptus, cannabis
Terpineol:
- Smell: Floral and lilac
- Taste: Sweet lime and slightly floral
- Occurrence: Linden blossoms, pines, lilacs, cannabis
Entourage effect
In addition to important cannabinoids, hemp contains a variety of terpenes, which cause the characteristic hemp smell. But this is not the only positive effect of terpenes: they also support the positive effect of cannabinoids. The interaction between terpenes and cannabinoids is referred to by scientists as the "entourage effect" - the effect of the plant is greater than the sum of its parts.
Many researchers believe that hemp extracts that contain not only CBD but also the broad spectrum of natural terpenes found in the hemp plant have a stronger effect. Therefore, it is recommended to use the richest, most natural hemp extract possible rather than isolated CBD.
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