Terpenes
Terpenes
Terpenes are naturally occurring aromatic compounds found in many plants - including cannabis. Among other things, they help create the plant's characteristic scent profile and, along with cannabinoids, are part of its overall chemical composition.
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Terpenes in the cannabis plant
In the cannabis plant, terpenes are primarily produced in the small trichomes found on and around the flowers. These are the same glandular structures where the plant also produces resin and various cannabinoids.
There are many different terpenes, and the composition can vary from strain to strain. This is one of the reasons why different cannabis flowers can have very different aromatic profiles, even when they visually resemble each other.
Thus, terpenes do not describe one specific scent or one specific type of cannabis. The term covers a larger group of compounds that can occur in different combinations and quantities in flower, top buds, hash and other cannabis products.