The aroma of marijuana is divisive — it’s either something you enjoy or despise. The pungent plant’s characteristic odors are appreciated by few people. The term “cannabis” derives from the Hebrew term kaneh-bosm, which means “aromatic reed.”

Where do these fragrant components originate? What is their purpose? What exactly are they? And why should you care about them? Continue reading to learn more about the world of terpenes.

What are terpenes?

The fragrant components of cannabis plant essential oils, terpenes are aromatic molecules that have a pivotal therapeutic function. Terpenes are tiny, volatile chemicals produced by the cannabis plant as an evolutionary response to attract and repel specific insects and animals at the same time.

According to a 2011 study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology, “Terpenoids are highly active substances that have an effect on animal and even human behavior when breathed into the air. They display particular therapeutic effects that might contribute to the entourage benefits of cannabis-based medical extracts.”

The aromas and tastes of any given cannabis strain are also influenced by which terpenes predominate. Terpenes are one of the most significant distinctions between different cannabis strains (Journal of Natural Products, 2016). Terpenes are present in plants across the world, although cannabis is capable of producing about 1,000 of them. The chemical compound linalool, for example, found in wine is also present in cannabis. The terpenes are what consumers are smelling for when shopping for cannabis, according to more than 60% of buyers. The term “terpene” is derived from the root word “turpentine,” which refers to the pungent resin obtained from the terebinth tree’s roots in the Mediterranean since ancient times.

Why does Marijuana make terpenes?

We believe that terpenes are used by marijuana plants to deter predators, especially insects and mammals, who dislike the strong odor of cannabis. “Limonene and pinene in flowers … are insect repellents (Nerio et al., 2010), whereas lower fan leaves have higher concentrations of bitter sesquiterpenoids that act as anti-feedants for grazing animals.” According to a landmark research, “limonene and pinene in flowers … are insect repellents” (Nerio et al., 2010).

For the previous few millennia, humans have preferred cannabis for its terpene generation.

Why should I care about terpenes?

Terpenes, in addition to THC, CBD, and the other cannabinoids, play an important role in cannabis overall effects and provide additional therapeutic benefits.

“The engine is THC, but the steering wheel is terpenes,” says cannabis horticulture authority Ed Rosenthal. They have an impact on and control the high of THC. Some terpenes are said to have anti-inflammatory qualities. Consider using lemons, black pepper, pine nuts, and calamus plant roots as a treatment for overeating THC.”

The variety of terpenes present in cannabis provides an almost infinite number of taste and fragrance combinations. Each strain produces its own distinct combination of terpenes, providing its unique palette of sweet, sour, spicy, bitter, and/or savory odors and tastes.

What medical effects do the most frequent terpenes in cannabis have?

There have been numerous animal, cell, and lab studies on terpenes.

• Alpha-pinene has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and memory-enhancing properties.
• It can be used as a sedative, and it has been discovered to induce breast cancer cells to suicide as well as assist with stress and stomach reflux. (Russo, 2011).
• Linalool, found in lavender, has calming properties and can help with skin burns without scarring. It’s a local anesthetic.
• The plant molecule Myrcene, which is also present in hops— a relative of the marijuana plant— has a sedative impact as well as anti-inflammatory and pain alleviation.
• Terpenes are responsible for the majority of cannabis’s therapeutic effects, including anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving qualities. They also have sedative properties and work as an anti-fungal, anti-malarial, and sleep aid. The list goes on and on.

However, more study is needed to verify these findings. “Methodological barriers, subjective variation in outcomes, and a genuine scarcity of high-quality randomized controlled trials have limited scientific research of terpenoids in psychiatry’s therapeutic use,” Russo observed in 2011.

It’s difficult to resist the allure of excellent marijuana. Marijuana has a distinctive skunky smell, and once you get used to it, there’s no way to miss it when you catch its scent in the air accidentally. Smokers will recognize that marijuana has an authentic smell right away: it’s an instant entree to the smoking source and possibly a pleasant stranger offering you a joint. There isn’t much else you can do with those who don’t like marijuana but hide any evidence that you’re using it, especially if they have a sensitive sense of smell.

It’s not difficult to tell whether someone has been smoking marijuana. Its distinctive aroma is unmistakable. If you’re unfamiliar with the scent, detecting cannabis might not be so simple for you. That is until you get used to it.

Obviously, if you exude a cannabis scent every time your critical mother or nosy neighbor Jane sees you, she will notice it. While your mother may scold you as a way of keeping you in touch with your youthful roots, your neighbor may cause far more problems by reporting you to the cops—if cannabis is illegal in your state or country.

To understand the “anatomy” of marijuana odor, keep reading. Learn to tell apart marijuana smell before and after smoking as you become more familiar with the “anatomy” of weed smell.

What Makes Cannabis Smell?

The scent of cannabis is affected by a variety of factors. The age of the cannabis plant, or more precisely when the buds were taken from it, is certainly one of them.

A less distinct skunky odor might be observed in weed that has been collected prematurely from the cannabis plant. This is also lesser powerful marijuana when you smoke it. You are not likely to get an ultimate high from smoking ‘young’ cannabis. If you’re growing your own cannabis, wait for the proper moment to pick those colas. When a cannabis plant reaches a certain age, its yield becomes more attractive. As a result, cannabis produced by older cannabis plants properly dried after harvest will have a stronger fragrance.

The distinctive odor of cannabis comes from terpenes, tiny volatile chemicals produced by the plant. Essential oils are made up of aromatic components known as terpenes. They serve as a deterrent for animals like insects and rodents because they act biologically. Limonene and pinene are two well-known examples.

The aroma of marijuana may also vary depending on the various strains. Terpenes are organic chemicals that give marijuana its distinctive scent. Cannabis plants, for example,

It has a distinct skunky, slightly weedy piney scent as it ages. The majority of plants will have a comparable scent throughout the growing process and when they’re harvested, dried, and cured. When the plant is in its flowering stage, the odor is more apparent and apparent. As a result, if you’re raising cannabis at home, you must manage the stench of your plants to avoid attracting unwanted attention from police or neighbors.

The fragrance of the plants may be helpful in determining whether you’re cultivating Indica or Sativa plants, but it isn’t always so. Indicas are generally supposed to have more skunky and stinkier scents than Sativas, which emit fewer fragrant odors. Sweet, fruity, or spicy terpene-infused smells might attract people to some Sativas. Some believe that you cannot distinguish between Indicas and Sativas by their scent; instead, they advocate for the existence of hybrid strains that combine the features of both Indica and Sativa plants.

If you’re a cannabis grower, you’re probably going to buy and test a few different seeds. After several months, you should be able to tell the difference between odors that enter your nose. You may notice that the first plant you planted had a distinct smell from the second one. If there are any significant variations in the aromas of the various plants you are growing, it might be an interesting element of homegrowing. Note it down, especially if you plan on recording your cannabis experiences in a journal.

You could be asking yourself why cannabis has a skunky odor. It’s due to terpenes, according to some sources. Myrcene terpene compounds are found in other plants, including bays, hops, mangos, and lemongrass. Myrcenes are present in bays, hops, mangoes, and lemongralls as examples. Skunk-scented marijuana may provide you with a stronger stoner effect because of the presence of myrcenes. Basically, the strength of the strain is determined by the intensity of its aroma.

Not all cannabis comes from grown Cannabis plants. Synthesized marijuana is also a type of weed. The term “weed” can be used to describe both natural and manmade varieties, although the latter are frequently regarded as inferior. Because synthetic weed’s chemicals aren’t regulated, its distinctive scent is difficult to identify. However, you should recognize synthetic weed by its unusual departure from normal cannabis odors, as well as by the fact that it may taste differently. What does marijuana smell like before and after smoking?

The scent of buds changes based on the strain. One of the easiest methods to determine if your marijuana is high-quality or not is by its fragrance. It’s suggested that good cannabis have a powerful odor, woody and earthy. Strong scents and odors with which you sniff in when inhaling after putting your buds in the grinder are signs that your weed is excellent.

It’s possible that the pungent fragrance is gone from your buds because they’re old or musty. When you light up, the strange odor that follows should confirm that this marijuana is hazardous. You’ll still get high, but it may be less pleasurable than other kinds of cannabis.

Smoking enhances the natural scent of cannabis. When smoking a joint, you may detect a skunky odor. The characteristic skunk smell is prominent while smoking a joint. The smoke gives off an aroma, but also the ash and the rolling paper that holds the joint. This is the fragrance that will cling to your clothes, hands, hair, and breath.

What’s the smell of marijuana on the person that smoked?

The breath immediately after smoking has a marijuana odor. It’s a barely repulsive odor that lingers for several hours unless you clean your teeth or neutralize it by eating some food. You may usually tell if someone has smoked marijuana just by looking at them, especially if they are an experienced user. You can also tell if they have used cannabis just by feeling the awful smell coming out of their mouth as they greet you and interact with you.

If you’re not aware of this aspect of smoking, the strange odor may catch your attention but you won’t be able to figure out what it is, so don’t worry if you’re trying to hide that your breath stinks.

Nobody is going to sniff your clothes or hair in order to determine if you smoked marijuana, especially after you’ve been smoking. If you believe that someone will smell you and pass judgment on you, change out of your stinky clothing and take a shower.

For long-term marijuana users, you undoubtedly know that your perspiration has a distinct aroma. At first, you may not be able to recognize this smell since it is usual to you, but your spouse or companion sleeping with you, for example, would certainly notice how your body and sweat smelled before you began smoking and how it smells now after three months of continuous usage. A non-smoker can readily detect the difference in body and sweat odor caused by cannabis use.

Why is Cannabis Odor Control Important?

There are different types of marijuana with various amounts of terpenes and odors. Marijuana farmers, on the other hand (who produce the plant for its psychoactive properties rather than for its textile and edible seeds), frequently choose the most potent strains, which may result in government complaints from those who are subjected to the odor within a certain distance.

They’ll not be looking for less potent plants any time soon, if the findings of a current study are anything to go by. Why? Researchers discovered in the research that smell may be seen as an indication of quality. When participants were asked to describe the aroma of various strains of marijuana using 48 different sensory qualities, it became obvious that more powerful marijuana strains elicited greater interest and a willingness to pay more money.

Study Describes Cannabis Smell

At wine tastings, experts may remark on the beverages’ oaky or fruity flavor, as well as hints of blackberry or walnut. In the cannabis odor study, people compared similar sensory qualities to marijuana.

Earthy, herbal, and woody were the most popular smells among users. Flowery, citrus, and pungent were also frequently used. They also tabbed marijuana samples with sensory qualities such as diesel, chemical, tobacco, ammonia, and tar that are presumably quite distressing (and perhaps even harmful) to people in the area.

Managing Cannabis Odor is Good Business

If farmers want to stay in business, they should take control of strong cannabis odors.

In 2016, one of North Denver’s biggest marijuana gardens was shut down after complaints about the noxious odor. The refusal was one of the first times that a routine license renewal has been refused. Residents living near the facility had complained that the pungent smell was negatively impacting their quality of life and making it more difficult to improve the neighborhood. Fortunately, marijuana growers have little difficulty controlling air quality in their facilities.

The Most Effective Filters For Cannabis Odor

A carbon filter, according to a prominent cannabis use magazine, is one of the most popular and efficient methods for reducing cannabis odor in a cultivation environment.

A deep-bed activated carbon filter can effectively keep the odor-causing chemicals in cannabis plants, terpenes, trapped. The volatile organic compounds are adsorbed by the extremely porous activated carbon on its big surface area.

Airflow can be improved as well as cannabis odor, airborne particles, and dust. Microorganisms that might harm the plants may also be controlled with a combined HEPA and carbon filter.

Marijuana growers must maintain a variety of variables in their production environment, including the suitable level of humidity, light, and water. Air quality is another element to consider when running a business. What should I do if my marijuana has a bad odor?

The ground rules are already established. Brush your teeth or chew gum to disguise the odors from your breath. Wear new clothing. Take a shower if possible. Use perfume to mask the stench of cigarettes on you. This is intended to eliminate any odor that remains after smoking marijuana.

Remember that if you’re smoking a lot, it’ll stay in your sweat and body. So, be careful if you’re hiding from your non-smoking spouse. The only solution for eliminating the distinctive odor of your perspiration is to quit smoking for a while. This might not be an issue for occasional smokers, but it may become an issue for heavy smokers.

Smoking outside may assist, especially if the weather is beautiful. The sun naturally emits UV rays that are capable of neutralizing any odor. So, if you spend half an hour in the sun as you smoke your nugs, the smoke should stay away–at least from your clothes and hair. Outside, the marijuana smell will dissipate into the air, and hopefully it won’t reach obnoxious, rigid noses.

It’s important to ventilate the area if you’re smoking indoors. If you smoke in closed quarters all day, the odor may accumulate and permeate everything, including your furnishings. When smoking, open the window or smoke on the window to ventilate. Air fresheners and odor removers are also effective.

Also, a doob tube, which is made from a paper towel roll and stuffed with soaked fabric pieces, may be used to release the fragrance of your household cleaning products. Simply breathe out the marijuana smoke through the tube using this technique. This should eliminate any skunky earthy odors from the cannabis.

The distinctive skunky grass stench produced by combustible cannabis can’t be confused with anything else. While you may like and appreciate marijuana fragrance as much as you want, it’s a good idea to be cautious and hide the odor so as not to get into any problems.