Myrcene
Category: Scientific · Level: Expert
Myrcene is the most abundant terpene in commercial cannabis cultivars, producing earthy and musky aromas, and studied for sedative and anti-inflammatory properties.
Beta-myrcene is a monoterpene and, in many analyses of commercial cannabis, the most common dominant terpene. It smells earthy, musky and herbal with a hint of ripe fruit and clove, and it is also found in hops, mango, lemongrass, thyme and bay leaves. Classic cultivars such as OG Kush, Blue Dream, Granddaddy Purple and many Skunk lines are often myrcene dominant.
What research says: animal studies have reported sedative and muscle relaxing effects at high doses, as well as pain relieving and anti-inflammatory activity, which is why myrcene is often linked with heavy, relaxing cannabis. A popular claim says that flower with more than 0.5 percent myrcene feels indica like and causes couch lock; this is a rule of thumb from industry testing, not an established finding, and doses in a normal session are far below those used in animal studies. The common tip that eating mango before cannabis strengthens the high also has no clinical support.
In practice: myrcene is one of the more volatile terpenes, so careful drying, curing and cool storage help keep it, and it is easily lost from older flower. In extracts it contributes much of the dank, earthy character of live resin and full spectrum products. On a lab report it appears as beta-myrcene, often next to caryophyllene, limonene or pinene, and the combination of these, rather than myrcene alone, shapes the aroma and the reported character of a cultivar.
Also known as
Beta-myrcene, β-myrcene
Used in
- Medical
- Scientific
Related terms
- Linalool: Linalool is a floral cannabis terpene also abundant in lavender, studied for sedative, anxiolytic, and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Entourage Effect: The entourage effect is the proposed synergistic interaction between cannabinoids, terpenes, and other cannabis compounds that may enhance overall therapeutic effects.
- Terpene: Terpenes are aromatic organic compounds produced by cannabis and many other plants, responsible for distinct flavors and scents, and potentially contributing to therapeutic effects.
- Terpene Profile: A terpene profile is the specific combination and concentration of terpenes present in a cannabis cultivar, used to characterize its aroma, flavor, and potential effects.
- Limonene: Limonene is a cannabis terpene with a citrus aroma, studied for potential anti-anxiety, antidepressant, and anti-cancer properties.