Terpene Profile
Category: Scientific · Level: Intermediate
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.
A terpene profile is the list of aromatic compounds in a cannabis sample and how much of each it contains, usually given as a percentage of weight. Well grown flower typically has 1 to 4 percent total terpenes, and most of that comes from three to five dominant ones. The profile is what makes one cultivar smell of lemon and another of diesel, pepper or pine.
How it is measured: laboratories use gas chromatography, often with mass spectrometry or a flame ionization detector, to separate and quantify terpenes such as myrcene (earthy, musky), limonene (citrus), beta-caryophyllene (pepper, spice), terpinolene (fresh, piney, slightly floral), linalool (lavender), alpha and beta pinene (pine) and humulene (woody, hops). Results are often shown as the top three terpenes, which is a quick way to compare products. Some regulated markets and medical programs require or encourage terpene testing on labels.
How to use it: many researchers and growers now group cannabis by chemotype, the combination of cannabinoids and dominant terpenes, because indica and sativa labels say little about chemistry. A terpene profile is a better guide to aroma and flavor than a strain name, since the same name can vary from batch to batch. Claims that a given terpene makes cannabis relaxing or energizing are still mostly hypotheses, often linked to the entourage effect. Terpenes are volatile, so heat, light, air and long storage lower them; a harvest or test date matters when reading a profile.
Also known as
Terp profile, Terpene panel
Used in
- Medical
- Recreational
- Industrial
Related terms
- Cultivar: A cultivar is a plant variety that has been selectively bred and maintained to exhibit consistent, reproducible characteristics.
- 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.
- COA: A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is a document from an accredited laboratory confirming the composition, potency, and safety of a cannabis product.