What is Terpene Chart?
Concept · Reference tool · also: Terpenes chart, Terp list
A terpene chart is a reference table that lists the terpenes most common in cannabis — such as myrcene, limonene, caryophyllene, pinene and linalool — alongside their aroma descriptors and commonly reported associations, so consumers and budtenders can anticipate a cultivar's sensory profile.
Terpenes are the aromatic compounds that give each cultivar its distinctive smell, and a terpene chart is the standard way to organize them. A typical row in the chart reads: terpene name → aroma → commonly reported association. For example: myrcene (earthy, musky, herbal — the most abundant terpene in many cultivars), limonene (citrus peel), caryophyllene (black pepper, spice — uniquely also acts on CB2 receptors), pinene (pine, rosemary), and linalool (floral, lavender).
You will meet terpene charts in three places: dispensary menus and budtender training materials, the "terpene panel" section of a lab's certificate of analysis (COA), and cultivar review sites that summarize a strain's dominant terpenes. Reading a chart against a COA is the most reliable way to predict aroma before opening a jar.
Charts are a starting point, not a guarantee: total terpene content, the ratios between terpenes, and non-terpene aromatics all shape the final profile — the basis of what is often called the entourage effect.
Examples
- A dispensary wall chart grouping cultivars by dominant terpene: "myrcene-dominant", "limonene-dominant".
- The terpene panel on a COA listing myrcene 0.8%, limonene 0.5%, caryophyllene 0.4% by weight.
- "High terpene extract" (HTE) products, where a chart helps explain why the extract tastes louder than distillate.
Common confusions
- Cannabinoid chart: A different reference: cannabinoids (THC, CBD) are not terpenes. Charts often appear side by side, which causes the mix-up.
- Effects as promises: Chart associations are commonly reported patterns, not medical claims; individual experience varies.
Related terms
More definitions
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common cannabis terpenes?
Myrcene, limonene, caryophyllene, pinene and linalool are the most frequently dominant terpenes in cannabis lab results, followed by names like terpinolene, humulene and ocimene.
How do you read a terpene chart?
Find a cultivar's dominant terpenes (from its COA or menu), then read across the chart row: the aroma column predicts the smell and taste, and the association column describes commonly reported effects.
Is a terpene chart the same as a strain chart?
No — a strain chart lists cultivars; a terpene chart lists the aromatic compounds that determine how those cultivars smell and taste.