Terpene spotlight: Pinene

by Lilli Keinaenen | Apr 5, 2020 | Journal | 0 comments

Mmmm, the scent of pine needles. holiday wreaths, walks in the redwoods – Pacific Northwest in a scent. What’s in that scent? A terpene called pinene. Terpenes, like pinene, are the scent molecules and active ingredients found in cannabis, as well as other plant botanicals. And we adore it.

What are terpenes? They are the “essential oils” of the cannabis plant, created in the same glands that produce cannabinoids like the active ingredients THC and CBD. Terpenes are what make cannabis smell like it smells like – they are the aromatic oils that scent cannabis varieties with distinctive flavors like citrus, berry, mint, and pine (and skunk too!)⁠.

Terpenes seem to work together to alter, or temper the effects of other terpenes as well as cannabinoids such as CBD and THC. This is known as the entourage effect. More research is needed to understand each terpene’s effect when used in harmony with the other components, but it is clear that it’s not just about making cannabis smell good. Terpenes like linalool are active participants in the entourage!⁠

From Leafly.com: “Not unlike other strong-smelling plants and flowers, the development of terpenes in cannabis began for adaptive purposes: to repel predators and lure pollinators. There are many factors that influence a plant’s development of terpenes, including climate, weather, age and maturation, fertilizers, soil type, and even the time of day.

Over 100 different terpenes have been identified in the cannabis plant, and every strain tends toward a unique terpene type and composition. In other words, a strain like Cheese and its descendants will likely have a discernible cheese-like smell, and Blueberry offspring often inherit the smell of berries.

Terpenes may also play a key role in differentiating the effects of various cannabis strains, but more studies are needed to understand how and to what extent.”

And in our terpene round up, today, we’re celebrating the magic of pinene.⁠

Pinene is an aromatic terpene that occurs naturally in both cannabis and blue tansy plants. It gets its name from the pine tree, of whose sap it is a main constituent, so it’s not surprising that Pinene smells like pine trees! (Think a lush forest of evergreens on a breezy afternoon.) This terpene can give feelings of alertness and focus, calm inflammation, and, like that fresh pine forest, can help open airways for easier breathing.⁠

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Blue tansy, or Tanacetum annuum, is an ingredient in our award-winning Renewing Face Serum, along with full-spectrum cannabis. This essential oil, also known as Moroccan Blue Chamomile, has a light, fruity scent, shot through with herbal and floral notes and it has an astounding deep blue color from the compound chamazulene–one of the reasons we love it so much.⁠

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Essential oils and cannabis plants contain a wide range of terpenes that work together with cannabinoids to nourish the skin. When the full spectrum of cannabinoids comes together, that interplay among components is known as the entourage effect. More research is needed to determine exactly how pinene functions alongside its counterparts, but it’s thought that one thing it may do is amplify the cannabinoids’ anti-inflammatory properties.⁠

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Terpenes are volatile organic compounds that are produced by the cannabis plant. Produced by the same glands that make cannabinoids like THC and CBD, terpenes are aromatic oils that color cannabis varieties with distinctive flavors like citrus, berry, mint, and pine (and skunk too!)⁠

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