Terpenes are aromatic compounds in plants, including cannabis and hemp, that give them their smell and flavor. Cannabinoids such as CBD, CBG, and CBN are different. They interact with the endocannabinoid system. This guide from Growing in Health Florida, a hemp CBD shop in Naples, explains how the two differ. It also covers what researchers say about how they work together and what to check on a label.
Terpenes are the aromatic compounds behind the scent of cannabis, hemp, citrus peel, lavender, and pine. Common ones include myrcene, linalool, limonene, and pinene. Each product has its own mix, called a terpene profile. Cannabis and hemp can smell fruity, earthy, piney, or skunky. Terpenes are the reason.
Terpenes are not cannabinoids. THC causes the high linked to cannabis. Terpenes do not.
Terpenes create scent and flavor, while cannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoid system. The table shows the main differences.
| Terpenes | Cannabinoids | |
|---|---|---|
| What they are | Aromatic compounds made by many plants | Compounds made by the body and by plants |
| Examples | Myrcene, linalool, limonene, pinene | Anandamide and 2-AG (body); CBD, CBG, CBN, THC (plants) |
| Main role | Give plants their scent and flavor | Interact with the endocannabinoid system |
| Linked to a high | No | Only THC |
Our bodies make their own cannabinoids. They are called endocannabinoids, and two well-known ones are anandamide and 2-AG. With receptors and enzymes, they form the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Researchers connect the ECS with sleep, appetite, pain perception, and stress. Read the basics in our guide to the endocannabinoid system.
Plants in the cannabis family make cannabinoids too. These are called phytocannabinoids, and CBD is one of them. They resemble the ones our bodies make in some ways. Similar does not mean the same effects.
CBG, CBN, and THC are three plant cannabinoids that differ in research depth, reputation, and legal treatment.
For a full comparison, see our cannabinoid glossary.
Researchers have proposed that terpenes and cannabinoids work better together, called the entourage effect. The theory is still being tested. No single terpene has been proven to cause a particular effect. Products do differ. Two with the same amount of CBD can have different terpene profiles, and that changes how they smell and taste. Learn more about the entourage effect.
A trustworthy product backs up its label with third-party lab results you can read. Check these five things:
Our guide on how to read a CBD label covers each one.
Hemp-derived products can still cause side effects and interact with medications, so talk with a healthcare professional first. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health links CBD to liver injury and drug interactions. It also notes that over-the-counter products can contain more or less CBD than the label states.
If you take a prescribed sleep medication, do not stop it or replace it without your doctor.
Terpenes are aromatic compounds found in many plants, including cannabis and hemp, that give them their smell and flavor. Common examples include myrcene, linalool, limonene, and pinene. They are different from cannabinoids such as CBD and THC.
No. THC is the cannabinoid linked to a high. Terpenes are aromatic compounds that create scent and flavor.
Researchers have proposed that terpenes and cannabinoids work better together, called the entourage effect. The theory is still being tested and has not been proven.
The evidence is limited. A 2021 review found insufficient published evidence for CBN sleep claims, so talk with your doctor about sleep problems.
Growing in Health Florida answers questions about hemp-derived CBD, terpenes, and cannabinoids in person at Vanderbilt Commons in Naples. Call us at (239) 331-4807 or visit 7211 Vanderbilt Beach Rd #3, Naples, FL 34119. We are open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Find our class schedule on our education page. Please include your healthcare professional in any decision about your health.
