Terpenes, trichomes, how you actually take it. Poke around below and watch how it all clicks together.
Knowwhatyou'resmoking
A strain is more than its THC percentage.
Cannabinoids and terpenes shape the effect, and the plant's own anatomy is where they're made.
Cannabinoids & Terpenes
THC
Binds CB1 receptors in the brain. Psychoactive, the reason for the high.
CBD
Non-intoxicating counterweight. Present in smaller amounts, but shapes how the THC actually feels.
Myrcene
Musky, earthy, and lightly fruity. One of the most common cannabis terpenes, often associated with heavier aromatic profiles.
Caryophyllene
Spicy, woody, and peppery. Also found in black pepper and cloves, which is where that warm bite in the aroma comes from.
Limonene
Citrus-forward, lemon-orange aroma with a sweeter flavor impression. Common in brighter, fruitier cultivars.
Pinene
Piney and resinous with a sharp, woody edge. One of the better-known conifer-like terpenes in cannabis.
Linalool
Floral and lavender-like with a lightly spicy finish. The same aromatic found in lavender and many flowering herbs.
Humulene
Earthy, woody, and slightly hoppy-bitter. A sesquiterpene also found in hops, where it gives beer some of its herbal edge.
Terpinolene
Floral, herbal, and citrusy with a mildly bitter edge. Less common in cannabis than the big headliners.
Ocimene
Sweet, herbal, and slightly fruity-woody. Part of the brighter green side of cannabis aroma chemistry.
Bisabolol
Sweet and floral with a soft, mildly bitter flavor impression. Also known from chamomile-like aromatics.
Nerolidol
Woody and citrusy with a subtle bitter finish. Also found in jasmine, ginger, and tea tree.
Plant Anatomy
Trichome
The frosty crystals coating the bud. This is where the cannabinoids and terpenes actually live.
Calyx
The teardrop-shaped pod the trichomes grow on. What you're really looking at under the frost.
Pistil
The wispy hairs. White when young, darkening as the plant matures.
Cola
The main flowering cluster at the top of the branch. Usually the densest bud on the plant.