Terpenes, the chemical compounds that give herbs like basil, sage and mint their appealing (and mouth-watering) aromas, are also what also make marijuana strains like Casey Jones smell like bubblegum, Willy Wonka smell like chocolate and Cherry Kush smell like cherries.
Terpenes, called terpenoids after they’ve been denatured through oxidation, are found in the resin and essential oils of plants and are responsible for their scent, flavor and color. In cannabis, these oily compounds are secreted in the plant’s glandular trichomes. Aromatherapy, which is the practice of using essential oils to alter mood, increase cognitive function and enhance psychological and physical well being, is based on the physiological effects of exposure to terpenes.
