Terpenes, Explained: The Aromas Behind the Effects
The compounds that make one strain smell like pine and another like lemon do more than shape the nose — they shape the experience.
Terpenes are the aromatic oils that give cannabis — and most plants — their smell. Pine, citrus, pepper, lavender: those notes come from terpenes, and they are increasingly seen as a better guide to a strain's character than the indica/sativa label.
The common ones to know
Myrcene is earthy and musky and tends to show up in relaxing strains. Limonene smells like citrus and skews bright and uplifting. Pinene is sharp and piney. Linalool is floral, the same compound that makes lavender calming.
None of these is a guarantee, but the aroma is a real signal. If a flower smells like a lemon grove, that is limonene talking — and it is worth paying attention to.