Terp of the Week: limonene, the compound that makes citrus smell like citrus and makes half the world's brightest strains sparkle. If terpenes had a popularity contest, this one would win the swimsuit round and the interview.

Where you already know it from

Peel any citrus fruit and the fine mist that sprays out is loaded with limonene. It is one of the most abundant terpenes in nature, concentrated in citrus rind, and it is everywhere in your daily life: food flavoring, fragrances, even household cleaners, because the smell of clean is basically the smell of limonene. It has a long history as a food ingredient, which is exactly the level we use it at.

What it does in cannabis

In strain profiles, limonene is the brightness dial. Citrus-forward strains, the ones with names full of lemons and tangerines, typically carry it high in the mix, and in cannabis culture those profiles built reputations for uplifting, sunny-day character. Fans reach for limonene-forward strains the way other people reach for a cold glass of lemonade: not for the chemistry, for the feeling of brightness the flavor itself delivers.

The flavor profile

Sharp citrus zest up front, a clean sweetness underneath, and a finish that resets your palate. It plays beautifully with sweet and creamy flavors, which candy makers have known for about a century of lemon drops.

Where to taste it in our lineup

The limonene showcase in the MONDAYS lineup is Main Squeeze, our Lemon Cherry Gelato profile paired with Ponderosa lemon candy flavor. The strain's citrus-dessert signature and the lemon candy amplify each other, which is the whole design philosophy in one bite. For the full compound profile, aroma notes, and where else limonene shows up in nature, the Terpene Library has the complete card.

Next Terp of the Week: linalool, or why lavender and kush are secretly related.