If you have ever relaxed to the smell of lavender, you have met linalool. It is the signature terpene of the lavender plant, and the reason lavender has been a fixture in aromatherapy for centuries. It also appears in cannabis, coriander, and birch. Of all the terpenes, linalool has the deepest and best-known link to essential oils, which makes it the perfect bridge between the cannabis world and the aromatherapy world.

Where you find it in nature

Lavender above all, plus coriander, birch, rosewood, and mint. It is one of the most widespread aroma compounds in flowering plants, which is why its scent feels instantly familiar even to people who have never thought about terpenes.

Aroma and flavor

Soft, floral, and sweet, with a faint spicy edge. It is the classic lavender note, gentle rather than sharp, and it lends a delicate, almost powdery softness to a flavor profile that rounds off harder, gassier notes.

What the research says

Linalool is one of the most studied terpenes precisely because of the lavender connection, so a lot of the aromatherapy literature is really linalool literature.

• A widely cited 2018 study by Harada, Kashiwadani, and colleagues in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience reported that the odor of linalool produced anxiolytic effects in mice, without the motor impairment seen with sedative drugs. Two details matter: the effect disappeared in mice that could not smell, and it was blocked by a GABA-A antagonist. Together those point to a mechanism driven by smell, through the olfactory system.
• Broader reviews of lavender aromatherapy, such as a 2023 systematic review in Healthcare, consistently attribute lavender's calming reputation to linalool and linalyl acetate, and note that inhalation is the delivery route with the most support.

This is where honesty really counts. The strongest anxiety-related findings for linalool came from animals smelling it, not eating it. That is a genuine and important limitation for a chew, and we are not going to pretend otherwise. What is well established is that linalool is a beautiful, well-loved aroma compound with a long history in aromatherapy. What it does when eaten in a piece of candy is simply not what these studies tested.

Strains rich in linalool

Linalool lends its floral softness to Cozy and Evening strains. Read more about LA Confidential and Kosher Kush, both of which carry a linalool thread.

Frequently asked questions

Does linalool get you high?

No. Linalool is an aroma compound found in lavender and many other plants, not a cannabinoid. It does not produce a high. See do terpenes get you high.

Is linalool the same thing as lavender?

Not exactly. Linalool is the main aroma compound that gives lavender its characteristic scent, but it is a single molecule found in many plants, while lavender is the whole plant and its oil contains linalool plus other compounds.

What does linalool smell like?

Soft floral and sweet, the classic lavender note, with a faint spicy edge.

Linalool in MONDAYS

Look for it in Raspberry Relief (LA Confidential) and the botanical Kosher Kush x Red Raspberry.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

References

1. Harada H, Kashiwadani H, et al. Linalool odor-induced anxiolytic effects in mice. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience. 2018;12:241.
2. Ghavami T, et al. Anxiety-reducing effects of lavender essential oil inhalation: a systematic review. Healthcare. 2023;11(22):2978.
3. Russo EB. Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects. British Journal of Pharmacology. 2011;163(7):1344-1364.