Terpenes are the aroma compounds that give plants their smell. They are what makes lavender smell like lavender, citrus smell like citrus, and pine smell like pine. They are also what gives each cannabis strain its distinctive scent and flavor. If you have ever enjoyed an essential oil, a fresh herb, or a piece of fruit, you have already met terpenes.

Where terpenes come from

Terpenes are made by a huge range of plants, where they play roles like attracting pollinators and deterring pests. There are thousands of them in nature, and more than 200 have been identified in cannabis alone. They are not unique to cannabis at all, which is exactly why the same compound can show up in both a pine forest and a cannabis strain.

Terpenes are not THC or CBD

This is the key thing to understand. Terpenes are a completely separate class of compound from cannabinoids like THC and CBD. Terpenes carry aroma and flavor. They do not get you high. A product can be rich in terpenes and contain zero THC and zero CBD, which is exactly how MONDAYS chews are made.

The terpenes you will meet

Each terpene has its own aroma signature. A few of the most common: limonene (citrus), myrcene (earthy), linalool (lavender), caryophyllene (pepper), pinene (pine), terpinolene (fresh and complex), humulene (hops), and ocimene (sweet herbal). Explore all of them in our Terpene Library.

Why terpenes matter to flavor

At MONDAYS, terpenes are the whole point. They are how we capture the character of a strain like Sour Diesel or Jack Herer in a chew, without any THC or CBD. Curious what they do beyond aroma? Read what do terpenes do.

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.