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, probably thousands of times.

Where terpenes come from

Terpenes are made by an enormous range of plants, where they do real jobs: attracting pollinators, deterring pests, and helping the plant respond to its environment. There are thousands of terpenes in nature, and more than 200 have been identified in cannabis alone, though only a couple dozen appear in meaningful amounts. 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 flower.

Terpenes are not THC or CBD

This is the single most important 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 every MONDAYS chew is made. For a deeper look, read terpenes vs THC and terpenes vs CBD.

The terpenes you will meet

Each terpene has its own aroma signature. The most common ones include limonene (citrus), myrcene (earthy), linalool (lavender), caryophyllene (pepper), pinene (pine), terpinolene (fresh and complex), humulene (hops), and ocimene (sweet herbal). A strain's character comes from the specific blend and ratio of these, which is why two strains can share a terpene yet smell completely different. Explore them all in our Terpene Library.

Terpenes in everyday life

You encounter terpenes constantly without thinking about them: the smell of a peeled orange, a sprig of rosemary, a walk through pine trees, a glass of hoppy beer. Many are used as food flavorings and are recognized as safe for that use. That everyday familiarity is the whole idea behind MONDAYS: terpenes are approachable, food-safe aroma compounds, and we put them into candy.

Frequently asked questions

Do terpenes get you high?

No. Terpenes are aroma compounds, not the intoxicating cannabinoid THC. See do terpenes get you high.

How many terpenes are there?

Thousands exist in nature. More than 200 have been found in cannabis, though only around 20 to 30 commonly appear in amounts that shape a strain's aroma.

Are terpenes safe to consume?

Many common terpenes, including limonene and linalool, are recognized by the FDA as safe flavoring substances at normal intake levels. More in are terpenes safe to eat.

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.