What are terpenes?
Terpenes are natural chemicals made by plants, including cannabis. They give plants their smell and flavour. When you open a cannabis medicine and notice an earthy, citrus, or pine smell, that is terpenes at work.
Cannabis makes over 200 different terpenes (Booth and Bohlmann, 2019). Each strain has its own mix. That is why some strains smell like lemons, some like berries, and some like a damp forest. You find the same terpenes in everyday food: Myrcene is in mangoes, Limonene is in lemon peel, Linalool is in lavender.
Terpenes may also change how cannabis affects the body by working alongside cannabinoids like THC and CBD. Scientists call this the "entourage effect" (Russo, 2011).
The Entourage Effect
Think of a band. THC and CBD are the lead singers. Terpenes are the rest of the band. On their own each part is useful, but together they can make something richer and more powerful.
Dr Ethan Russo found evidence that terpenes can help cannabis work better for things like pain, anxiety, and sleep (Russo, 2011). Israeli researchers then showed that 16 cannabis terpenes can activate the same receptors in the body that cannabinoids use (Baram et al., 2022).
This page shares what scientists have found so far. It is not medical advice. Always speak to your doctor before changing your treatment.Interactive
Terpene Wheel
Click or tap any slice to learn about that terpene. Use arrow keys to navigate by keyboard. Adapted from the Cicada Terpene Wheel (Cicada Jersey, 2020).
Tap a slice or use the list below • Arrow keys navigate
Not using a mouse? Use the numbered list below. Each button loads full details.
Click any slice to learn about that terpene.
Adapted from Cicada Terpene Wheel (Cicada Jersey, 2020)KAST — Aromatic Sensory Translation
Real Terpene Fingerprints
KAST turns complex terpene lab results into a visual fingerprint anyone can read. Each leaf-shaped band is one compound. A wider leaf means more of that compound in the batch.
Live batch data · KA Pharmaceuticals SA
Six real CSC Cannacosta batches
The fingerprints below use real NIR spectroscopy data measured in May 2026. Hover over any leaf on the fingerprint or click a compound name to highlight it. Switch batches using the arrows or thumbnails.
How to read a KAST fingerprint
Each leaf = one compound. The wider the leaf, the more of that compound is in the batch. Very thin or invisible leaves mean only trace amounts.
Read top to bottom. The fingerprint has four zones. Zone I at the top holds oxidised and floral terpenes. Zone IV at the base holds heavy sesquiterpenes and diterpenes including Myrcene.
Compare batches. Load a different batch using the arrows or thumbnails. Differences in leaf width at the same position show how the mix has changed between harvests.
Source: KA Pharmaceuticals SA (2026) How to Read a KAST Profile. Field Guide, Protocol v1.0.
Source: KA Pharmaceuticals SA (2026) KAST Profile Records: CSC Cannacosta batch series, KAST-26-953LSKE3. Real NIR spectroscopy data measured May 2026. The KAST profile is for comparison and information only. It is not medical advice.
Full library
Explore Each Terpene
Select any card to open the full page for that terpene. Use the filter buttons to narrow by effect.
References
- Abstrax Tech (2023) Linalool and beta-myrcene anxiolytic study with Western Washington University. Available at: https://abstraxtech.com/pages/terpene-research (Accessed: 29 May 2026).
- Baram, L. et al. (2022) 'Major cannabis terpenes, applied individually and in combination, activate endogenous cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors', Frontiers in Pharmacology, 13, 1040962. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1040962.
- Booth, J.K. and Bohlmann, J. (2019) 'Terpenes in Cannabis sativa: from plant genome to humans', Plant Science, 284, pp. 67-72. doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2019.03.022.
- Cannabis Terpenes Reference Database (2025) Cannabis Terpenes Comprehensive Database, Version 2.0.0. 200 records. Structural classifications: Hemiterpenes, Monoterpenes, Sesquiterpenes, Diterpenes.
- Cicada Jersey (2020) Terpene Wheel. Available at: https://cicada.je/terpene-wheel/ (Accessed: 29 May 2026).
- Francomano, F. et al. (2025) 'The entourage effect in cannabis medicinal products: a comprehensive review', Pharmaceuticals, 18(3), 378. doi: 10.3390/ph18030378.
- Hashiesh, H.S. et al. (2021) 'A focused review on CB2 receptor-selective pharmacological properties and therapeutic potential of beta-caryophyllene', Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy, 140, 111639. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111639.
- KA Pharmaceuticals SA (2026) KAST Profile Records: CSC Cannacosta batch series, KAST-26-953LSKE3. Protocol v1.0. Issued May 2026.
- LaVigne, J.E. et al. (2021) 'Cannabis sativa terpenes are cannabimimetic and selectively enhance cannabinoid activity', Scientific Reports, 11(1), 8232. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-87740-8.
- Nuutinen, T. (2018) 'Medicinal properties of terpenes found in Cannabis sativa and Humulus lupulus', European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 157, pp. 198-228. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.07.076.
- Russo, E.B. (2011) 'Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects', British Journal of Pharmacology, 163(7), pp. 1344-1364. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01238.x.
- Weil, M. (2022) 'Most common cannabis terpenes and what they do', Cannigma. Available at: https://cannigma.com/plant/a-brief-history-of-terpenes/ (Accessed: 29 May 2026).
- Weston-Green, K. et al. (2021) 'A review of the potential use of pinene and linalool as terpene-based medicines for brain health', Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, 583211. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.583211.
