It is a myriad of varied smells, sweet, fruity and spicy – some even chemical or even like diesel - that makes cannabis an olfactory delight for connoisseurs. These odours vary from variety to variety or from one cannabis phenotype to another; this is entirely down to the presence of terpenes.
Terpenes are natural components that give different fruits and herbs their taste / aroma, and this includes cannabis. Most of its users find the combination of high potency together with a rich, pleasant smell / taste, highly attractive.
While taking a closer look at the question of cannabis’ smell, below will be some tips for increasing the terpenes in one’s cannabis plants, as well as some cannabis strain suggestions that will excite the senses like no other.
Everything You Need to Know About Terpenes
The characteristic and highly definable smell of weed has been popular for a long time. It is often humorously stated that if one were to ask ten cannabis connoisseurs for their views on any topic in particular, one would get eleven different answers. When it comes to the smells associated with cannabis, opinions about what constitutes a superior odour vary widely.
Some enthusiasts will love those strains with very specific smells. Some find the deep and penetrating scents of something like Skunk, second to none. Others love the smells of sweet and fruity candy.
One of the many reasons why home cannabis growth, from seed, has become so popular, is because of the freedom and control it facilitates to be able to adapt the harvest completely to one’s own personal expectations. Not only can a person choose which strain they like best, but can then also decide how to grow it and exactly when to harvest it for the perfect and desired effect. Once one is used to growing them exactly as preferred, there's little chance of ever wanting to go back to buying the product on the streets.
The Classic Smell of Cannabis - A Complex Cocktail of Terpenes
Anyone who has ever seen a cannabis lab test report knows that dozens of diverse terpenes can be present at different scales and ratios. Even the smallest variation in terpene concentration can have a huge effect on the smell of any particular strain of weed. This is why phenotypes which have been grown from the same batch of seeds can have clearly distinct aromas.
It's important to note that growing conditions, including such factors as nutrients, temperature, lighting and humidity all influence the terpene profile of the buds harvested. Of course, the particular strain of cannabis seed will obviously have a big influence on the final smell of the cannabis, too.
Auto-Flowering or Feminised Seeds
The type of seeds chosen have no influence. The same strain will smell just as good / strong in auto-flowering seeds as they would in feminised ones. It is the actual quality of the genetics used for breeding that matters. It is always worth remembering that a lot of modern strains benefit from a strong cannabinoid profile. At times, the factor that makes the most difference between a good harvest and an unforgettable harvest is the smell of the weed rather than any tiny difference in levels of THC. Not only will the aroma of the cannabis be what wins over in the first place, but many growers claim that the terpene profile plays a huge role in the enjoyment of the high.
The terpenes found within cannabis are all made up of the basic chemical structure that forms the complex and varied smell of cannabis. Choosing the right cannabis genetics means being able to indulge with whichever scent one prefers – from the zing of something almost citrus, to a sweet weed that will remind of the scent of delicious ice cream.
Here are the most common terpenes and their smells that can be found in cannabis:
Limonene: Most often found in citrus-smelling varieties like members of the Orange Family seed collection.
Beta Caryophyllene: Sometimes more simply called caryophyllene. This gives off a spicy / woody clove / pepper scent.
Myrcene: As one of the most common terpenes in cannabis, its aroma is sweet and delicious and it is also found plentifully in hops.
Does the best smell come from auto-flowering seeds or feminised photoperiod seeds?
All types of cannabis seeds will have a distinctive weed scent. Likewise, equally good potency levels can be achieved with auto-flowering seeds with feminised ones. It is the quality of the original seeds themselves, as well as how they are grown, that has an influence.
Quite simply, growing excellent quality cannabis seeds in optimal conditions will result in exceptional smells. It actually matters not at all whether the seeds are auto-flowering, feminised, or simply just regular ones.
Are there other plants which smell similar to cannabis?
Otherwise known as "Spider Flower Leaves" in English, a common shrub called Cleome, is also known to smell exactly like weed. This comes from a terpene profile very similar to that of cannabis.
Will growing cannabis organically increase pungency of the plant?
Optimising growing conditions will always enable the plants to reach their fullest possible genetic potential. There are a lot of growers who find that growing cannabis organically is actually the superior way to increase its smell.
Growing cannabis organically not only promises great results, but it really makes the job of growing a lot easier, since just having to water the plants during a large part of the growth is a significant plus. And then, only a nutritional supplement at the end of the flowering phase will be necessary.
What does blue light treatment involve to boost the terpene profile of cannabis?
To get the best possible smell achievable, some cannabis growers will illuminate their plants with blue light for the last three days after flowering has finished.
What does blue light treatment involve to boost the terpene profile of cannabis?
To get the best possible smell achievable, some cannabis growers will illuminate their plants with blue light for the last three days after flowering has finished.
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