Dabbing is becoming an increasingly popular way to consume concentrates, and for a good reason. When done correctly, dabbing can provide a powerful and fast-acting high. But when it comes to taste, many people find that concentrates can be pretty harsh. By learning how to taste the most terpenes while dabbing, you can enjoy the complete flavor profile of your concentrates while minimizing any potential harshness.
Terpenes are what give cannabis its flavor and aroma. They are also what provide each strain with its personality. Terpenes are an essential part of the dabbing experience because they make one strain feel different from another, giving you a hint about what to expect from your dab.
Here is how to taste the most terpenes from your dabbing experience:
Use High-Quality Quartz Bangers
A high-quality quartz banger will help to ensure that you get the most flavor out of your concentrate,
Quartz is an inert and heat-proof substance that won’t alter the flavor or aroma of your concentrates. It also retains heat longer than ceramic nails and titanium nails, giving you more time to enjoy each hit. Glass pipes are made from sturdy borosilicate glass, which is more durable than standard window glass and can withstand high temperatures without cracking or breaking apart.
Quartz bangers come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, so it’s essential for you to choose one that’s right for you. If you plan on using multiple types of concentrates or just getting started dabbing, we recommend choosing a large banger with a domed top that is easy to handle. If you prefer smaller dabs or want something more discreet, go for something more compact.
Use a Suitable Torch
A torch is a tool for applying heat to your concentrates, and it’s the best way to control your experience. The flame from a torch will heat your nail or nail-less plate and create an even distribution of heat across the surface of whatever you’re dabbing on.
To take the perfect dab, you’ll want to use a butane torch. Butane is the best fuel for dabbing because it has the lowest vapor point of all the common gasses used for torches, meaning that it’s easier to control and will not produce accidental combustion (although you still need to be careful).
There are many kinds of torches out there, and they all have different advantages and disadvantages. Some models come with interchangeable tips for different uses; others offer variable heat settings; some are battery-operated, while others run on gas or electric power. It’s essential to consider what kind of experience you’re looking for before deciding which type works best for your needs. If you’re looking for a torch with everything you need out of one device—precision flame control and Instant Ignition—we recommend the Blazer Big Shot GT8000.
Dab at the perfect temperature
Temperature is one of the most important things when it comes to dabbing. Many people don’t realize that dabbing at a lower temperature will allow you to experience the terpene flavor more than if you were to hit it at a higher temperature.
This is because higher temperatures tend to burn off the terpenes and other compounds that give your concentrate its taste and smell.
The ideal temperature for dabbing will vary depending on what type of wax or concentrate you are using. Still, lower temperatures are better for terpene extraction, while higher temperatures are better for full-spectrum extraction.
Use the right dabbing accessories
If you want to get the most out of your dabbing experience by tasting the full spectrum of terpenes present in your concentrate, a few accessories can help.
Terp Spinner
Terp pearls help you get the most out of your dabbing experience by evenly distributing heat and vaporizing your concentrates. This allows you to dab at low temperatures, which preserves more terpenes. They are a great way to swirl around your concentrate, ensuring maximum flavor and potency, plus they are a great look for your rig.
Bubble Cap/Dabber
The Bubble Cap is a small, easy-to-use accessory that fits on top of your quartz banger. The device works by creating a seal on top of your dab rig, which traps all of the vapors inside the chamber. This allows you to take a slow, deep draw from your rig with no fear of losing any vapor through exhaling too quickly or not drawing hard enough. With this device, you can take huge rips while tasting every drop of flavor from your wax or shatter.
Carb Cap
A carb cap is a dome-shaped piece of glass that fits on top of your dab rig’s nail head. It creates a vacuum seal, which allows you to take low-temperature dabs while preserving the terpenes in your concentrate. This works by preventing some of the heat from escaping once it’s been applied to the nail and also helps keep them in place, so they don’t evaporate or break down into other compounds.
A temperature reader
Temperature readers allow you to monitor the temperature of your nail during the dabbing process. A reading between 300°F and 450°F (149°C-232°C) is considered optimal for maximizing terpene release when inhaling vaporized cannabis concentrates.
Dabbing can be a fun activity for people with wide-ranging experience levels and interests. So, whether you are a seasoned dabber or a newcomer to the game, these tips will definitely help you get more out of your sessions.
Once upon a time, before marijuana was legalized at all in North America, the public knew one thing and only one thing about the active compounds in the plant: THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). THC gets you high, full stop, the only “active ingredient” most of us heard of.
Since legalization began, research has jumped down the long rabbit hole that is the complex chemical makeup of everyone’s favorite weed. It turns out that marijuana is composed of dozens of organic compounds, which we are just beginning to investigate. So far we’ve uncovered 113 cannabinoids and 120 terpenes in various strains of cannabis. This makes pot one of the richest known plants for concentration and variety of terpenes, as well as potentially significant psychoactive compounds, cannabinoids included.
Our DabConnection staff has been fielding questions about terpenes for a while now. They’re coming in from mail, comments, forum posts, and random people stopping us at dispensaries. We decided to put our research hounds on the job to help clear up some of the deepest mysteries about terpenes.
Gelato vape details
1) How important are terpenes to the cannabis experience?
Very important! THC, CBD, Delta 8 THC, and other cannabinoids by themselves are almost completely odorless and tasteless. The terpenes contribute the aroma and flavor of cannabis products. An isolated cannabinoid will give you the effect of just that cannabinoid, like a prescription medicine. Terpenes act in conjunction with cannabinoid compounds to deliver a fuller effect.
The difference is just like the difference between taking a vitamin C tablet and eating an orange. The orange has a full organic compound profile which works in conjunction with the vitamin C. Plus, the tablet is highly processed, which causes the vitamin C to lose some of its potency. There may be some similar effect with processing compounds in cannabis.
But the bottom line is: try some pure THC or CBD, then try some in a more natural concoction that includes a terpene profile. You will notice the difference in a blindfolded test!
2) Do terpenes alone get you high?
No they do not, at least not the psychoactive effect we speak of from THC. When we talk about a “high,” we mean the combination of euphoria, gratification, tranquility, stimulation, and other mental effects.
However, this is not to say that terpenes play no role in the mental state you experience from cannabis! By themselves, some terpenes have a mild mental effect including stimulation, arousal, or sedation. Some of the better-known ones are:
Terpenes are part of why cannabis is recommended for psychological maladies such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and mood or stress disorders.
You can easily prove to yourself that terpene effects don’t get you high, because all the psychoactive terpenes are also found in other plants. Mangoes have myrcene, citrus fruits have limonene, and the spice basil contains pinene. Go ahead, have yourself a big mango and orange fruit salad seasoned with basil. You may feel better, since your body just got a shot of fresh fruit with all its vitamins and antioxidants. You may even be in a jolly mood. But would you describe that as a “high”? Probably not.
I highly recommend this if you’re looking for quality and tasty CBD.
3) Does CBD oil have terpenes?
CBD (cannabidiol), by itself, is just one of the many cannabinoids in pot. CBD can be derived from hemp or cannabis proper, both of which also have terpenes. Depending on the extraction process, CBD can include terpenes or not. Most CBD products will now list on the label whether they contain terpenes or other cannabinoids as well. Any product advertised as “full spectrum” will generally include terpenes too.
But CBD by itself can be made completely terpene-free. In fact, it’s even possible to make synthetic CBD oil, no cannabis plant involved.
OG Kush provides a more dense, weed flavor.
4) Are there terpenes in Delta 8?
Like CBD oil, Delta 8 THC is a stand-alone cannabinoid. Delta 8 has effects similar to THC (properly called “delta 9 THC”), but far milder. As with CBD, delta 8 has its own cult following as an alternative cannabis derivative product, thanks to its more legalized status and preferred effect for some medical and therapeutic applications.
Delta 8 products, especially vapes, will usually list the terpenes on the label if they contain them. Keywords like “full spectrum” or “naturally extracted” also apply.
5) Are terpenes by themselves legal?
Of course! Terpenes are found throughout nature, in almost every known plant. Terpenes are legal in not just the US, but around the world. It would be pretty impossible to outlaw terpenes – we’d all starve to death!
6) Can drug-sniffing dogs be fooled by botanical terpenes?
Yes they can! The main component of cannabis which drug-sniffing dogs go by is beta-caryophyllene (the same as caryophyllene, but more of a proper name). This same terpene is also found in black pepper, cloves, oregano, basil, rosemary, hops, and so on.
While we can’t find any evidence of drug-sniffing dogs being thrown off by somebody toting the whole spice rack around in their luggage, there is a claim that 75% of the time when a drug dog triggers, it’s a false positive. This is actually more likely due to the fact that drug dogs can smell residue. Frequently they will trigger off currency because it’s so common to use a rolled-up note to snort powders. Keep weed in your cargo shorts for a week, then remove it and wear the shorts while you go have a dog sniff you – they will still trigger!
7) Is the entourage effect proven now?
The entourage effect, which is the full-body effect from cannabis products, has been widely verified by generations of users. Terpenes are the most common cited cause of the entourage effect. But due to cannabis’ prohibition, scientific research was hampered. Now that laws are loosening, scientists are looking into this, but so far we don’t have 100% conclusive experimental proof. We do, however, have some strong theories.
Dr. Jordan Tishler, Instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, states in interviews that “the entourage effect is real” and that this “also explains why pure THC is not particularly effective, and whole-plant cannabis is better.”
This Science Direct paper is perhaps the final word we have presently, stating “Some cannabis phytomolecules interact, causing enhanced biological activity. Defining this phenomenon, known as the ‘entourage effect’, is one of the leading challenges in the field of research.”
One famous study treated epilepsy patients with either pure CBD or full spectrum CBD with terpenes and found better response in the full-spectrum group. That is a sign that something could be at work, but still not considered conclusive until we separate all the contributing ingredients.
So: Research is ongoing, but science is slow. Note also that research into the entourage effect sometimes focuses on different cannabinoids (THC, CBD, etc.) working together rather than isolating the terpenes’ effects. Let’s put it this way: We mentioned at the top “113 cannabinoids and 120 terpenes” are found in cannabis (and counting!). Now to do exhaustive research, we have to test each individual compound to see what effect it has, then isolate and test a pair of compounds to see if they have an enhanced effect, then repeat these steps for every possible pair of all 233 compounds! Even if the entire world pitched in on this research, it would not be done overnight.
8) Is there confirmed medical research showing the benefits of terpenes?
That is a far easier question to answer. Yes, there’s plenty of confirmation into benefits of individual terpenes in experiments controlled against placebos. This applies not just to cannabis, but to the plant kingdom at large. Various terpenes have been known to be effective as insect repellant, antifungal agents, antibacterial agents, anesthetics, and cancer-fighting drugs.
Results on individual cannabis terpenes, however, may differ. Some are proven, some are still in clinical trials, and some don’t seem to do much.
9) Are there any harmful terpenes?
Remember that terpenes are found in plants throughout nature. There are some plants, such as toxic and poisonous species, which are proven harmful. As for terpenes in cannabis, very few if any could be said to have outright harmful effects, at least not in the concentrations we see in cannabis.
However, as in all of nature, effects change when we scale the dosage. If you just concentrate one terpene into pure form, there can be damage potential. The most common harmful effect from terpenes is flammability – pinene and carene are both components of turpentine. Meanwhile, eucalyptol is lethal at high doses, but we’re talking about a third of a pound of pure eucalyptol consumed at once. You’d have to smoke roughly a truckload of weed in one sitting to get close to that dosage.
Several users do report allergic reactions to some terpenes, including some found in cannabis, like linalool. As for vaping, some studies have suggested that vaping terpenes releases trace amounts of toxic chemicals. But you could say the same for burning a pile of autumn leaves.
Keep in mind that marijuana has been cultivated since 500 BC, in continuous usage since then, with so far a mortality rate of zero. So at least within bounds of normal consumption, if there were anything deadly in it, we would have found it by now.
10) Aren’t terpenes just “essential oils”?
At least most terpenes fall into the same category as essential oils.
It is unfortunate that so many years of pseodoscience and quackery have given plant-based compounds a bad rap. Let us be mindful of the fact that much of our medicine comes from natural plants in the first place. Like anything in nature, essential oils and terpenes can be misapplied. For example, there is consistent quackery around vitamin D, but just because somebody makes outrageous claims for it does not mean that vitamin D does nothing.
There are, indeed, suspicious claims going around about terpenes and other cannabis-derived products as well. For example, that CBD bathbombs fad that was going around turned out to not have much science supporting it.
On the positive side, sometimes a long-standing claim is eventually proven out. Chamomile, which shares the terpene bisabolol with cannabis, has a long-standing tradition in folk medicine. When modern science came along to test the beneficial claims, many of them were cast into doubt but a few of them were proven true.
We here at DabConnection are careful not to make unfounded health claims for or against cannabis. When we do refer to a health claim, either we link to a reasonably scientific source to back it up, or we identify a claim as unproven. All consumers of cannabis products should likewise maintain healthy skepticism. Cannabis derivatives have been proven effective in some medical applications, but that does not make cannabis a panacea.
11) Why do botanical terpenes taste worse than cannabis terpenes?
Extraction of any plant-based compound is never a completely sterile business. Many terpenes are extracted through simple means such as steaming and distilling. Inevitably, some flavor from the source plant carries over. So while some weed strains are appreciated for having a peppery taste, it’s not as nice when the caryophyllene comes from actual pepper.
Botanical terpenes typically have an off flavor, reminiscent of an herbal vape, and are often harsh on the throat besides. Natural cannabis terpenes at least hit more like pot, because they are pot.
12) Are terpenes responsible for marijuana’s strong, pungent odor?
Yes indeed! In fact, terpenes across the plant kingdom are the cause for many plants’ aromas and flavors. Pinene, common to cannabis and pine trees, is a strong component of the sap of trees in the conifer family and is responsible for that “fresh pine” smell. Terpenes in general are also widely used in the perfume industry, precisely because they carry so much of their source plants’ signature aromas.
13) What extraction method is best for preserving the full spectrum of cannabis?
Live resin and rosin are so far the preferred methods of cannabis extraction for preserving the plant’s full spectrum effects.
14) What is the purpose of terpenes in the first place?
In nature, plants evolved terpenes, alkaloids, and other organic compounds to serve many roles, chief among them moderating their interactions with other wildlife. Many terpenes double as effective insect repellant or anti-microbial agents, chasing away harmful pests and fungi. Some plants exhibit a nasty taste or odor to ward off herbivores who would otherwise graze on the plant and destroy it before it had reached maturity.
However, there are nearly as many cases where terpenes serve a function to attract wildlife selectively. The familiar smell of freshly-mowed grass, for instance, is a chemical “distress signal” which attracts predators of grazing herbivores. And of course, the sweet scent of flowers is attractive to more than just humans. It’s also there to attract pollinating insects which the plant depends upon to reproduce.
So the question is more “what purpose don’t terpenes serve?” Each plant species has its own unique strategy to promote its survival, and chemical production is the first line of defense.
15) Do mangoes have some effect with cannabis terpenes?
Yes, that’s been confirmed for a long time. Mangoes share the terpene myrcene with cannabis. Myrcene binds to some of the same receptors that cannabinoids do, resulting in a more pronounced entourage effect. For best results, eat mango about 45 minutes before vaping or smoking marijuana. All this really does is make the buzz a bit more mellow and relaxing.
16) Are terpenes effective in topicals or aromatherapy?
In the case of topical application, which means applying it externally, some terpenes do have therapeutic effects such as being anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, or acting as a healing or anesthetic agent. Recall above that some plants produce terpenes as an anti-fungal measure. Well, guess what we use in ointments to treat fungal infections?
There is a lot more skepticism about aromatherapy. Conventional wisdom is that it’s pure baloney. A lot of aromatherapy has become tied up in New Age alternative medicine, to the point where it speaks of “eliminating toxins” and “toning and firming the body.” Not a smidgen of scientific evidence for this class of claim exists, and it would be ludicrous to think that merely inhaling a scent can make you thin! The chief argument against aromatherapy is not that the terpenes do nothing, but that merely inhaling them from a distance is too weak of a dosage.
The bottom line for aromatherapy is that for every claim that has some slight merit, there’s ten more that are just bunk. As we mention before, it’s good to preserve some skepticism and check out claims for yourself. It’s pretty easy to verify that cannabis helps stimulate the appetite and overcome nausea for cancer chemotherapy patients. That is miles away from suggesting that anything in cannabis cures cancer.
Quite a few terpenes can trigger allergic reactions, such as linalool, which is found in both cannabis and lavender. Check the individual terpene’s studies for possible adverse effects.
18) Are there miracle drugs waiting to be discovered in terpenes?
Let’s not say “miracle,” but you could very well support the claim that future cannabis research has the potential to unlock more medical applications. We have just been delayed from research by decades of prohibitory laws. As we mention above, there’s over 230 organic compounds in cannabis, some of which we didn’t know existed until just a few years ago. With what we’ve found so far, cannabis shows promise as a source of many useful compounds. However, remember that terpenes are not unique to cannabis, so most terpenes in cannabis have had more research from other source plants already.
19) Does vaping give the full effect of terpenes?
The answer varies depending on the temperature and terpene. Terpenes are effective when activated in the range from the low 200s F to the high 300s F. But provided you’re vaping the right temperature, it can be a more effective way to consume terpenes than smoking.
20) Are terpenes just a lot of hype?
Terpenes are definitely the subject of hype right now!
It was inevitable that this would happen. You take a benevolent drug enjoyed by generations since the dawn of agriculture, outlaw it for a near-millennium, and then slowly legalize it gradually after realizing its medical applications. Of course people are going to be spun into a frenzy about it!
There is something to terpenes and they are a fascinating aspect of cannabis, but there’s a lot more news coming out about the organic components of the hemp family besides. They are an enjoyable part of the cannabis experience with their own therapeutic applications in some cases, but perhaps they have been the subject of too much attention after being shunned for so long.
Here we take a look at the cartridge by Trendi. This particular one is a collaboration with Reina. This cart is pretty impressive. The only downside to this cartridge is that the packaging looks a bit misleading. It says LR in the name of the cartridge, which makes you believe it’s live resin but then if you look at the ingredients it does not contain live resin. Overall there is nothing to complain about here. The price is good, the oil lasts a good amount of time, it’s strong, the taste is good, not harsh and it has real cannabis terpenes.
Pros:
Good Taste
Oil last a good amount of time
Strong
Uses real cannabis terpenes
Cons:
Not available in more areas
Recommendations: A little clearer packaging and we hope to see this in other states soon.
Trendi cart is a high-quality cartridge
There is not really much to complain about except for the wording on the packing. It might be just a typo. Even at full price, these are pretty strong and something I would recommend trying. The other Trendi carts we tried before were also collaborations. One was with The Grower Circle and the other one was also with Reina. So that seems to be a pattern with Trendi products. So far, the four half grams of live resin and this cartridge have all been great. And definitely something we would recommend.
Trendi uses CCELL TH2
Trendi uses the standard high-quality CCELL TH2 carts. They are very efficient and have a very low failure rate. Trendi has made a wise choice when choosing this hardware since there aren’t many competitors out there that can outperform it. Some hardware out there might hit harder but it would also vape out faster.
This Trendi cart is impressively strong
Despite the fact I have cracked the glass, this thing still worked out through the cartridge. I was really impressed with the Trendi cart strength. Nothing to complain about here and definitely, it’s one of the stronger carts out there. You probably won’t find a lot of carts out there that are stronger. It’s really top level when it comes to strength.
A better than average distillate taste
It tastes like distillate but it’s better than most. So I won’t say that the Trendi cart, particularly the one we have tried here, taste as good as some of the best tasting distillate carts. However, it’s definitely above average. A big part of that is that it uses real cannabis terpenes, as opposed to botanical terpenes, which gives a more natural taste and makes it less harsh. The flavor on this cart is still enjoyable, but if the flavor is more important to you, then some other carts that I would say taste better are: Cannavative Live Clear, AiroPro Live Series, Fuze Live Resin, MPX Live Resin, and probably one of the best-tasting cart ever – Remedy Live Resin.
Oil quality is excellent on the Trendi cart
Oil quality stayed consistent throughout the cartridge. There was no color discoloration when we got it and there was no discoloration towards the end. The oil was also thick and it contained no additives. This is a great quality oil.
You get a lot of puff because the oil is thick
This is not the absolute thickest oil you ever tried but it’s definitely in the top 25% for oil thickness. The bottom of the thickness would be something like RAD Vape and I would say the thickest oil we have tried so far would be Vader Extracts. I would say that the Trendi cart is slightly thicker than some of the Cannavative Live Clear carts and slightly less thick than Roots cartridges. Overall you will get a nice number of puffs out of it. I mostly hit it at 4.0 or 4.2 volts and these last in line with other good quality thicker distillate carts.
Great value and in some surprising areas
Before Nevada, Trendi showed up in many places. You can go way north to Wendover and you can go all the way down to Las Vegas and you will find Trendi. When it comes to value, and I should also put it in perspective, that it depends on the dispensary that you are shopping in at the time. If you go to West Wendover, Nevada to the Deep Roots Harvest dispensary you will find Trendi carts for $45 a pop. That sounds expensive but compared to the other Deep Roots Harvest cartridges I would say that the Trendi is a better value. DRH cart is actually pretty good, but Trendi does seem better so far.
In Las Vegas, you will find Trendi carts sometimes on a deal and it’s definitely worth it. Even at full price, these carts are worth it, and it’s something I would pick up because I like the flavors and I like the fact there are collaborations and you are getting some special collaboration products that you won’t see elsewhere. On top of that, although this review is not about their Live Resin because I dabbed those too fast. Those were excellent as well and presented a great value. I got two grams for $49 at Planet 13 dispensary and it really performed well.
Concluding our Trendi cart review
The Trendi cart turned out to be impressive. The only time I have seen Trendi items before was on social media. I thought I should definitely give it a try and I am glad we did. Really great products, good prices and we hope to see them available at more places as time goes on.
In this review, we have the CannaClear Delta 8 cartridge. Smooth and flavorful, CannaClear provides a variety of delta 8 products. From cartridges and pure delta8 distillate to concentrates and CBD products. Not to be confused with the Canna Clear THC vape cartridges, CannaClear focuses more on delta 8 and CBD products. Canna Clear THC carts are more of a mysterious company that we aren’t sure if they are licensed or not.
Pros:
Tasteful hits
Lab results provided
No heavy metals nor pesticides to be found
Inexpensive
Cons:
Not the most potent
Recommendations: Nothing much, I’d say increase potency but they have over 90% Delta 8 THC.
Check out our video review on the CannaClear D8 below:
CannaClear cartridges deliver smooth hits and good taste, a great mix of terpenes
Overall, Canna Clear-D8 deliver a nice experience, very tasteful.
Not having heard of these, I was pretty excited and curious to try this cartridge out. After my first few hits, I enjoyed the flavor these cartridges give a lot. It’s fairly smooth and doesn’t give any metal taste at all. The main thing I like about these CannaClear-D8 carts the most is the taste over anything.
Nice oil quality and fair strength for it being delta 8
Thick and clear oil quality. Fairly potent, almost water-like, but more of a very light gold color.
At first glance, the oil color does look pretty clear. Fair quality and smokes pretty good. Taking a closer look, you can see the oil color is slightly yellow. A very light gold color, not that noticeable, but smokes well. After taking a few hits, you do get some nice effects for a short period of time. Not the most potent delta 8 I’ve tried, but still pretty nice.
As for the effects, it does creep in slowly and smoothly. If you’ve ever tried delta 8, you’ll know the effects of delta 8 and that it’s not nearly close to a high from a dispensary grade cartridge. But either way, you do get a slight mellow high from these carts.
CannaClear Delta 8 – Fruity Pebbles gives a good taste, identical to the strain itself
Unsure of what to expect from this strain, Fruity Pebbles turned out to taste good and deliver smooth hits. Just as the strain says, it really does taste like the cereal itself. Somewhat light in flavor and, you can definitely taste the terpene and distillate mixture. If you like Fruity Pebbles cereal, you will enjoy this cartridge a lot.
Lab Results – Tested clean of pesticides, residual solvents, and heavy metals
CannaClear has a variety of Lab results done for all their products.
Providing a variety of different tests, CannaClear-D8 shows to be clean. This is great for those skeptical about these cartridges. For myself as well, I’ve never had the best experience with this strain in a cart. My past Fruity Pebbles cartridge experience came from an unreliable source and an unregistered cartridge company. But this brand actually has different forms of testing, from pesticide and residual solvents to heavy metals. You can find all of their lab results and tests here.
Smooth, light hits, but harsh when taking consistent or bigger hits
If you’ve smoked delta 8 before, you know that after taking long, or consistent hits, it can be very harsh on your throat. Especially if you’re a beginner or you haven’t smoked delta 8 before. Delta8 THC has been known to be a harsher form of cannabinoid. With that being said, these carts do give fairly smooth hits when taking shorter or light hits. If you’re a regular smoker, you can take longer hits and be fine. But even as a heavy stoner, you will still get harsh hits with delta 8 cartridges in general.
CannaClear-D8 uses Ikonic labs cartridges
The hardware these carts use is IKonic cartridges.
Unique in design and pretty effective and efficient, CannaClear uses IKonic labs hardware for their cartridge. Feels smooth and comfortable, and overall has a nice build design. As for its performance, it hits fair and smooth, nothing much to complain about here. It might be nice if they use CCELL hardware, but I didn’t have any problems with these carts at all.
Decent effects and a gradual high, not as lasting nor potent, but still good
CannaClear cartridges come in over 90% Delta 8 THC. After taking multiple hits, you may get a good buzz off it, but it won’t get you stoned like a dispensary grade THC cartridge. Delta 8, in general, doesn’t give a potent enough high like that with a THC cartridge, most don’t. But for delta 8, these carts do deliver a nice and mellow high.
List of Delta 8 cartridges we’ve reviewed here on DabConnection
List of Delta 8 THC cartridge reviews done on DabConnection, so far.
Below is a list of all the Delta 8 THC cartridges we have reviewed. We still have more up and coming, and in the process of being reviewed.
You can get a full gram cartridge for only 15$, excluding shipping and tax. And for this price, I definitely think it’s worth the experience. On average, I’ll see full gram delta8 cartridges go for around $20-40 a cart. And for only $15, these carts are worth the value.
Concluding CannaClear Delta 8 cartridge
To sum up, CannaClear-delta 8 cartridges deliver good taste and fair effects. The strain Fruity Pebbles delivers a great taste and experience. Some might prefer a piney or fruity dense flavor, whereas others might love this taste. But for its price, if you’ve never tried delta 8 and are curious, or perhaps you’re just searching for one, these carts are well worth it. You can find more on them here.
What are your thoughts on CannaClear-Delta 8 THC cartridges? Have any experience with Delta 8 in general? Post a comment below or in our forum!
We recently picked up some IndoCarts in Elko, Nevada at the Newe Dispensary. They were priced really well compared to the other items they had over there and they performed excellently. Then we picked up more carts in Las Vegas. One of the best parts about it is that they use real cannabis terpenes as opposed to botanical terpenes, they use real CCELL hardware, and it’s strong.
Pros:
Real CCELL hardware
Real cannabis terpenes
Great taste
Smooth hits
Strong effects
Cons:
Cart is not glass
Recommendation: Make the cartridge glass and it’s perfect.
Check out our video review below. Then keep reading on for the more in-depth IndoCart review.
IndoCarts overall performed quite excellently
IndoCart cartridges might be popping up at the shop near you. So far they are available only in Nevada. They performed well across the board and they left me with no complaints. I think they could be stronger just a little bit but these are still well up in the very top tier of carts on strength.
Gelato has a really nice color
They use CCELL carts that have the same top as the AiroPro but standard threading at the bottom
These carts look like AiroPro from the top but when you look at the bottom it still has a screw and it fits any standard 510 threaded battery. Only thing I don’t like about this cart design is what it’s made of – plastic. These appear to be Jupiter CCELL Liquid 6 cartridges.
Build quality is good as it gets for a plastic cart
The only complaint on the build quality here is that is polycarbonate rather than glass. I much prefer glass cartridges like those found in the CCELL TH2, BBTank X and Ispire Ducore. Glass offers a lit bit more efficiency as less wax gets sucked to the side. CCELL does use BPA-free products so there is no worry about the plastics used on these cartridges.
Gelato vape details
Oil quality is top-notch and it’s consistent to the end
Unlike how we previously saw on brass Napalm OG where the color changed fairly quickly on the cart, we didn’t see this happen on the IndoCart cartridges. Both carts here were very consistent to the end. The strains we used in this review were Gelato and “Master Kush.” There seems to be a good consistency among both of the carts on strength, taste, and overall quality.
Box looks pretty slick
IndoCart cartridges are up there on the strength
IndoCarts are far up there on strength. I think they are stronger than the Church cartridges but not as strong as Roots, Cannavative, and MPX Live Resin. These are definitely carts that are up there in the top 15% in strength just not the absolute strongest. We should keep in mind that at the time of this review this is a new company and these are still very strong. I would put these carts above many of the cartridges that we have on our “Best of the California” list for strength.
That’s probably because Nevada so far has stronger cartridges on average than California. That seems a bit crazy since everyone thinks the best stuff comes from California but after we tried carts from multiple states we found that Nevada, Illinois, and Colorado on average have stronger cartridges than California. That’s why this cart doesn’t quite make our best list for Nevada just yet but it’s still much stronger than something you will find on our California list.
IndoCart master details
Taste is excellent and uses real cannabis terpenes
There is nothing fake about the taste of these carts. They are also very smooth. The commenter on our youtube channel mentioned that real cannabis terpenes are gonna produce a much smoother hit than that of botanical terpenes like those used on AiroPro. We are finding this to be true as we are testing more carts and that’s definitely the case here with the IndoCart cartridges.
A good comparison between the same brand of botanical and non-botanical terpenes would be AiroPro. Airo Po Live Flower Series and AiroPro Live Resin (both now known as AiroPods and the metal battery being called AiroPro) hit much smoother than the standard AiroPro carts which use botanical terpenes and not cannabis terpenes.
Sky Daddy OG by IndoCart might be one of the best tasting carts out there
See the packaging for Sky Daddy OG.
Although my below shot did not come out in the best lighting, Sky Daddy OG tastes like the air when you crack open a great quality fresh nug of cannabis flower. The vapor from this cart tastes just like that fresh nug air. All IndoCarts tried tasted great but this particular strain was above and beyond.
Skydaddy OG tastes like a fresh nug cracked open.
Value is good considering how great the carts are
So far we did not see IndoCart on any specials or deals, but compared to the other cartridges at Newe Elko, it was priced better than many of them. Considering the carts are excellent all around, they are totally worth the price.
Concluding our IndoCart review
For the reasonable price, we can’t complain about a cart with real cannabis terpenes and a real CCELL. We’ll stop short of saying “You can’t go wrong with an IndoCart” due to plastic cartridges not being as efficient. What would be an outstanding cart in California is only in the upper ranks in Nevada. Still, an IndoCart is a solid choice for the average vape enthusiast.
Readers, you have the floor as always here in the comments and in our forum.
Cali Terpenes is a leading company in high quality production of terpenes profiles and e-liquids with terpenes. They originated from California as a result of legalization of cannabis . They saw the huge demand for vape pens and cannabis products. Hence they started their business and make the best terpenes profiles.
Now, they have relocated to Barcelona . They have a team of experts in cannabis and medicinal plants, chemists, doctors and technicians. Furthermore, they have one of the best laboratories of analysis and development of product in Europe. Their products contain no additions or any type of pollutants. Above all, their terpenes are obtained from plants which are 100% legal and contain higher proportions of terpenes than that in cannabis.
Cali Terpenes offers a range of services. They take into account the needs of different clients and companies. Furthermore, their technical team will ensure that you get the best services by manufacturing the best products out of the terpenes.
Here are the main industries in which Cali Terpenes products are used:
Vaping
Foods and Drinks
Cosmetics
Cannabis industry
Customized Profiles
Aromatherapy
Vaping
Vaping
Terpenes can be a great add-on to the vaping industry. It helps to enhance the flavour and aroma of the various vaping practices such as e-liquids, vaping of herbs and distillates fromcannabinoids .
Food and Drinks
Terpenes can be added in a variety of foods and drinks for better flavour. You will surely find an aroma that you like with Cali Terpenes as they have more than 45 different cannabis terpenes profiles you can chose from. Furthermore, Terpenes can be added into your everyday foods and drinks.
Here are a few examples:
Ice cream and Dairy products
Snacks and Appetizers
Sauces and Honey
Sweets
Alcoholic and Non-alcoholic drinks
Cali Terpenes also offers personalized service for foods other than those in the list.
Further to that, they are the first company to ever produce water-soluble terpenes profiles. They started back in 2018. These drinks have proved to be successful as by a large number of companies.
Cosmetics
This may sound surprising to you, but terpenes profiles can similarly be used in cosmetic products. As a result of adding terpenes, it improves the scent of perfumes and fragrances. Even more,various cosmetics products such as creams, lotions, essential oil, shower gels and soaps contain terpenes.
Cannabis
Cannabis aromas are widely used in the cannabis sector. Most noteworthy, it is better to use cannabis terpenes profiles instead of the one extracted directly from cannabis. It provides a better stability and quality for the final product.
Furthermore, there is a number of products which contain terpenes in the cannabis industry. A few examples are extracts of cannabis, Vape pens, and cannabis flower. Therefore, it helps to enhance the aroma in each of these products.
Products of Cali Terpenes
Cali Terpenes is know for the production of it high quality terpenes profiles and E Liquids
When it comes to terpenes profiles, you cannot go wrong with Cali Terpenes for the following reasons:
The aroma and flavour is faithful to every cannabis variety
As for the E Liquids, Cali Terpenes is know to produce the best quality e-liquids. Their goal is to provide a healthier alternative to smokers. Their e-liquids can be trusted for the following reasons:
lowest content in vegetal glycerin in the market
Raw materials of European origin.
Free of transgenics (no GMO).
High quality formulation developed in collaboration with the doctor expert in cannabinoids, terpenes and vaporisation, Mariano García de Palau.
Why Should You Trust Cali Terpenes?
Cali Terpenes has one of the best laboratories of analysis and development of products in Europe. They obey all the safety and quality measures for better customer service. Furthermore, all of their raw materials are certified and analysed. Their high quality materials are from the European Community.
Moreover, their products are manufactured and processed from start to finish. That is they are the only one to lay their hands on the product from raw material to finished product. As a result, the quality is maintained for each and every product with their team of experts. They have a team of researchers, experts in cannabis and medicinal plants, experts in aromas.
Even more, they have a team of chemists and technicians which are regularly researching and developing new formulas to use in their products.They also have a responsive team team to help you clarify your doubts and assist you when developing a new product.
It’s one of the terpenes still hanging onto its chemistry-major name until cannabis terminology has more time to soak into the mainstream. Carene is found in a scattering of plants, usually in conjunction with other terpenes. It’s not a particularly notable terpene compared to the others, but it has its humble place here and in the following plants:
Rosemary
Basil
Bell pepper
Allspice
Juniper
Pine trees
Cedar trees
Flavor and aroma:
The aroma is sweet and earthy, with cedar wood notes. Carene doesn’t appear in high enough concentrations to affect the taste of a strain much, but what you can taste is a mild citrus flavor.
What it does:
Carene is said by some to be the terpene which is partly responsible for cotton mouth. As far as we’ve been able to verify, cotton mouth is just a plain side effect of THC binding to the endocannabinoid system and not the responsibility of any terpene, but maybe more research will come along.
Very little is known and much is claimed about the medical effects of carene. Delta 3 carene is among several essential oils thought to help fight inflammation, and to act as a pain reliever. It’s also believed to promote healthy bone growth. And as part of another essential oil, it may be antifungal. The problem appears to be that carene is difficult to sort out from other terpenes.
Industrially, carene is used as a flavoring agent and in perfumes.
Where to find it:
Super Silver Haze
Super Lemon Haze
Arjan’s Ultra Haze
Skunk #1
Most strains with “haze” in the name carry high amounts of carene.
Toxic advisory:
Delta 3 carene is flammable! It makes up as much as 40% of some formulas of turpentine, which should tell you to keep it away from open flame.
Carene has a number of cautions attached to it. It is hazardous to aquatic life, may be a skin irritant, or may cause allergic skin reactions.
Fun facts:
Cedar, the wood whose characteristics carene most resembles, is prized for its properties as a solid carpentry wood which keeps an aromatic scent. It’s popular for building chests.
You can find a hundred sites out there claiming that carene helps memory and may alleviate Alzheimer’s symptoms, without a single link to any clinical studies whatsoever.
Humulene is best known for being the first terpene discovered in hops
Hops, the plant we make beer from, also just so happens to be a member of the hemp plant family. Its science name is “Humulus lupulus,” and now you know where we get the name for the terpene humulene. Besides hops, humulene is a widespread terpene in the plant kingdom, also found in:
Cloves
Sage
Basil
Black pepper
Ginseng
Pine trees
Marsh elders – several species
Tobacco
Spearmint
Sunflowers
Between cannabis, hops, and tobacco, that’s three recreational plants we consume that all have humulene. Might there be something special about it?
Flavor and aroma:
Humulene is one of the major components of the signature aroma of cannabis. It has a spicy, herby aroma with a hint of floral notes. Its flavor is best described as earthy, but it tends to be wide-spread in cannabis strains and yet usually thinly concentrated, so it doesn’t lend a very pronouncing effect to the taste.
What it does:
When it comes to the high, humulene doesn’t seem to contribute anything specific one way or the other. However, its psychoactive effects would be hard to separate from THC since nearly every cannabis strain has some of both.
Thanks to its long-standing reputation from the hops family, effects of humulene are widely studied and established. Known medical aspects of humulene include:
Without a doubt, the long history of hops cultivation starting in the year 736 has given hops and humulene a deep tradition in folk medicine. You can find hops and humulene recommended for just about anything, but very little of it is proven.
Where to find it:
As noted above, humulene is so widespread that a list of strains lacking it would be shorter. However, the following strains have the highest concentrations of humulene:
Death Star
Headband
Thin Mint GSC
Original Glue
Candyland
White Widow
Girl Scout Cookies
Sour Diesel
Pink Kush
Skywalker OG
You could just about throw a dart at any strain with another terpene you like and get some humulene in it too.
Fun facts:
Humulene also plays an important role in the natural defenses of the cannabis plant. It is contained in the trichomes of the plant, which aids in repelling pests and fungus.
Humulene has an identical chemical formula to another cannabis terpene, caryophyllene. The difference is in molecular structure (which is still more significant than most people would suspect).
Nerolidol is also known by the names peruviol and penetrol
Aside from cannabis, this terpene is found primarily in the essential oil neroli, from which comes its name. Neroli is better known as the extract of the bitter orange citrus variety. Most produces scented or flavored with orange blossom use this extract. Other natural sources of nerolidol include:
Ginger
Jasmine
Lavender
Tea tree
Lemon grass
Lady of the Night – a species of orchid noted for its citrus-like fragrance
Flavor and aroma:
Sweet and flowery, with citrus and wood tones. It’s also described as having characteristics of apple and rose.
What it does:
Nerolidol contributes a soothing, relaxing feeling to the entourage effect, being very nearly a sedative. It’s touted as being good for fighting anxiety.
On the medical side, nerolidol (sometimes specified as trans-nerolidol in chemist jargon) is being studied for its various properties, such as potentially fighting parasites, fungus, and bacteria. Traditionally, orange blossom extracts have been used as disinfectants. One interesting finding is that nerolidol works in conjunction with antibiotics to more effectively fight pathogens. Another study review rates it “a promising chemical or drug candidate in the field of agriculture and medicine.”
In industry, nerolidol is used in flavoring agents and perfumes, especially anything with a light citrus taste and scent. It sometimes shows up as a flavoring agent in pop.
Where to find it:
Strains high in nerolidol include:
Island Sweet Skunk
Jack Herer
Skywalker OG
Fun facts:
Nerolidol’s namesake essential oil, neroli, is one of the most widely used floral oils in the perfume industry. It was popularized by Marie Anne de La Trémoille, duchess of Bracciano and princess of Nerola, Italy. She used it to perfume her gloves and bath. Since then, neroli takes its name from Nerola, Italy, a town taking its name, in turn, from the Roman emperor Nero. How’s that for a terpene story? Check out the rest of Marie’s history sometime, she was quite the 17th-century intrigue.
Eucalyptol is the chief component of eucalyptus oil
Eucalyptol is named after the eucalyptus tree native to Australia, but it’s also found in cannabis in small quantities. In addition, you’ll find the terpene eucalyptol in plants such as…
tea trees – the species melaleuca alternifolia, of Queensland Australia
mugwort
bay leaves
camphor laurel
basil
rosemary
sage
It’s primarily known for eucalyptus though. Cannabis isn’t a major source of eucalyptol, with the typical strain having it make up less than 1% of the total terpene profile. Eucalyptol is also known by the name of cineole.
Flavor and aroma:
A pleasant, spicy aroma makes eucalyptol smell like tea, while its taste is minty and refreshing. It has a “medicine taste” aspect as well, due to eucalyptol being used in products such as mouthwashes and cough drops.
What it does:
Of all the cannabis terpenes, eucalyptol is closest to being a stand-alone drug on its own. While it isn’t present in high enough quantities to contribute much to the sensation of consuming it, it is the subject of intense medical research. So far, it’s qualified as an analgesic (pain relief), antibacterial and anti-fungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and it inhibits cancer cell growth.
The possible applications of eucalyptol (cineole) could fill a book, but here’s a short list of potential treatments:
In addition to all this, eucalyptol shows up in cosmetics, food flavorings, fragrances, pesticides, and even cigarettes, to improve the flavor. Never saw that coming, did you?
Where to find it:
While eucalyptol isn’t typically present in high concentrations in cannabis strains, these varieties have the most of it:
Super Silver Haze
Headband
Bubba Kush
Girl Scout Cookies
Since eucalyptol is the focus of so much medical study, and cannabis cultivation being the experimental market it is, there might be heavier eucalyptol strains in the future.
Toxic advisory:
Eucalyptol is lethal in high doses! Its LD50 is 2480 mg/kg. That works out to about ~1/3rd of a pound for the average adult human, and note that this is based on drinking straight, undiluted eucalyptus oil. Just for comparison, the LD50 for common over-the-counter aspirin is 200 mg/kg. Meanwhile, the eucalyptol you’d be exposed to from smoking or vaping the most highly concentrated strain doesn’t even register on this scale. Just don’t buy a bottle of the raw terpene and chug it, OK?
Eucalyptol is also flammable. Keep it away from open flame. Again, this applies to the terpene concentrate itself.
It is also straight up toxic to cats, dogs, and horses. Keep in mind that you could say the same for caffeine; other mammals don’t have the resistance to chemicals that big, tough humans do.
Fun facts:
Despite all the other toxic warnings, eucalyptus is certainly not lethal to koalas, who are known to exclusively eat the leaves of the eucalyptus tree for the bulk of their diet. By the way, they don’t get “stoned” on eucalyptus leaves as the urban legend goes. However, quoting a conservation site, koalas “…need more sleep than most animals because eucalyptus leaves contain toxins and are very low in nutrition and high in fibrous matter so they take a large amount of energy to digest.”
Bisabolol is also known as alpha-bisabolol or levomenol
It is a rare case among cannabis terpenes, because it’s not found as commonly in nature as other terpenes. Among the few sources of bisabolol:
German chamomile – the world’s leading source for the stuff.
South American candeia tree
Myoporum crassifolium – a plant in the figwort family
Some poplar tree species – found in the leaf buds
Flavor and aroma:
Bisabolol’s aroma is light, fragrant, and floral, just like the chamomile flower. The flavor is almost imperceptible, but has a sweet, dry taste lightly hinting of apple cider.
What it does:
Bisabolol is one of the most soothing cannabis terpenes. It’s an antioxidant, and is anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial as well as analgesic (meaning it relieves pain). It’s been suggested as a good cure for insomnia. Its companion plant, chamomile, is made into a tea which is traditionally a bedtime drink. Needless to say, it brings a big medicinal dose of calm to the entourage effect.
Bisabolol is used heavily in the cosmetics industry for its skin-care properties.
Where to find it:
Strains of cannabis with a high bisabolol profile include:
Harle-Tsu
Pink Kush
Headband
OG Shark
ACDC
Rockstar
Master Kush
Fun facts:
When you ask about bisabolol, you’re mainly going to find information on chamomile, which is loaded with the stuff as its active ingredient. Chamomile, out of all the essential oils, has the longest history of folk therapy use. As an herbal medicine, its history goes back hundreds of years, being one of the most ancient medicinal herbs known. Chamomile has been prescribed for everything from eczema to osteoporosis to the common cold. Take its recommendations with a grain of salt, because a lot of bisabolol’s reputation is tied up with 11th-century nobles swearing that a cup of chamomile tea cured their gout.
Pinene is the most abundant terpene throughout nature
However, the hemp family is far from the most representative of plants that produce the pinene terpene. That distinction, as the name suggests, lies with trees in the pine family. A mere part of the vast terpene plant family includes:
Conifers – any tree with needles and cones, including all pines.
Junipers
Sagebrush
Camphorweed
Rosemary
Basil
Parsley
Eucalyptus
Citrus peels – in small trace amounts
We don’t note the distinction often in these listings, but chemists seem to make a special fuss about pinene, so we’ll go ahead and say it this time: Most terpenes come in pairs of “isomers,” which just means “there’s two ways to build this molecule,” in the sense of those plastic sticks-and-balls models you played with back in high school chemistry. Pinene is differentiated into a-pinene and b-pinene, though both types are virtually the same. Randomly refer to pinene in its alpha or beta form if you want to show off your book smarts.
Flavor and aroma:
Wait for it… Pine! Pinene smells just like a Christmas tree. As for the flavor… have you ever tasted a Christmas tree? Pinene would logically taste most like pine tree sap, which frankly tastes like dirt. Some describe the taste as having a hint of rosemary or pine nuts, perhaps even gin (which is flavored with juniper berries). Fortunately, cannabis strains don’t carry enough pinene to affect the flavor.
What it does:
Pinene tends to contribute to a clear-headed, stimulating buzz, representative of the Sativa strains. This contributes to the entourage effect, by working against the typical short-term memory loss and blurred concentration that sometimes comes with THC.
In industrial uses, pinene is used in the manufacture of camphor products, insecticides, solvents, and most any cleaning product with a “fresh pine scent.”
Where to find it:
It is rare that a cannabis strain has more pinene than any other terpene, but the strains with the highest concentration of pinene include:
Big Smooth – has more pinene than other terpenes.
Blue Dream
Cotton Candy Kush
Grape Ape
Harlequin
Remedy
Strawberry Cough
Romulan
Toxic advisory:
Pinene is flammable. In fact, both alpha and beta pinene are the major components of turpentine, which is pretty much distilled pine tree sap. It’s classified as a hydrocarbon and has even shown potential as a biofuel. Keep pinene well away from open flames.
Some people have an allergic reaction to pinene, which can also be a skin irritant in sensitive individuals.
Smaller mammals tend to dislike pinene. If you notice your dog or cat seeming to be irritated after you mop the floor with Pine-Sol, that’s why.
Fun facts:
If you’re vaping or dabbing a pinene-heavy extract, it’s good to know that pinene vaporizes at a much lower temperature than the typical terpene, while still in the same range as THC. This means you can set your eRig to a temperature of about 311°F (155°C) and get just pinene and THC, leaving behind some of the heavier-feeling compounds that might leave you feeling foggy.
Pinene, especially alpha-pinene, is highly repellant to insects.
Caryophyllene is the only terpene to bind to the same receptors as THC
The shaker of black pepper you have on the table at a restaurant is an excellent example of caryophyllene’s signature essence. Caryophyllene is a constituent of many plants familiar from your spice rack, including:
Pepper – the little black peppercorns you grind into pepper
Cloves
Hops
Rosemary
Basil
Oregano
Black caraway
Caryophyllene is a very unique specimen among terpenes, from its molecular structure to how it acts.
Flavor and aroma:
A pungent, peppery smell and taste. Not spicy in the sense of tasting hot (that’s capsaicin you’re thinking of), but the bitter-sweet, musky aroma and flavor which even mild bell peppers have. Some might be able to separate the flavor better in cloves, which have similar flavors while accomplishing their hot sensation using a different active ingredient (eugenol).
What it does:
In brief, caryophyllene works as a separate, stand-alone drug. It is prescribed stand-alone in topical ointments and cremes, as an analgesic (which means it relieves pain). Caryophyllene has been clinically proven in extensive studies to alleviate or treat all of the following conditions:
atherosclerosis
osteoporosis
colitis
osteoarthritis
diabetes
cerebral ischemia
liver fibrosis
anxiety and depression
Alzheimer-like disease types
In addition, cancer studies have shown caryophyllene to be synergistic with Paclitaxel, a chemotherapy drug, and even helps suppress tumor growth on its own.
Studies have shown that caryophyllene suppresses alcohol cravings and even retards some of the addictive and behavioral effects of alcohol consumption. So it’s been suggested as an alcoholism treatment as well.
So that’s an amazing amount of work for a terpene to do! Caryophyllene is one of the primary reasons “medical cannabis” is a thing.
Where to find it:
Caryophyllene is abundant in the following strains:
Lavender
Candyland
Blueberry Cheesecake
Death Star
Original Glue
Cookies and Cream
Purple Punch
Super Silver Haze
Skywalker
Rock Star
In short, most strains with a musky, cabbage or pepper aspect tend to be high in caryophyllene.
Fun facts:
We won’t get too deep into the neuroscience, but you should know that THC turns on the happy juice by binding itself to these ports in your brain called “cannabinoid receptors,” which is how many psychoactive substances work. Well, caryophyllene also binds to cannabinoid receptors, so it has its own psychoactive effects. Albeit, caryophyllene does not contribute to the high itself, but does play heavily into analgesic, sedative, and anti-inflammatory aspects of the entourage effect.
Even farther-reaching research has suggested that caryophyllene may help increase longevity itself by reducing long-term cell stress.
Chemistry nerd trivia: caryophyllene is unique in exhibiting a “cyclobutane ring,” aka a “carbon square,” in its molecular structure, being one of the very few organic sources of this phenomenon. It’s not significant in its medical usage, but just one more weird thing about caryophyllene.
Linalool is instantly recognizable in the smell of burning bud, giving it a flowery, spicy aroma
An alcoholic terpene, linalool is abundant throughout nature in a few hundred plant species.
It should come as no surprise, once you isolate this terpene, that it’s found in many plants which we associate with sweet and spicy flavors and aromas, including:
Lavender
Cinnamon
Basil
Mint
Rosemary
Sage
Oregano
Laurel – decorative shrubs
…as well as several species of citrus fruits, several tropical and boreal plants, and even a few fungi. Linalool is so common that even if you never touch cannabis, you end up consuming about two grams of the stuff every year through food.
Flavor and aroma:
Most prominently, linalool has an aroma of lavender with a hint of cinnamon, but when present in cannabis it generally smells like a random mixture from your spice rack. In taste, linalool is a bit spicy and herby, but is usually not present in quantities great enough to heavily sway the overall plant’s taste.
In addition, it may inhibit Alzheimer’s disease. In addition to all that, it has sedative effects and relaxing properties, making it an ideal stress-reliever and anti-anxiety treatment, as well as being indicated as an analgesic, anti-convulsant, antidepressant. There’s even more medical findings where that came from. Before we call linalool a “miracle drug,” however, we should circle back to that list of plants that contain linalool and how much you come in contact with already. Obviously, it takes huge quantities of linalool to yield the more significant benefits, which are usually far more than what you’d obtain from a hit off a vape.
Outside of all the medical applications, linalool is also used as a perfume agent in the majority of perfumed hygiene products such as lotions and shampoos. There is also some small applications of linalool in insect repellent and disinfectants.
Where to find it:
While linalool is present in trace quantities in any cannabis strain, the ones that have the most linalool are:
Lavender
Grand Daddy Purple
Pure Kush
Pink Kush
Special Kush
Amnesia Haze
LA Confidential
OG Shark
In short, most strains high in linalool tend to be on the relaxing sativa side, contributing a sedative note to the strain’s entourage effect. High amounts of linalool are practically the definition of couch lock.
Toxic advisory:
Though rare, it is not unheard-of for people to be allergic to linalool, particularly in oxidized form. If you have a friend who breaks out in a rash after using lavender soap or gets a sneezing fit near your floral scented candle, they just might be allergic to linalool.
Fun facts:
If you are really down for the linalool and don’t even care how you get it, it’s available by the bottle for pretty cheap, and in fact is even produced synthetically. Meanwhile, if you still want a hemp-family plant that delivers linalool, your best bet is “Humulus lupulus,” better known as “hops,” yes, like the beer brewing ingredient.
Limonene is the second-most common terpene found in cannabis strains
It is also commonly found throughout the plant kingdom, mainly in citrus fruits, and coniferous and broadleaved trees. Limonene is sometimes distinguished as “D-Limonene,” to differentiate it from “L-Limonene,” which has a pine scent as opposed to a citrus scent. The many natural sources of the terpene limonene include:
Lemons – its namesake
Limes
Oranges
Grapefruits
Tangerines
Maple trees
Spruce trees
Douglas fir trees – popular Christmas decoration
Rosemary
Juniper
Peppermint
Flavor and aroma:
No surprise here: Limonene has a sharp, tangy aroma and sour flavor reminiscent of citrus fruit. Since it’s used as a citrus flavor in beverages, candy, and all kinds of foods, limonene will be easily recognizable to anyone.
What it does:
Limonene is said to improve mood and relieve stress. It is also said to help with mental focus, concentration, and clarity. However, there doesn’t seem to be pronounced recognition of limonene in contributing to entourage effects. Limonene is also being researched as a cancer treatment after findings that it may inhibit tumor growth, and has also been indicated in having anti-fungal properties. While limonene may prove out to have medical and therapeutic effects, even the cannabis strains with the most limonene have amounts too small to make a difference.
In other uses, limonene appears in many household products from cosmetics and body care products to perfumes and flavorings. It’s used in a wide variety of foods and beverages, in anything with a citrus taste. It also appears in herbicides, pesticides, solvents, cleaning products, hand soaps, air fresheners, and many other industrial fields. Notably, everything you’ve ever inhaled in your life that had a “fresh lemony scent” had limonene in it.
Where to find it:
O.G. Kush
Sour Diesel
Super Lemon Haze
Durban Poison
Jack Herer
Jack the Ripper
Hindu Kush
Dirty Girl
Lemon G
In short, all strains with “sour” or “lemon” in the name usually have limonene.
Toxic advisory:
Limonene is toxic to aquatic life. In other words, do not introduce it into your aquarium.
Limonene concentrated on the skin can produce irritation from contact dermatitis, but otherwise does not have any apparent serious health effects.
Limonene is flammable. If you buy a bottle of it for a vape oil additive, keep the bottle away from open flames.
Fun facts:
While limonene has no known toxic effects on household pets and even appears as an ingredient in pet shampoo for its insect-repelling properties, cats and dogs have shown a noted dislike for strong citrus smells in general, limonene no exception.
Limonene is venturing into “quack” territory with the exaggerated health benefit claims. For instance, this source claims that limonene boosts immunity, improves gallbladder conditions, relieves indigestion, prevents cancer, prevents insulin resistance, kills pathogens, aids in weight loss, and decreases insomnia. None of the health studies we can find prove anything conclusively yet.
Myrcene is the most commonly-found terpene in cannabis
It’s so abundant that it makes up some 65% of some cannabis strains‘ terpene profiles. It is a significant component of essential oils in cannabis. Other plants in which myrcene is found include:
The Myrcia genus of flowers – its namesake
Hops – the chief component in beer
Bay leaves – the same kind used in cooking
Lemon grass – used in soaps and insect repellent
Mango – the tropical fruit
Cardamon – the Indonesian spice
Flavor and aroma:
Myrcene has a hearty, woodsy, earthy smell. Through familiarity in its use in cuisine, it brings to mind baked roasts, cookies or brownies, red wines, and Thanksgiving. Myrcene has a taste reminiscent of peppery balsam, easiest to co-identify in some beers, with some with some wine-like undertones. Neither its taste nor its aroma is very strong except in concentrated quantities.
What it does:
Myrcene is typically found in indica strains with a sedative effect. It is reported as being useful in reducing inflammation and chronic pain. Myrcene contributes to the feeling of a relaxed “body high,” the “couch lock” factor of some cannabis strains. Myrcene is often touted as an essential component of the entourage effect.
In the perfume industry, myrcene is used as an intermediate scent, which means it’s used as a base for a stronger scent to blend with. Since it tends to polymerize quickly in oxygen, it doesn’t linger very long.
Where to find it:
Strains with heavy myrcene include:
Skunk XL
White Widow
Special Kush
OG Kush
Remedy
Grape Ape
Fun facts:
Because the mango fruit shares the myrcene terpene with cannabis, stoner legend has it that eating a mango 45 minutes before smoking marijuana increases the buzz. Now, stoner culture, especially handed down from the Baby Boomer era, tends to be filled with hippie tales like this one, so no one can fault you if you shrugged it off.
But the mango story seems to have a grain of truth to it. Michael Backes, author of Cannabis Pharmacy: The Practical Guide to Medical Marijuana, answers a Vice Dangerous Minds interview: “Myrcene is definitely synergistic with THC, the primary psychoactive constituent of cannabis.” Meaning that large amounts of myrcene in your system lets it absorb THC faster and more efficiently. Other sites seem to concur, though perhaps a mango farmer or two is pushing the idea. It’s still open for debate whether eating a mango is the best way to go about increasing myrcene in the bloodstream.
Terpenes are a subject much-discussed in cannabis connoisseur circles. A hot topic lately is making your own terpene blends for oil or other smoking enhancement. But for those who would start out doing this at home, there doesn’t seem to be many guides around for it.
Creating a terpene profile by blending
Things you will need:
two beakers, one large and one small
a magnetic stirrer
syringes (maybe pipettes or other ml measures work here?)
terpene samples
A magnetic stirrer is a specialized bit of lab equipment for sterilized stirring of ingredients. There’s a magnetic bar you drop inside your solution, which spins while the device is on. Usually the device has a built-in hotplate for temperature manipulation too. You can find these on Amazon for ~$30-100 and up.
Mix up a measured batch of terpenes in the smaller beaker
John Brown of YouTube channel HowToWeed is gracious enough here to share his own eponymous recipe, which he reports as “a citric, piney, earthy flavor.”
Use a separate syringe (or whatever measuring device) to avoid cross-contamination of terpenes, or at least keep them clean between uses. If you have to pause in this process, put the larger beaker over the smaller one to prevent any volatiles from escaping. “Volatiles” are just the vapors. In other words, we don’t want the flavors to evaporate.
Put the beaker with stir-wand on the magnetic stirrer and turn it on
Cover with the larger beaker to prevent escaping volatiles. You may apply some heat from the hotplate control if desired. You want to be careful not to reach boiling temperature, though. That’s different for each terpene, but in this recipe, none of the terpenes boils at a temperature lower than 127°C (260°F), so keep it at or lower than 100°C (212°F) just to be on the safe side, since hotplate heating isn’t exactly the most precise.
Boiling points for each of the terpenes in this recipe:
Terpineol Alpha – 217C (422F)
Limonene – 176C (348F)
Alpha Pinene – 156C (312F)
Beta Pinene – 165C (329F)
Myrcene – 167C (332F)
Humulene – 127C (260F)
Terpinolene – 184C (363F)
Linalool – 198C (388F)
Lastly, pour your stirred mixture into your storage container and you’re done. You’re all ready to add your terpene mixture to your next batch of oil, shatter, or what-have-you.
Here’s a capture charm of John Brown’s personal blend. Thanks to HowToWeed for the continued education efforts in the cannabis community!
A word or three about terpenes
Terpenes are part of what makes weed strains unique.
Terpenes are going to work their way into the mainstream dialog pretty soon, even outside cannabis culture. Aside from the cannabis world, terpenes are already important to the perfume, cosmetic, food, and medical industries. They’re a large part of what we call “essential oils.” Both vitamin A and steroids are classified as terpenes.
Here’s a short guide to the most common cannabis terpenes. It gives you a good sense of what blends of flavors, aromas, and characteristics we’re adding to a blend. Notice also that terpenes don’t have to come from cannabis at all. The same organic compound is found in dozens of different plants naturally. Most terpenes, you’ll notice, are familiar from your kitchen spice rack.
Are terpenes part of the entourage effect?
That’s a question that’s going to be a subject of debate for a while. The “entourage effect” is a proposed factor in how smoking a cannabis product makes you feel. Not just the aroma or taste, but the psychoactive effects as well. Some theories say this works by enhancing the action of cannabinoid receptors.
Now, is that effect for real, or is it a placebo? The scientific jury is out on that one. Of course, open study of cannabis is in its frontier days since its recreational legalization is only recently widespread.
Since some terpenes, in general, already have other effects than just providing a flavor and bouquet, there might be a possibility that future research could uncover links between terpenes and psychoactive effects. After all, scientists dismissed pheromone effects in humans for years before they finally found that they influenced behavior.
It’s an interesting area of research to keep an eye on. This has been your science geek corner for the day.
Has anybody else been mixing up their own batches of terpenes at home?
What methods have you used? What blends have you discovered? Care to share your recipes? Tell us all about your terpene experiments in the comments or on our forum!
In general terms, terpenes refer to both terpene oils and terpenoids.
Terpenes are the fragrant oils that give cannabis its aromatic diversity.
They’re what give Blueberry its signature berry smell, Sour Diesel its funky fuel flavor, and Lavender its sweet floral aroma. These oils are secreted in the flower’s sticky resin glands, the same ones that produceTHC,CBD, and other cannabinoids.
Terpenes are by no means unique to cannabis; they can be found in many other herbs, fruits, and plants as well. When they’re included in a product such as a distillate, from non-cannabis sources, they are identified as “botanical extracts,” sometimes abbreviated BTE for “botanically derived terpenes.” To differentiate from these, terpenes derived from the cannabis plant itself are called CDT for “cannabis-derived terpenes.” Terpenes may even be a feature in extracts such as HTE (High Terpene Extract).
What is the use of terpenes?
Terpenes are useful to us as essential oils, with many uses in food and beverage, perfumes, industrial solvents, and medicine. Terpenes evolved in nature as a plant’s natural defense against predators (animals who would eat the plant, especially insect pests). Many terpenes double as an insect repellent, in fact. In cannabis consumption, terpenes are part of the entourage effect, producing enhancements to the psychoactive effects of THC. Several terpenes have been indicated as relief for anxiety, depression, inflammation, and other maladies. Others just enhance the flavor or aroma, and still others produce a more alert or relaxed high.
Are terpenes psychoactive?
They are part of a psychoactive process that top science research is only beginning to understand. By themselves, no identified terpene has a psychoactive effect. But some terpenes do bind to the cannabinoid receptors in the body, and several more help THC to be more fully absorbed. Additionally, terpenes have effects on the sensation of a THC high, enhancing or dampening it.
What do terpenes taste like?
They can taste like any flavor in the plant kingdom, depending on the terpene. The range of terpene flavors includes citrus, spices, fruit, and earthen tones, just like beer or wine (which also – surprise! – involve terpenes). Since terpenes are found throughout nature in plants of every description, terpenes are responsible for most of the odor and taste in everything from fresh fruit to flowers to trees.
Can terpenes be harmful?
In the quantities represented by enjoying a cannabis plant, no. Also not in the quantities you’d encounter in your average sample of wax, rosin, shatter, or another extract, and also not in the quantities you’d find in any vape cartridge. In concentrated quantities, however, some terpenes are flammable and very few of them can provoke allergic reactions or have adverse effects – but we’re talking about an industrial-size bottle of the pure terpene. Let’s put it this way: Everything in nature can kill you, even water, if you take too much of it.
Where do terpenes come from?
Most of the time, a cannabis product will include terpenes that come from the cannabis plant. However, in the case of vaping oil from a cartridge, sometimes botanical terpenes are used instead. The cartridge packaging should inform you if this is the case. “Botanical” terpenes are simply derived from other plants – for instance, myrcene can be produced by hops, bay leaves, and mangoes, in addition to cannabis. In terms of vaping products, cannabis terpenes are considered to have a better effect than terpenes derived from other sources, but your mileage may vary.
The primary difference that terpenes make is in the aroma and flavor. Botanical terpenes tend to have a harsher flavor, and if they are overused, they may make it feel like you’re smoking a flower or a pine tree. Cannabis-derived terpenes have an authentic marijuana taste and aroma.
For more information on individual cannabis terpenes, visit our terpene category.
Terpenes can be added in a variety of foods and drinks for better flavour. You will surely find an aroma that you like with Cali Terpenes as they have more than 45 different cannabis terpenes profiles you can chose from. Furthermore, Terpenes can be added into your everyday foods and drinks.
This may sound surprising to you, but terpenes profiles can similarly be used in cosmetic products. As a result of adding terpenes, it improves the scent of perfumes and fragrances. Even more,various cosmetics products such as creams, lotions, essential oil, shower gels and soaps contain terpenes.
