Cannabis fragrance: this is how the plant gives off an aroma your nose recognises

If you are a coffee lover, you probably like sharing your interest in establishments where it is served. It is in such places that you will have discovered that your passion does not merely start upon starting to drink the liquid from your cup but also when you inhale the smell given off by the cups of other drinkers.

With cannabis, the aroma is a much more important factor than in coffee. One does not have to be a marijuana lover to detect that it is being used by someone else, as it gives off a highly distinctive aroma.

You will probably have realised as well, however, that not all varieties give off the same smell. OG Kish smells (and tastes) of concentrated citrus, with notes of earth, fuel and spices. The aroma of Cheese marihuana is similar to that of mature cheese, as its very name indicates. As for the Blue Dream strain, this has a characteristic, blueberry-like fragrance.

Now, what is the reason for the smell of each one of them? All of these aromas, in fact, originate from organic compounds, likewise present in fruit and vegetables, which are known as terpenes. These are hydrocarbons that are also found in the volatile oils of plants, including cannabis plants, and which are responsible for their smell, taste and colour. In combination with THC or cannabinoids, they provide cannabis with its specific effects. These volatile molecules evaporate easily until reaching your nostrils.

Now, why do terpenes draw us to some varieties more than others? This also has a scientific explanation: while some of them attract insects, others help the plant to defend itself from its potential predators. Not all cannabis varieties contain the same terpenes, which means that we are not equally attracted to them. Each one has its own irresistible fragrance, which encourages us to use it.

Last year, the city council of Pendleton, Oregon, decided to prohibit the smell of cannabis from passing from one property to another with fines of up to $500. It is unfortunate that the citizens in question were unable to appreciate this subtle terpene mix that gives marijuana its attractive odour.