Terpenes are everywhere—in fact, you’ve probably come into contact with some before you opened this article. Terpenes are found in almost every plant on the face of the Earth, and cannabis is no exception.

So what are terpenes exactly? They’re natural compounds that give off aroma and flavor.

However, terpenes can do a lot more than just taste and smell good. They’re also responsible for changing the way a high feels from one strain to another.

That’s why terpenes are like a roadmap to your high—they can tell you a lot about what to expect from any given strain. If you’d like to know more about how terpenes guide your high, then continue reading below.

The Entourage Effect

Although scientists have known about terpenes for a long time, interest in them has accelerated. That’s because, in 2011, a cannabis researcher discovered the entourage effect.

The entourage effect says that all the compounds in the cannabis plant play a role in the high. Before then, people were more focused only on cannabinoids like THC and CBD.

What they didn’t know was that the terpenes found in cannabis flowers played a significant role in how a high feels.

The entourage effect was able to explain why different strains could have different effects, despite having many of the same compounds.

What Are Some Common Terpenes?

Although there are over 100 terpenes that have been found in cannabis, there’s about a handful of common terpenes. These terpenes are like a rotating cast of characters and include:

  • Myrcene
  • Limonene
  • β-Caryophyllene
  • Pinene
  • Linalool

Whenever you look at a strain’s terpene profile, you’ll likely see one or more of these terpenes.

How Does Myrcene Affect the High?

Myrcene is the most common terpene that dominates many strains’ terpene profile. The aroma of myrcene is earthy, musky, and has a mildly sweet flavor.

Despite smelling and tasting great, scientists have discovered that myrcene may reduce inflammation and pain. That makes myrcene great at providing a heavy body-high.

In fact, strains that have a lot of myrcene are known to be couch-lock strains. If you’re looking to take the edge off, then myrcene is the terpene for you.

How Does Limonene Affect the High?

Limonene is another common terpene, and it smells and tastes how it sounds—like citrus fruit. This fresh terpene may be able to elevate mood, decrease stress, and act as an antioxidant.

That means that limonene may cause the anti-anxiety and euphoric effects of many strains. High limonene strains may be the key to having a happier high.

How Does β-Caryophyllene Affect the High?

β-Caryophyllene (or just caryophyllene) is also known as the dietary cannabinoid because it can act like a cannabinoid. That means that caryophyllene works the same way that other cannabinoids do.

That makes caryophyllene able to reduce pain and inflammation, improve mood, fight cancer, and stop harmful bacteria. Caryophyllene is a true all-rounder, and it’s known for making cannabis strains more relaxing and uplifting.

Ready to Find Your Roadmap in Vancouver, Washington?

We’ve only touched on the diverse range of terps that can be found in cannabis. If you want to find your favorite terpene, then you’ll need firsthand experience.

That means that you need to make your way down to a top-quality dispensary like Fire & Frost Cannabis in Vancouver, Washington. There, you can find top-shelf weed that’s been tested and has a terpene profile.

Now, with one glance at the terpene profile, you’ll be able to tell exactly what kind of effects you can expect every time.