If you manufacture CBD products, by now you’ve probably heard of terpenes. But what’s the big deal? Why are they so important for CBD? Read on and discover how terpenes boost the effectiveness of your CBD products.

Cannabis and hemp have given us so much. If someone wants a mind-blowing experience they can reach for products with THC. If they’re looking for a mellow, non-psychoactive experience, then there’s a massive variety of CBD products to reach for. But these amazing plants have also given us something other than a variety of cannabinoids...terpenes!

While it’s true that most plants produce terpenes, it was cannabis science that truly unlocked the power and potential of terpenes. These hydrocarbons are in charge of the flavor and aroma of most plants, but they’re also in charge of the overall experience that cannabinoids give consumers. That’s why certain strains of cannabis or industrial hemp give people wildly different experiences.

But if CBD is non-psychoactive (it doesn’t get you high), what’s the point of CBD terpenes? That, my friends, is what we’ll be talking about today. Read on and find out exactly what are CBD terpenes and why they’re so important to your CBD products. 

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What Are CBD Terpenes?

For those of you running a mile a minute, here’s the short and sweet of what we’re covering today:

• Terpenes are hydrocarbons produced by most plants that dictate their aroma and flavor. 
• On top of that, terpenes are also capable of influencing receptors in our brains which can cause a variety of desirable effects. 
• This makes terpenes a functional flavoring ingredient that can alter, enhance, or even lessen the effects of CBD.
• There’s a lot of confusion surrounding cannabis-derived terpenes and hemp-derived terpenes. So, while industrial hemp is technically legal, it can sometimes be a headache. Using botanically-derived terpenes simplifies the logistics of manufacturing and shipping. 
• CBD terpenes help manufacturers create CBD products with unique scents and flavors while providing unforgettable effects. 

What Are Terpenes?

In the simplest sense, terpenes are organic compounds produced by most plants. These hydrocarbons are produced to attract pollinators and/or to deter predators. So, for the plants that produce them, terpenes help them survive. But they do a lot more than that.

Terpenes are what determine the scent and flavor of plants. Without terpenes, lavender wouldn’t smell like lavender, and black pepper wouldn’t smell like...well, you get it. But outside of being the building blocks for our favorite scents and flavors, they also influence us in other, more unexpected ways.

If you’ve ever noticed that certain scents make you feel calmer while others seem to have an uplifting effect, that’s because of terpenes! Terpenes are capable of influencing different receptors throughout our bodies which can have a variety of different effects. From temporary mood elevation to relief from occasional aches and pains, terpenes are surprisingly beneficial. 

You might be wondering why more and more people aren’t aware of the powerful influence of terpenes. That’s because the legalization of cannabis and industrial hemp really opened the door for terpene science. Regardless of whether you’re using the THC heavy cannabis plant or the more CBD dense industrial hemp, both plants have a ton of natural terpenes.

Are CBD Terpenes Different Than Botanical Terpenes?

Yes and no. 

Confused? We don’t blame you! Let us explain...

If you were to take an industrial hemp plant and an oregano plant, you could distill those plants down and isolate their terpenes. In doing so, you would come up with several of the same terpenes with identical chemical structures. Both plants might have beta-caryophyllene, linalool, myrcene, and more. That’s why the terpenes you’d get from an industrial hemp plant aren’t any different from the terpenes you’d acquire from other botanicals.

However, for legal purposes, they are different. If a state hasn’t legalized cannabis, then cannabis terpenes won’t be legal their either. And while the Farm Bill of 2018 legalized industrial hemp at the federal level, there’s still a lot of confusion around the difference between cannabis and industrial hemp. 

As you know, CBD comes from the industrial hemp plant. Taxonomically though, it’s the same as cannabis. So, while hemp-derived terpenes are technically legal, it creates a lot of unnecessary hoops to jump through that can slow down production and shipping. 

The easiest way to get around that is to use 100% botanically-derived terpenes that are completely legal in all fifty states. 

But why bother? Why is it so important to use terpenes as opposed to synthetic flavoring agents?

Why Are Terpenes So Important For CBD Products?

Besides being able to create phenomenal aromas and flavors, terpenes can work synergistically with cannabinoids to alter, enhance, or lessen effects. And if you think it’s not as important for CBD products, you’re short-changing your customers. 

This isn’t news to you, but people use CBD products for a variety of reasons. While they don’t get you high, people still use them for temporary mood elevation, assistance with occasional sleep issues, or even to help ease occasional aches and pains. If your product is more effective at providing those effects, then customers will keep coming back. Simple as that!

That “synergistic” effect we were talking about a second ago is known as the Entourage Effect. Basically, cannabinoids (like CBD and/or THC) work with terpenes to create effects that are more powerful than any they’d have on their own. So, while CBD has its own desirable effects, those effects can be altered and enhanced by the addition of particular terpenes. 

Regardless of whether you’re creating broad-spectrum or full-spectrum CBD products, the addition of terpenes will make those products more effective. That’s not something your everyday synthetic flavoring agents can accomplish. 

Create CBD Products Customers Keep Coming Back For

We want to remind everyone that our terpenes are cannabis free and 100% legal. We use botanically-derived terpenes so manufacturers can avoid the headache of figuring out which states they can legally ship their products to. However, we do work very hard to isolate the specific terpene profiles of popular strains so that all consumers can enjoy and benefit from them. 

So if you want your customers to benefit from the terpene profile of Blue Dream or Super Lemon Haze, we can do that! Simply want your products to smell or taste like mangoes or chocolate mint? We can do that too. We’re pioneering terpene driven sensorial experiences so you can create products that are unlike any others. Strategically using CBD terpenes will put your products in a league of their own, and we can help you get there.

Feel free to contact us today if you’re interested in exclusive terpene formulations for your products, and don’t forget to follow us for all the latest updates.