6 Cannabis Market Flavor & Aroma Trends for 2025

Evolving preferences, classic cornerstones, and strategic flavor launches. Discover 6 cannabis flavor and aroma trends for 2025.

The new year is just around the corner, and the cannabis industry has a LOT to be excited about. Not only have recent breakthroughs in research and technology given manufacturers access to high-efficiency flavor and aroma solutions, but consumer preferences are evolving.

Cannabis consumers are already incredibly diverse. Between longtime canna-connoisseurs and shoppers who’ve only recently begun purchasing cannabis products, demand exists for a wide variety of flavors and aromas. From gas-forward vapes that authentically recreate the aromatic profiles of specific cultivars to fruity and floral products that might not taste like cannabis whatsoever.

With manufacturers having access to newly discovered compounds, however, consumers are getting to experience aspects of cannabis flavor and aroma that they might never have been able to otherwise. 

So, what can you expect in 2025? New flavor trends will emerge, classics may stick around, but most of all, brands must stay flexible and ready to pivot. Read on and discover six cannabis product flavor and aroma trends you can expect to see in the coming year.

Playful and Unexpected Flavor & Aroma Combinations

It’s not rocket science. Surprising flavor combinations are exciting. They’re attention-grabbing, they inspire curiosity, and 2025 will be no different. According to Innova Market Insights, “Over half of global consumers are interested in trying flavor fusions, and 37% follow viral food and beverage trends on social media.”¹ From an interest in spicy and umami, sour and savory, or sweet and gassy, the traditional boundaries of flavor preferences are evolving. 

Something like a hemp-derived Cherry Lemon Cake vape can create a fusion of dank, earthy hemp and sweet confection that will fascinate consumer palates. Conversely, a flavor like Permafrost Peach Ice combines stereotypically warm weather fruit flavors with an unexpected burst of invigorating cold that will be unlike anything consumers have tried before.

Cannabis shoppers who want surprising flavors that are still cultivar-specific may be drawn to products infused with Jelly Rancher (fruity and skunky) or Blackberry Kush (diesel and sweet berries). Whatever the case, don’t be afraid to combine flavors and aromas in new and surprising ways.

Floral and Botanical Flavors & Aromas

Whether shopping for groceries or cannabis products, consumers are becoming more interested in products with fewer artificial ingredients that support their wellness goals. There’s a certain “back to nature” attitude attached to this behavior which has also made floral and botanical aromas more appealing.

Many of these flavors and aromas are familiar to consumers. For manufacturers, having cannabis products flavored with Green Tea, Cucumber, or Lavender Vanilla can make labels more straightforward and less overwhelming for consumers. Since shoppers are becoming more discerning, a simple label can make them feel more confident in their purchase. 

Consumers can also view many floral, herbal, and botanical flavors as more sophisticated. For cannabis connoisseurs, products infused with balanced floral and/or herbal cultivars can satisfy this demand. Cherry Zlushie, for example, has an unexpected combination of floral botanicals, gas, and stone fruits. White Widow, on the other hand, elevates the typical cannabis gas with citrus, wood, and fresh green herbs.

A Heavy Hit of Comfort and Nostalgia

2025 will see many leaning into familiar favorites or giving nostalgic flavors unexpected twists. This could include incorporating comforting flavors and aromas into unfamiliar formats or pumping up the intensity of classics.

Root Beer Float is an excellent example of this. It already toed the line between beverage and dessert, but now consumers can enjoy the sharp bite of sassafras and cream in vapes, pre-rolls, etc. The same could be said for other beverage-forward flavors like stimulating Crimson Toro or tropical Cactus Quencher.

Long-time cannabis consumers may also gravitate to the flavors and aromas of iconic cultivars like Blue Dream or Super Lemon Haze. In this instance, it’s less about putting a new spin on familiar flavors and more about nailing the specific cannabis-specific aroma consumers are searching for.

Authenticity in Cannabis Flavor and Aromatics

Speaking of consumers who want the specific flavor and aromas of cannabis cultivars, you can expect to see the industry enter a new age of authenticity in 2025. Recent innovations in cannabis science and technology allow manufacturers to infuse products with the authentic terpene profiles of legendary cannabis.

Many consumers who shop for specific cultivars are disappointed when products neither smell nor taste as expected. This isn’t a new issue by any means, either. The industry has been plagued with knockoffs renamed for broader commercial appeal. Fortunately, this is no longer an issue with the Signature Series.

Consumers can have confidence that their products are infused with the authentic flavor and aroma of the cultivar that’s being advertised. The process of creating these profiles demands an unprecedented level of precision and dedication that far exceeds the norm. The original cultivator or breeder must approve them, which can take several years. However, you can expect the ripple effect of Signature Series profiles like Bacio Gelato and Jack Herer to reach all corners of the cannabis industry.

Savory and Funky Cannabis Flavors Are Both Familiar and Novel

New consumers may be unfamiliar with the savory and funky flavors and aromas that exist throughout the cannabis world. However, they are some of the most beloved by veteran consumers. Savory, chemical, and even cheesy aromatics are notoriously difficult to cultivate, which makes it tricky to get your hands on cannabis products that nail these flavors and aromas. 

In 2025, however, manufacturers will have better access to these prized flavors thanks to recent breakthroughs in cannabis aroma science. Cannabis flavorants like Skatole and Indole were found to be responsible for some of the savory and funky notes of cultivars like GMO. At the same time, Octanoic and Decanoic Acid were discovered for the first time in cannabis and are now known to contribute to cheesy aromatics.

With access to flavoring solutions that utilize these newly discovered compounds, manufacturers can finally formulate products that do justice to savory cannabis aromas. Not only will this immediately speak to consumers who have long searched for products like these, but the novelty of such flavors will appeal to new consumers who may quickly find themselves fans of the funkier side of cannabis.

Opportunity in Limited-Edition and Seasonal Flavors in Cannabis Products

The novelty and scarcity of limited-edition flavors are just as exciting to cannabis consumers as it is to any other kind of consumer. While this trend isn’t necessarily new, it does provide an important opportunity for cannabis brands to test out new flavors in popular products.

Launching limited-edition seasonal flavors is a no-brainer, so holiday vapes and pre-rolls infused with things like Frosted Sugar Plum or Gingerbread Wonderland makes a lot of sense. Even THC gummies have the option of offering limited-edition summer flavors with Gellies blends like POG Passion Paradise or Low Key Lychee.

Limited-edition flavors aren’t just reserved for holidays, though. Offering a small batch of new flavors throughout the year keeps consumers excited and allows brands to assess how successful a new flavor and aroma might be before committing to large-scale production. For example, companies focusing mainly on fruity flavors and aromas can offer limited edition products infused with savory GMO or earthy SFV OG to gauge whether current customers are interested in these flavor profiles. 

Considering how quickly flavors and aromas can become popular, offering limited-edition products is an efficient way to quickly pivot and take advantage of new and emerging flavor trends. 

Abstrax Tech | Stay on Top of Cannabis Flavor & Aroma Trends

At Abstrax Tech, we conduct industry-leading, peer-reviewed research on cannabis to push the industry forward with better education and collaboration. We are endlessly passionate about the industry and will continue promoting excellence in research, innovation, and authentic flavors and aromas.

Have questions about incorporating the latest cannabis aroma science into your formulations? Want expert assistance developing the right aroma, flavor, and effects for your products? Contact us today, and let’s infuse your products with flavors and aromas that your customers will love in 2025 and beyond.

2025 Cannabis Flavor and Aroma Trends

SHOP Cherry Lemon Cake

Cherry Lemon Cake is the hemp-fueled delicacy of your dreams. Gently spiced and not too sweet, a subtle lift of citrus transforms this earthy confection into a rich tapestry of aromas that should be enjoyed as often as possible.

SHOP Permafrost Peach Ice

If peaches make you think of sunshine and steamy temperatures, you’re dangerously unprepared for Permafrost Peach Ice. Brace yourself for an intensely sweet juicy flavor followed by a blizzard-like chill.

SHOP Jelly Rancher

Just when you think you’ve nailed it, the Jelly Rancher aroma takes a flirtatious left turn. It’s undeniably fruity with a pungent hit of skunk, and a slight background of gas gives elusive notes of citrus and berry an unexpected glow-up.

SHOP Blackberry Kush

This blend has the diesel notes you love from Kush strains with the lush sweetness of blackberries. It’s a surprisingly sophisticated aroma that’s lightly floral and herbaceous with notes of tart dark berries.

SHOP Green Tea

Can a customer reach elevated levels of spiritual enlightenment after partaking of some Abstrax Green Tea? Grasshopper, all things are possible. A clean, simple ride along a cleansing herbal flow with a hint of natural sweetness on the back end.

SHOP Cucumber

The spa is calling. Cucumber is crisp and clean with the barest hint of earth and sweet citrus. You can practically feel the cucumber slices sitting gently on your eyelids while stress just melts away.

SHOP Lavender Vanilla

Go ahead and slip into your favorite sweats and turn the lights down low - Lavender Vanilla is all about relaxation. Creamy vanilla satisfies sweet cravings while soothing lavender brings the chill with delicate floral notes.

SHOP Cherry Zlushie

Hailing from dessert-fueled cultivars like Ice Cream Cake and Gelato 41, Cherry Zlushie is a lesson in balance. The surprising floral combo of gas and stone fruits like cherries and nectarines elevates the mind and instills a sense of peace.

SHOP White Widow

This is one dank web you’ll happily get caught in. Succulent florals bloom into hypnotizing citrus, wood, and fresh green herbs. By the time you notice the gas, White Widow will have you wrapped up and begging for more.

SHOP Root Beer Float

Satisfy your Root Beer Float craving with the sharpest bite of sassafras and a cold scoop of something creamy. Rich molasses and warm spices blend with ribbons of vanilla for a sweet treat that’s surprisingly effervescent.

SHOP Cactus Quencher

Take a hit of sparkling citrus nostalgia with Cactus Quencher. Blinding rays of tropical pineapple and lush orange fuse together for a syrupy flavor that’ll catapult your taste buds on an exhilarating desert adventure.

SHOP Crimson Toro

Launch your senses into the upper atmosphere with mouth-puckering tartness. Fueled by the sweet and sour combo of juicy cranberries and pomegranates, Crimson Toro has the high-velocity stimulation you’ve been craving.

 

SHOP Blue Dream

After years of searching, we’ve discovered the best version of this cultivar and modeled it from a particularly juicy sauce. This invigorating blend of sweet blueberries captures the sexiest, most iconic version of Blue Dream.

 

SHOP Super Lemon Haze

Super Lemon Haze has a zesty lemon aroma that’s candy-like without overpowering the senses. The subtlest hint of pine sets off the flavor and makes it a heady solution for daytime errands, hikes, or afternoon lulls.

SHOP Bacio Gelato

Out of the tens of thousands of cultivars we’ve analyzed, Bacio Gelato reigns supreme as the gassiest strain ever measured. Created in partnership with Mario Guzman of Sherbinskis, this is the world’s only authentic and official Gelato terpene profile.

SHOP Jack Herer

Born from thousands of hours of research and development, the Signature Series represents a brand new age of authenticity in cannabis. Made in full collaboration with the cultivator themselves - this is the definitive Jack Herer.

SHOP GMO

As the first to benefit from our breakthrough discovery, GMO is kicking off the next era of botanical aromatics. Flavorants Skatole and Indole multiply its notoriously savory and funky notes for a loud, gassy, and undeniably pungent finish.

SHOP Orange Apricot

Revel in the next evolution of botanical aromatics with bright petroleum-fueled Orange Apricot. Tropicannasulfurs create an exhilarating medley of Tangie-forward citrus with deafeningly loud notes of sweet gas. Welcome to the future.

SHOP Frosted Sugar Plum

Frosted Sugar Plum has a candy-coated quality that feels like it came straight from Santa’s sweet shop. One taste of this tangy, juicy stone fruit will have you dreaming of Nutcracker princes and dancing sugary confections.

SHOP Gingerbread Wonderland

Come in out of the cold and enter a Gingerbread Wonderland. The inviting warmth of cinnamon, cloves, and allspice balances the richness of dark molasses for a comforting sweetness that quickly boosts your holiday spirit.

SHOP POG Passion Paradise

POG Passion Paradise perfectly captures that aloha state of mind. Embrace the juicy fusion of tropical passionfruit, ripe guava, and vibrant orange citrus for an island-inspired flavor you’ll immediately recognize.

SHOP Low Key Lychee

Don’t let the name fool you. With luscious florals practically dripping in candy sweetness, Low Key Lychee is high-key tropical heaven. Perfectly tart and deliciously musky, this is the exotic flavor your tastebuds have been craving.

SHOP SFV OG

Hailing from the San Fernando Valley, a local fan favorite, SFV OG has an innate herbal bouquet that's moderated with pine and citric tones but contains a refreshing updraft of earth.