Adding Terpenes to Distillate

Adding terpenes to distillate will give you more control over flavor, aroma, and effects. Learn why and how to use terpenes in your distillate products.

Distillates are versatile. These extracts are potent and popular for dabs, carts, and as ingredients for various edibles, topicals, and more. The potency of distillates is acquired through a rigorous distillation process that separates the desired compound (THC, CBD, CBG, etc.) from the rest of the plant matter. 

It’s important to note, however, that the distillation process also removes the natural terpenes from the original plant matter. That means almost all of the flavor and aroma are stripped from the final distillate (for a concentrate with even HIGHER purity, you’ll want CannaClear). Think of this high-potency oil as a blank canvas for creative product ideas!

Once you’ve got your distillate, mixing terpenes with oil is surprisingly easy and will open up a world of flavor, aroma, and effects. Learn how adding terpenes to distillate gives you more product control and how to use terpenes in your distillate.

This is pretty juicy info, so here’s a quick rundown...

• Terpenes are the hydrocarbons in most plants that, along with other aromatic compounds, provide natural flavor, aroma, and sensorial effects. During the distillation process, the natural terpenes are removed, which leaves you with a high-potency oil that’s almost entirely free of flavor, aroma, and any natural effects the terpenes would have imparted.
• Adding terpenes BACK into a distillate may sound silly, but it actually gives manufacturers much more control over flavor and aroma.
• Additionally, you’ll have more control over the experience of your distillate. Terpene isolates have unique effects, and blending terpenes creates even more unique experiences (euphoria, focus, relaxation, etc.). 
• Without terpenes, the Entourage Effect “engine” can’t start revving. So, if you want customers to rave about the effectiveness of your distillates, adding terpenes is non-negotiable.
• The method with which you add terpenes to distillate will ensure you’re moving forward safely and consistently. 
• Don’t hesitate to partner with a terpene expert when deciding on terps or testing out how they’ll smell, taste, or feel in your finished product. 

Why Should You Add Terpenes To Distillate?

Terpenes are hydrocarbons that provide natural flavor, aroma, and effects. While they’re obviously prevalent in cannabis, they exist in essentially every plant. Even flowers like lavender are packed with terpenes that influence their scent, flavor, and how they affect us. Linalool, for example, is a dominant terpene in lavender that helps create its delicate floral scent and relaxing properties.

The terpenes in cannabis cultivars do the same thing. Each cultivar has a terpene profile with unique ratios of terpene isolates. That’s why every strain has a slightly different aroma, flavor, and sometimes VERY different effects. 

The critical thing to remember is that those aromatic compounds are easily altered or damaged. That’s why two plants using the exact same seeds can sometimes have subtle aromatic differences. 

So, while it may seem silly to ADD terpenes profiles back into distillate after the extraction process removes them, this actually helps you fine-tune the flavor, aroma, and effectiveness of your distillate products. Let’s take a closer look at that idea.

Terpenes Provide Flavor and Aroma Control for Distillate Products

Once you have a distillate oil, it’s potent and has lost a lot of the original aroma and flavor of cannabis. While there are consumers out there looking for a scent/flavor-free product, most want enjoyable aromas and mouthwatering flavors.

That’s why adding terpenes to distillate is so useful. You can use terpene blends that authentically recreate flavors and aromas from specific strains, classic flavors, or even create something entirely new. Today, the industry is closer than ever to creating products with the authentic aromas and flavors of cannabis, thanks to our recent research into the chemical origins of exotic cannabis aroma.

We recommend looking at this research in Science of Exotic Cannabis Part I, II, and III. We won’t spoil it for you here, but we will say that the discovery of aromatic compounds like flavorants has completely changed our understanding of cannabis aroma. Plus, now you can infuse your products with aromas and flavors of the highest authenticity.

Basically, we take your products and ours very seriously. In addition to our dedication to authenticity, you’ll never have to worry about consistency, quality, or blending terpenes on your own. We’ve got all that covered for you.

Want to experience flavortants like Skatole and Indole in action? Get your hands on our new formulation of GMO. See for yourself what savory, exotic cannabis can be like.

Terpenes Help Create Specific Effects for Distillate Products

If you want your consumers to have a specific experience with your distillates, terpenes are non-negotiable. Yes, if someone does a huge dab of pure THC distillate, they’ll get pretty lit. However, some of the most sought-after effects come from the unique aromatic profiles of certain strains. We’re talking about things like euphoria, relaxation, and energy.

It’s a lot more subtle, but you’ve probably already experienced how the natural terpenes in common plants affect you. Lavender is relaxing and the scent of lemons is invigorating. That’s from terpenes! So, adding terpenes to your distillate products helps create scent, aroma, AND specific effects for consumers. 

Specially formulated mood-enhancing terpenes like our AI Terp Effects are crafted by using machine learning and optimized to deliver specific effects based on over one million data points. Adding blends like Peaceful or Focused will ensure consumers have the exact experience you want. 

On the other hand, strain-loyalty is real. Some consumers really love the effects of certain strains, so having a distillate infused with Blue Dream will immediately resonate with consumers who love the way that strain feels. You can also combine several blends and profiles to create something the world has never experienced! Seriously, the possibilities are endless.

Terpenes Promote The Entourage Effect for Distillate Products

If you manufacture products in the cannabis or hemp industry, you’re probably already familiar with the Entourage Effect. Basically, all the various compounds in the cannabis plant work synergistically together to create stronger effects than they’re capable of on their own. 

However, if a product has only one part of the cannabis plant (like distillate or CannaClear), there aren’t enough compounds to get the entourage “engine” revving. That’s why adding terpenes is so essential! 

Once you understand the effects of different terpene isolates, then you can experiment with blending terpenes for even more powerful effects — or you can just consult us because that’s what we do for a living.

Distillate and Terpenes for Infused Weed Gummies

One of the reasons distillate is such a widely used extract is its versatility. That versatility means you can also infuse it into a variety of edibles. However, for some edibles, like gummies, adding flavor and aroma is tricky. 

There are several reasons for that. First, distillate is an oil. To add oil to non-oil products requires an emulsifier. Without that, it won’t mix properly, which will cause all sorts of problems. Second, cannabis has incredibly complex flavors and aromas, and the industry hasn’t had access to flavor solutions designed explicitly for gummies. 

That’s why you may have tried your fair share of gummies that had unpleasant bitter or “penny” flavors. We know we don’t love those flavors, so we developed a gummy flavor breakthrough — Gellies. 

Gellies offers a superior flavor experience that traditional flavors simply can’t match. No more unpleasant flavors and no more inconsistent taste experiences. Just easy-to-use water-soluble formulations optimized to integrate seamlessly with emulsified cannabis oils

Mixing Gellies into emulsified cannabis oils takes a bit of finesse, so we’ve created an entire Mixing Guide to go over all the details.

How to Add Terpenes to Distillate

If your product formulations don’t require emulsifiers, then adding terpenes to distillate is pretty straightforward. However, before you go all mad scientist and start throwing things together, there are a few details you’ll want to cover. 

The method with which you add terpenes to distillate will help ensure you’re moving forward safely and consistently. Plus, if you don’t already know how to use terpenes safely, you’ll want to pay attention.

• First, decide what flavor, aroma, and experience you want to create for your customers. Once you have an idea, check out our Flavor & Effect Chart or contact us directly with questions. You can even check out a few of our favorite THC distillate terpenes.
• Depending on the size of your manufacturing operation, you likely have most of the necessary equipment around. However, if you want to double-check, we’ve got a handy list of necessary equipment.
• Before combining all your ingredients, review the ratios of your carriers and diluents. Technically, terpenes are diluents since you’ll be adding them to oil. Your diluent should make up no more than 10% of your finished solution. Remember, terpenes are POTENT, and a little goes a long way. We recommend starting at 1% and adding more as needed. You’ll be surprised how little you need.
• Terpenes dissolve well in oils and alcohol, so the solubility of your finished distillate shouldn’t be an issue. However, if you’re using your finished distillate as an ingredient in another product, you may want to consult a terpene expert about whether you’ll need a solubility fix. 

Want to experience tropicannasulfur compounds in action? See for yourself what tropical, exotic cannabis can be like in our new formulation of Orange Apricot.

Adding Terpenes to Cannabis Products Shouldn’t Be So Hard

Adding terpenes to cannabis products doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right plan, equipment, and the right team of terpene experts behind you, you’ll be well on your way to manufacturing trending distillates. 

Plus, this is just the beginning. For high-intensity fruit, candy, and dessert flavors, reach for our Cloudburst Series. Want the entourage effect in exciting, exotic flavors? Our Entourage Series blends contain as many terpenes as our Premium Strain Profiles for the same powerful effects in fruity, fun flavors. 

If you want authentic cannabis flavor, our Native Series profiles preserve the integrity of cannabis’ naturally occurring aromatic compounds with all the dankness you’d expect. Want cannabis flavor without the skunk? Our Premium Strain Profiles let you do just that so you can develop product offerings for every customer and every palate. We even have hemp-derived profiles for the ultimate base of earthy hemp.

Have questions? Want to partner on your next formulation? Contact us, and let’s get started today.

1. Oswald, I., Paryani, T., Sosa, M., Ojeda, M., Altenbernd, M., Grandy, J., Shafer, N., Ngo, K., Peat, J., Melshenker, B. G., Skelly, I., Koby, K., Page, M., & Martin, T. (2023, October 12). Minor, Nonterpenoid Volatile Compounds Drive the Aroma Differences of Exotic Cannabis. ACS Publications.
   
   
2. Paryani, T., Sosa, M., Page, M., Martin, T., Hearvy, M., Ojeda, M., Koby, K., Grandy, J., Melshenker, B., Skelly, I., & Oswald, I. (2024, June 19). Nonterpenoid Chemical Diversity of Cannabis Phenotypes Predicts Differentiated Aroma Characteristics. ACS Publications. 

Make the BEST Distillate Products with Terpene Profiles and Blends

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 Peaceful

Positive mood enhancement. Peaceful is formulated to promote feelings of total relaxation without sedation. Kick back, tune out, and unwind.

 

SHOP Focused

Extra alert without the paranoia. Focused is formulated so that your mood stays elevated along with sharpened mental clarity. Perfect for those long study sessions. 

SHOP Inspired

All creatives know what it feels like to be "in the zone". Inspired is formulated to capture that feeling so that creativity can flow for hours without limits.

SHOP Honeydew Boba

Ripe honeydew is hard to come by, but this blend nails it - lightly fruity and dripping with melon flavor. We’ve taken it even further with a burst of creamy, boba-inspired sweetness. Satisfy your craving for ripe honeydew and sugary boba with our Honeydew Boba blend.

SHOP Gellies Sample Kit

Crafted to enhance cannabis edibles with exotic flavor compounds and Cloudburst Series technology, Gellies delivers intense, delicious flavor. Designed to harmonize with cannabis, Gellies creates the best-tasting CBD and THC gummies.

SHOP Sticky Icky Strawberry

Sticky Icky Strawberry wants to be binged. Its syrupy floral nectar practically begs to be devoured, one ripe summer berry after another, until your face is smeared with bright jammy fruit and your fingers may never be clean again.

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.