Cannabis Gas Categories: OG Gas, Candy Gas, Chem Gas, and Tangie Gas

Not all gas is created equal. Explore the four distinct cannabis gas categories and how this information can help brands formulate the products consumers want.

In years past, “gas” was shorthand for pungent, fuel-like cannabis aromas. It’s a measure of quality, freshness, and authenticity in traditionally gassy cultivars. Today, we know that not all gas is created equal. Decades of cannabis cultivation have created distinct subcategories of gas: OG Gas, Candy Gas, Chem Gas, and Tangie Gas. Understanding this brings benefit to stakeholders across the industry. 

First, consumers have developed a more sophisticated appetite for novelty along with higher expectations for innovation in craft growing. They want loud citrus with depth, not just “orange.” They don’t just want “sweet” strains, they want complex layers of berries and earth. Understanding the differences between these categories helps consumers find exactly what they want. 

Second, a verified chemical understanding of these categories helps brands and cultivators align their products with those recognizable sensory signatures consumers are looking for. It creates new ways to differentiate products in a crowded market while offering a runway for product innovation from the grow house to the lab.

Read on and learn about the science of exotic cannabis gas, explore each category, and find out which segment your favorite gassy cultivars fall under!

The Science of Exotic Cannabis Gas Categories

Unlike simply counting aromatics by weight, our Terplytics Gas Factor, which measures the intensity of a profile’s gassy aroma, takes into account cannabis flavorants that significantly influence aroma even when they’re present in miniscule quantities. That includes Prenylated Cannasulfur Compounds (PCSCs), which are responsible for the gassy and skunky aromas found in some cultivars.

However, even with our proprietary Terplytics system, we recognize that today’s gassy cultivars aren’t easily categorized under one simple label. One of the easiest ways to understand this is to check out the 10 Gassiest Strains we’ve ever measured. 

Yes, you’ll find classics like King Louie XIII and GMO, but you’ll also see citrusy Acapulco Gold and candy-forward Pink Runtz. Sherbinski’s sweet, slightly floral, and ultra gassy Bacio Gelato even took the top spot! 

So, why are there so many fruity, candy-forward cultivars on that list? Because breeders have increased the chemical diversity of cannabis over time. Some of today’s exotic cannabis cultivars, like Tangie or Grape Dosi #4, simply weren’t possible a few decades ago. 

However, tracking and studying the chemical complexity of a cultivar’s origins can be tricky. Fortunately, the meticulous cultivation work performed by DNA Genetics created an opportunity for us to study the phytochemical lineage of a variety and how it all came together to produce something novel and exotic. 

Enter, 24K Gold.

Want the low-down on our collaboration with DNA Genetics? Curious about the analytical techniques and equipment we used to assess these categories? Get all the details in 24K Gold: How DNA Genetics Struck Gold with Tangie Gas.

In studying the biochemical complexity of 24K Gold and that of its lineage, we’ve been able to examine the unique chemistry and balance of aromatic compounds in each of the four distinct Gas Categories: 

1. OG Gas
2. Chem Gas
3. Candy Gas 
4. Tangie Gas

OG Gas: Diesel, Earthy, and a Hint of Lemon

If you find yourself drawn to cultivars that lean on diesel, earth, and just a hint of lemon, you’re a fan of the traditional OG Gas category. If we’re being honest, it’s a classic for a reason.

For many, this is the prototypical benchmark of gas and this category includes strains like Dynasty OG, King Louie XIII, and obviously OG Kush. All of them are built on dense diesel and earthy citrus with a resinous mouthfeel that lingers.

So, what’s driving the unique experience of OG Gas cultivars? Much of that intensity comes from PCSCs like prenylthiol and prenyl thioacetate.

Chem Gas: Intensely Savory with Dank Gasoline

People have a love/hate relationship with the cultivars in this category. With their pungent notes of dank gasoline and savory elements ranging from ammoniacal, naphthyl (e.g., mothballs), chemical, and even vegetal (think onions and garlic), it’s not hard to see why Chem Gas cultivars can be so divisive.

They are NOT sweet and include cultivars like GMO, Garlic Cookies, and Sans Souci. Chem Gas aromas are often driven by a unique partnership between PCSCs with flavorants like indole and skatole. These flavorants are heterocycles that cause some consumers to drool while others wrinkle their nose in revulsion. 

Curious about cannabis flavorants Indole and Skatole? Learn more about these heterocycles, the experiments that led to this discovery, and the potential industry impact in Science of Exotic Part Two: The Curious Case of Chem.

Skatole is found in mammalian feces (no joke!), and it can be combined with other compounds to create scents that are ammoniacal, naphthyl, or chemical. Indole is milder than Skatole and has a sharp chemical and ammoniacal fragrance. Oddly enough, both can contribute to floral scents when used in the right concentrations!

Candy Gas: Fruity Sweetness Over a Foundation of Fuel

The popularity of Candy Gas cultivars has exploded over the last few years, and we get it. What’s not to like! 

These cultivars are SWEET with fruit-forward top notes and a gassy underbelly that gives a much needed complexity to those “candy” elements. For this category, you can thank PCSCs and rare berry forward esters like senecioates and tiglates, which can also be found in various tropical and pomme fruits.

Curious about those rare berry forward esters? You’ll also find some of them in Cheesy Cannabis cultivars! Learn more about these sweet, fruit-forward compounds in Finding Funk: Unveiling the Chemical Complexity of Cheese Weed.

From Sherbinski’s wildly gassy and sweet Bacio Gelato and its Runtz offspring, to newcomers like Unicorn Poop and Pinata Guts, Candy Gas cultivars are understandably delicious and always in-demand.

Tangie Gas: Pungent Citrus With A Robust Diesel Backbone

The newest addition to Gas categorization is the brilliant Tangie Gas. Cultivars in this category have an electric Tangie-like citrus anchored in a persistent Kush-derived diesel. They’re loud yet round, tropical yet grounded, and today these cultivars are non-negotiable on dispensary shelves around the world.

This category is created by a unique harmony between Tropicannasulfur Compounds (TCSCs) and PCSCs, along with terpene profiles dominated by d-Limonene and β-caryophyllene.

Ready to learn more about the tropical flavorants behind some of your favorite cultivars? Get all the details in Science of Exotic Cannabis Three: The Trio of Tropicanna.

Suddenly craving a cultivar with bright citrus and a deep sulfur-driven backbone? Reach for Orange Apricot or Leafly’s 2024 Strain of the Year Super Boof. Want to experience the pinnacle of Tangie Gas? Reach for the cultivar that defined this category, DNA Genetics’ 24K Gold.

Abstrax Tech | The Leading Experts on Cannabis Aroma Science

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

Want to round out your product portfolio with profiles from specific Gas Categories? Looking for expert assistance developing the right aroma, flavor, and effects for your products? We’re here to help.

Contact us today, and let’s move the industry forward with innovative, research-informed products.

DNA Genetics 24K Gold | Signature Series

SHOP 24K Gold

A child of Tangie and Kosher Kush, 24K Gold introduced the world to "Tangie Gas". Bred by DNA Genetics, one of the most awarded and influential names in cannabis history, this profile honors the legacy of California flavor that changed cannabis forever.