Get to Know Your Favorite Strain | Permanent Marker

It was Leafly’s 2023 Strain of the Year, and you can sniff guilt-free all day. Discover the aromatic compounds that fuel Permanent Marker’s pungent aroma and balanced effects.

There are many strategies for naming a cultivar. It could be a variation of its genetics, inspired by its effects, it could be based on geographic regions, etc. Other times, it’s named purely based on aroma. That’s definitely the case with Permanent Marker.

While you shouldn’t inhale the fumes from its namesake, the Permanent Marker cultivar will have you breathing deeply and coming back for more. Released in 2022 by Doja Exclusive and bred by Seed Junky Genetics’ JBeezy, this cultivar has quite the lineage. 

As a cross between Biscotti, Sherb Bx, and Jealousy, Permanent Marker has deliciously pungent aromatics. Plus, those relaxing, blissful, and creative effects are just downright fun. While it’s only been available for a few years, Leafly has already named it their 2023 Strain of the Year.

Intrigued? Discover the aromatic compounds that contribute to Permanent Marker’s distinctly potent aroma and powerful effects.

Our scientists isolate specific terpenes and aromatic compounds of popular cultivars so both cannabis and non-cannabis consumers can enjoy them.

Permanent Marker Strain | Terpene Profile

One sniff of this unique cultivar, and you’ll understand why it’s such a head-turner. Permanent Marker genuinely has the sweet pungency of its namesake. 

What starts as an almost abrasive level of dankness takes on an alluring sweetness aided by floral notes of soap and gas. Fruity citrus adds an exciting level of candy-like sour for a finish that you can’t help coming back for again and again. This distinctive aroma is created, in part, by dominant terpenes alpha-Caryophyllene, d-Limonene, and Linalool. 

Alpha-Caryophyllene, also known as alpha-Humulene, might already be familiar to you if you’re a fan of hoppy beers. If you smell this isolate, you’ll notice the distinct scent of hops. That’s because alpha-Caryophyllene is one of the dominant terpenes in hops. You can also find it in sage and ginseng, but its iconic bitter, woody overtones will first and foremost remind you of beer. 

Thanks to recent research (Check out our paper on tropicannasulfurs!), we know that d-Limonene isn’t necessarily the citrus flavor-maker we once thought it was. However, it still influences those sweet and sour citrus notes you’ll pick up from the Permanent Marker aroma. This isolate is often found in fruits like lemons, limes, grapefruits, oranges, etc.

If you’re still trying to wrap your head around those floral soapy notes, get in line! That’s right. We’re still trying to figure out where this aromatic feature comes from. It doesn’t help that not everyone agrees on the “soap.” Whether from differences in cut or olfactory perception, some report no soap smell with more pungent “marker” aromas and vice versa. It might be related to d-3-Carene, which has a sharpie/marker scent, but we haven't identified it in any Permanent Marker strains (yet). 

Conversely, you might have Linalool to thank for this feature (or a combination of these two compounds). This isolate isn’t often a dominant terpene, and other Linalool dominant cultivars include Cherry Zlushie, and Ice Cream Cake. Both have sweet floral notes, which isn’t all that surprising considering that Linalool has an alluring floral aroma reminiscent of lavender, roses, oranges, or even apple blossoms. 

While it’s likely responsible for the floral elements, this doesn’t prove that Linalool is responsible for the soap's aroma. Since Linalool-heavy aromas are often used in soap fragrances, people may naturally associate those aromas with soap. Plus, this could very well be a cilantro situation. Similar to how cilantro tastes soapy to a percentage of the population, there could be a genetic component that influences the way people perceive the aromatic compounds in Permanent Marker.

Honestly, it’s piqued our interest, so we’ll let you know if we uncover any soapy insights!

Permanent Marker Strain | Terplytics

Our proprietary Terplytics system is the next generation of cannabis analytics. It allows us to deliver the most advanced botanical testing for exploratory research, sensory quantification, strain validation, product development, and consumer insights. It’s also how we developed the Loud Factor and the Gas Factor.

The Loud Factor quantifies the pungency or “loudness” of a strain. Unlike Total Aromatics by Weight, the Loud Factor assigns scores to individual compounds based on their pungency. This is important for aromatic compounds that are incredibly pungent.

PERMANENT MARKER PROFILE

GAS FACTOR - 20%

LOUDNESS FACTOR - 58%

The Gas Factor measures the intensity of a profile’s gassy aroma. So, the higher the Gas Factor, the gassier the profile. Simple, right? While that is accurate, it’s not quite the whole picture.

First, our factor scores are logarithmic. That means there’s a HUGE difference between a profile with a Gas Factor of 96% and one with 100%, whereas the difference between 70% and 90% isn’t as big.

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Second, this isn’t as simple as counting aromatics by weight. While gassy cultivars often have high amounts of terpene isolates beta-Myrcene, d-Limonene, or beta-Caryophyllene, they also include flavorants like Skatole and Indole that significantly influence aroma even when found in minuscule quantities (we’re talking parts per billion or even parts per trillion). 

It’s also important to understand that our Terplytics numbers don’t have anything to do with quality. A cultivar that has a 100% Haze Factor, for example, isn’t objectively better than a cultivar with a 0% Haze Factor. It just means that one is very hazy, and one isn’t hazy at all. 

Looking at Permanent Marker’s Terplytics, we’d say it’s comfortably loud with the perfect dash of gas.

Permanent Marker Terpene Profile Effects

While cannabinoids like THC are what get you high due to their psychoactive properties, aromatic compounds like terpenes are what dictate specific sensorial effects like relaxation, focus, or euphoria.

This is why two cultivars with the same cannabinoid levels may promote different experiences. One may inspire you to go on a hike or finally clean out your garage, while the other may send you straight to sleep. So, if you enjoy the way Permanent Marker makes you feel, then you can thank the unique combo of cannabinoids and various aromatic compounds.

Terms like indica and sativa don’t technically have anything to do with effects and actually refer to plant biology. That being said, the Permanent Marker cultivar is considered an indica-leaning hybrid known for promoting a fun balance of creativity and relaxation.

The sensations hit you fast, but the initial tingly effects are all about chill inspiration. If you’re artistically inclined, you may be bursting with new ideas for your latest project. Just make sure you buckle down and accomplish them instead of leaping quickly from one idea to the next. 

This makes it a nice social lubricant as well, but it would be a good idea to plan any social events around food. Let’s just say that the Permanent Marker munchies are powerful. Lastly, remember that heavy use of this cultivar will take you from social butterfly to couch potato VERY quickly.

Native Series | True-to-Type Permanent Marker Terpene Profile

Our Native Series is a collection of Advanced Terpene Profiles that taste and smell exactly like the original cannabis material. The best part? Since they’re botanically sourced, they’re not limited by supply, and you can actually afford them.

Want to put your own spin on Permanent Marker?

Combine Permanent Marker with other profiles and blends for something your customers won’t find anywhere else. Create novel high-intensity aromatics by mixing it with a Cloudburst blend, or add complex earthy bass notes with the hemp-derived profiles from our Terplandia Series. 

Contact us today, and let your customers experience the full range of Permanent Marker aromatics and sensorial effects.

It is the user’s responsibility to ensure that the conditions and possible uses of the product conform to local laws and regulations where they operate.

Permanent Marker | Botanical Terpene Profile

SHOP Permanent Marker

Unlike its namesake, you can take a long, deep inhale of this Permanent Marker. In-your-face dank is softened by floral soapy notes, while fruity citrus and gas join together for a finish that’s sweet, sour, and memorably offbeat.