How Is It Possible For Some Cannabis Strains To Smell Fruity?

The stereotypes around cannabis are pretty one-note—dank aroma and skunky flavor. But that’s not the whole picture! Honestly, that’s not even a fraction of the whole picture. One of the most beautiful aspects of cannabis is the variety. There are thousands of different chemovars, all with different aromas. Today, we’re focusing on those delicious fruity aromas.

If you’re relatively experienced in the cannabis world, you’re probably well aware of fruity chemovars like Pineapple Express, Forbidden Fruit, or even Purple Punch. Fruit-forward chemovars like these are notorious for the bloom of sweet flavors like pineapple, citrus, berries, and more when you first pop open that jar or take your first hit. 

But how is it possible for some cannabis strains to smell fruity? How can cannabis have the taste and aroma of an entirely different plant? What creates those mouthwatering citrus notes, the tart berry elements, or the floral aromas of fruits like apples and oranges? Read on to find out.

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Why Does Some Cannabis Smell Fruity?

Cannabis Aroma Comes From Terpenes

If you’re new to the world of terpenes, prepare to have your mind blown. Terpenes are the organic hydrocarbons present in most plants that dictate their aroma, flavor, and even some effects. 

From pine trees and basil to black pepper and lemons. Each plant has a unique terpene profile (a combination of different terpene isolates in unique ratios) that dictates its aroma. That includes cannabis!

All those different cannabis aromas? They come from terpenes! That’s right, from diesel-forward to delicate and floral, terpenes are what dictate the aroma, flavor, and the effects of each cannabis strain. 

Curious about which terpenes contribute to fruit-forward aromas? Honestly, look no further than the fruits themselves! Lemons, for example, have LOTS of the terpene D-Limonene. Valencia Oranges have lots of Valencene, mangoes have lots of Myrcene, and you get the picture. 

Fruity Cannabis Strains

While it’s not quite accurate to call those terpenes “fruity terpenes,” their presence in certain fruits helps those without a chemistry degree figure out how they might smell and/or taste. In the end, however, it’s all about the unique ratios of those terpene isolates. 

For example, beta-caryophyllene is a notoriously spicy isolate. However, you’ll find it in relatively large amounts in several fruity chemovars. The best way to understand this is by looking at the terpene profiles of a few specific strains…

SHOP STRAWBERRY COUGH

Strawberry Cough

The name of this strain is actually a great description of the overall experience. First, you’ll experience the juicy strawberry aroma, and then you’ll probably cough. The overall smell is more reminiscent of natural strawberries as opposed to strawberry candy though. That’s all thanks to dominant terpenes Beta-Caryophyllene, Myrcene, and D-Limonene.

Grandaddy Purple

If berries and grapes are your preferred scents, look no further than Grandaddy Purple. Imagine the flavor of Concord grapes and then delicate aromatic notes of ripe berries. Other notes like fuel and wood balance out the sweetness, but the overall aroma comes from dominant terpenes D-Limonene, Myrcene, and Beta-Pinene.

Runtz

For those that want to experience the entire fruit spectrum, Runtz is the chemovar for you. It has the sweet and sour elements of candy with bright citrus and tart ripe berries. It’s surprisingly fresh and mouthwatering thanks to dominant terpenes D-Limonene, Myrcene, and Alpha-Pinene.

Cherry Pie

While you can’t talk about this strain without mentioning its dank qualities, it has an undeniable cherry scent that keeps people coming back for more. It seamlessly weaves together notes of sweet and sour cherries, and it’s finished beautifully with a hint of herbaceous pine. This strain has D-Limonene, Beta Pinene, and Linalool to thank for its eye-widening aroma.

Super Lemon Haze

Speaking of eye-wideningr, the citrus-fueled aroma of Super Lemon Haze will have your cheeks tingling and your mouth watering. It has the zest of lemons with the sweetness of ripe citrus. Honestly, it’s borderline candy-like with additional notes of herbal pine and a hint of pepper. While you might think D-Limonene plays a major role, the dominant terpenes of this strain are actually Beta-Caryophyllene, Terpinolene, and Alpha-Humulene. 

Maui Wowie

For an explosion of tropical aroma, Maui Wowie is pretty iconic. Think pineapple, lemons, citrus, and a burst of sweetness rounded out perfectly by more earthy elements. Dominant terpenes Beta-Caryophyllene, Myrcene, and D-Limonene make this strain a favorite for many.

Fruity Cannabis Strains Have Fruity Terpene Blends

It’s really that simple! Terpenes are the backbone of flavor and aroma in the natural world, and now YOU can use terpenes to infuse your products with phenomenal flavor, aroma, and effects. If you have any questions about product formulations in regard to botanical and/or cannabis-derived terpenes, contact us today.

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