New Flavorant & Terpene Research in Cannabis and Hemp

European researchers build on Abstrax cannabis terpene discoveries in a novel study of aroma compounds in dried hemp flower.

Whether it’s cannabis, hemp, or other botanicals, we’re big nerds for aroma science! That’s why we ask so many questions, why we perform peer-reviewed research, and why we celebrate when other scientists make new discoveries. 

The latest discovery in terpene and flavorant science just happened to use OUR research as part of its theoretical foundation!

A recent study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry aimed to analyze the aroma composition of dried hemp flower that’s been intentionally bred for aroma and CBD content. This study is significant, and we’re not just saying that because they referenced our work.

While hemp hasn’t historically been bred for flavor and aroma to the extent that cannabis has, this study shows that hemp can be just as rich, flavorful, and biochemically diverse as cannabis. 

Aroma is an increasingly valuable attribute in cannabis products, and this discovery highlights an opportunity for growers and developers to create products using equally aromatic (and sometimes more legally compliant) hemp flower.

Read on to learn more about this novel study, its findings, and how it may significantly influence both the hemp and cannabis industries.

Foundational Abstrax Research

There is perhaps no greater compliment as a scientist than having someone reference, verify, and then use your research as a foundation for further studies. That’s exactly what happened here! So, to fully understand how their work expands on our research, let’s quickly review the Abstrax studies they referenced.

In 2021, Dr. Iain Oswald’s essential VSC study titled “Identification of a New Family of Prenylated Volatile Sulfur Compounds in Cannabis Revealed by Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography” was published. We lovingly refer to this as The Science of Dank.

Using 2-dimensional gas chromatography (GC x GC), we found that Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VSCs) – specifically Prenylated Cannasulfur Compounds (PCSCs) – were responsible for the gassy, skunky, and downright dank aromas of cannabis. 

This discovery also allowed us to create the true-to-type botanically-derived terpene profiles in our Native Series with all of the authentic gas you’d expect from real cannabis… without using the actual plant at all. This is a huge win for manufacturers because they’re legal worldwide, consistent, and they’re less expensive compared to cannabis-derived terpenes (CDTs). 

In 2023, we took things a step further with “Minor, Nonterpenoid Volatile Compounds Drive the Aroma Differences of Exotic Cannabis,” AKA The Science of Exotic Cannabis. We discovered an entirely new class of compounds we call cannabis flavorants that significantly influences aromas of specific varieties. 

Not only did this reveal that the aromatic influence of terpenes may have been overemphasized, but discovering flavorants like Skatole, Indole, and various Tropicannasulfur Compounds (TCSCs)  allowed us to further increase the authenticity of Native Series profiles like GMO and Orange Apricot as well as the official terpene profiles of our Signature Series like Bacio Gelato and 24K Gold.

Side note. To create our Signature Series 24K Gold terpene profile, we used the same gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O) system used by Tran and their colleagues. How cool!

Recently, another study we led, “Nonterpenoid Chemical Diversity of Cannabis Phenotypes Predicts Differentiated Aroma Characteristics,” helped support our case for a practice we call Chemohunting. Put simply, we wanted to find out if there were aromatic differences between cannabis progeny grown the same way.

We analyzed ice hash rosin extracts from five different phenotypes of the same crossing using a combination of (GCxGC–ToF–MS/FID/SCD) with a human sensory analysis. The results showed that there WERE differences and traditional phenohunting methods can miss a LOT. 

Being able to analyze chemical biomarkers of cannabis will allow cultivators to intentionally breed cannabis for specific aroma traits and it facilitates a future where we can identify unique “aromatypes” that make it easier for consumers to make informed purchases.

When you take a step back, all of our research aims to improve authenticity and consistency in the cannabis industry. Whether it’s through the most accurate, true-to-type terpene profiles or through the development of strategic cultivation practices, we know the industry and its consumers will benefit from this kind of research. 

What is the Significance of This NEW Study?

The reason we’re so excited about this NEW study is because it’s the first sensory-guided study that attempts to identify odor-active compounds in dried hemp flower. The majority of our research was done on fresh, dried, and extracted cannabis flower and ice has rosin, so we’re VERY interested in both the dried aspect and the hemp aspect!

At Abstrax, we know cannasulfur compounds (specifically PCSCs) degrade quickly. For example, imagine you enjoy a gassy cannabis cultivar and then pack the rest of it away to enjoy later. Over time, those gassy aromatics can diminish or even disappear altogether. The same goes for fresh hemp versus dried hemp flower! 

This study is also significant simply because it’s analyzing hemp AT ALL. Studies on hemp are few and far between due to hemp’s varying legal definitions across countries and its complicated history of prohibition. Fortunately, as legalization of cannabis has expanded over the last few years, interest in hemp has increased as well. 

Even then, the majority of studies have focused on odor-active compounds in fresh hemp flower, high THC cannabis flower, and THC-containing materials such as rosin extracts. This has left dried hemp flower largely unexplored… until now.

While hemp and cannabis are part of the Cannabaceae family, their differences are important and it goes a lot farther than differentiating between Type I (high THC, low CBD) and Type III flower (high CBD, low THC).

Add the potential differences between fresh and dried hemp, and there’s an entire world of information that the industry might be missing out on. This could be valuable data that may inform cultivation practices, consumer preferences, commercial applications, and MORE.

So, in reality, calling this study significant is putting it lightly. 

What Did This Study Uncover?

By combining gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O) with an aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA), researchers were able to determine which compounds were actually perceptible to the human nose versus simply being present.

The results? They identified 52 odor-active compounds across six cannabidiol-rich cultivars. Out of those 52 compounds:

• 38 were identified for the first time in dried hemp flowers.
• 6 had previously never been identified in any hemp material.

Those six never before identified compounds are very important! The study explains “The presence of these new odor-active components further supports the idea that certain odorants may be formed or released during drying and curing.” Basically, without a full understanding of dried hemp aroma profiles, analyzing just fresh flower won’t give you the full picture. 

Additionally, they confirmed that some compounds had a significant influence on hemp aroma. Such compounds included:

• Terpenes and terpenoids α-Pinene, b-Myrcene, and Linalool.
• Potent sulfur-containing compounds (aka PCSCs) including 3-methylbut-2-ene-1-thiol, 4-methyl-4-sulfanylpentan-2-one, 3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol, and 3-sulfanylhexyl acetate.
• Other key compounds had a significant impact on specific cultivars. These included p-cresol, eugenol, 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol, methyl anthranilate, Furaneol.

These findings are particularly exciting given the short amount of time that hemp has been bred for flavor and aroma. Historically, hemp has been cultivated for fiber or building materials, and only recently has it been bred for CBD production. 

Now that hemp is getting this kind of attention, we’re discovering that it may be just as aromatically complex as cannabis. 

How Will This Study Impact the Hemp Industry? The Cannabis Industry?

We know aroma is a valuable sensory attribute for cannabis, and it’s quickly becoming important for hemp flower products. Not only does this study give us a better understanding of dried hemp flower’s aroma composition, it also provides “a basis for future validation through quantitation and aroma reconstitution studies.” 

Cultivators can use information like this to select plants with desired aroma traits for future breeding efforts. For brands and manufacturers, having access to detailed aroma profiles helps them assess and track consumer perception and preference which helps with product development, branding, and marketing. 

On top of that, it could improve quality control, regulatory standards, and labeling practices. A reference list of odor-active compounds can be helpful to verify authenticity or to detect adulteration or degradation, while including flavor profiles on a label can help consumers find their desired products.

It also fills important scientific gaps. Before now, most studies simply assessed the presence of compounds but not which ones were actually perceptible to the human nose. Knowing which compounds are odor-active is more relevant to the consumer experience.

Lastly, studies like this create a bridge between cannabis and hemp aroma science while promoting cross-discipline scientific research. Their method of combining GC-O with AEDA has been commonly used to identify aroma compounds in raw food materials and spices. Plus, much of the science that informed the groundwork of this study came from cannabis research! 

This multidisciplinary approach facilitated a first-of-its-kind study where they uncovered valuable new information, helped verify hypotheses from other studies, and any future research will easily involve a combination of sensory science, flavor chemistry, plant genetics, and more.

This research shows how amazing things happen when scientists share information and collaborate. Our research wouldn’t have been possible without our partners and the iconic breeders we’ve had the privilege of working with. That’s how our Native Series and Signature Series came to life, and we see a future where this study facilitates a market with even more authenticity, specifically in Type III CBD-rich chemotypes.

Abstrax Tech | Grow the Industry With Scientific Collaborations!

We don’t know about you, but we still have so many questions! That’s why we conduct industry-leading, peer-reviewed research to push the cannabis industry forward with better education and collaboration. We’re passionate about this industry and will continue promoting excellence in research and innovation. 

We also can’t wait to see what the next cannabis OR HEMP discovery will reveal!

Want to work together on the next scientific breakthrough? Want 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 data-driven insights!

Thi Khanh Linh Tran, Tatiana Avellaneda, Amandine André, Elodie Gillich, Martin Steinhaus, Dániel Árpád Carrera, Leron Katsir, and Irene Chetschik. The Plant of Many Scents: Unraveling the Odorant Composition of Selected CBD Hemp Cultivars. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2025 73 (38), 24314-24325 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5c07208

Oswald, I. W. H.; Ojeda, M. A.; Pobanz, R. J.; Koby, K. A.; Buchanan, A. J.; Del Rosso, J.; Guzman, M. A.; Martin, T. J. Identification of a New Family of Prenylated Volatile Sulfur Compounds in Cannabis Revealed by Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography. ACS Omega 2021, 6 (47), 31667– 31676,  DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c04196

Oswald, I. W. H.; Paryani, T. R.; Sosa, M. E.; Ojeda, M. A.; Altenbernd, M. R.; Grandy, J. J.; Shafer, N. S.; Ngo, K.; Peat, J. R.; Melshenker, B. G.; Skelly, I.; Koby, K. A.; Page, M. F. Z.; Martin, T. J. Minor, Nonterpenoid Volatile Compounds Drive the Aroma Differences of Exotic Cannabis. ACS Omega 2023, 8 (42), 39203– 39216,  DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c04496

Paryani, T. R.; Sosa, M. E.; Page, M. F. Z.; Martin, T. J.; Hearvy, M. V.; Ojeda, M. A.; Koby, K. A.; Grandy, J. J.; Melshenker, B. G.; Skelly, I.; Oswald, I. W. H. Nonterpenoid Chemical Diversity of Cannabis Phenotypes Predicts Differentiated Aroma Characteristics. ACS Omega 2024, 9 (26), 28806– 28815,  DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c03225

Research-Backed Terpene Profiles

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.

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 Herer family 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.