What Are Botanical Terpenes and Where Do They Come From?

If you’re curious about the term “botanical terpenes,” you’re not alone. Read on to learn what botanical terpenes are and where they come from.

Certain plants, like cannabis and industrial hemp, are particularly terpene dense. Unfortunately, there are a lot of legal loopholes we have to jump through to extract terpenes from cannabis. In addition to that issue, it’s not the most cost-effective method when you want to produce highly purified, potent terpenes. That’s why botanically-derived terpenes (BDTs) are preferred.

That can raise even more questions though. Aren’t all plants technically considered “botanicals?” Do you need more or less plant matter for these alternative sources? Will they provide the same flavor, aroma, and sensorial effects for my products? If you’re curious about any of these questions, keep reading and discover exactly what botanical terpenes are and where they come from.

Juggling a million things and need a summary? Here’s the short and sweet of what we’re talking about today.

• Botanical terpenes are extracted from everyday plants and spices. Since these terpenes aren’t sourced from plants that may be illegal (like cannabis), you don’t have to worry about jumping through any legal hoops.
• These terpenes can be used for all the same things other terpenes are used for like flavor, aroma, and effects. 
• Your products will benefit from botanical terpenes in several ways: sensational scents, aromas, and effects that customers will come back for again and again.

What Are Botanical Terpenes?

Botanical terpenes are terpene isolates extracted from legal plants such as cloves, citrus, lavender, and even pine needles. While many terpene extracts are harvested from only one plant, the botanical terpene process can use any number of different plants as the terpene source.

Once extracted, the terpenes can be optimized and used for their innate properties, sensorial effects, and pungent smells. Some of the most common botanical terpene isolates are Myrcene, alpha-Pinene, Linalool, and d-Limonene. Botanical Terpene extraction is essentially the best way to get terpenes out of the plants that host them. 

Botanical, Cannabis-Derived, and Hemp-Derived Terpenes

Since we know what botanical terpenes are, let’s quickly review cannabis-derived terpenes (CDT) and hemp-derived terpenes (HDT). Regardless of their source, isolated terpenes are essentially identical. However, there are important differences. Plus, many companies treat HDTs as though they’re the same as CDTs. They’re not technically incorrect, but it’s a bit disingenuous. 

First, if you compare full aromatic profiles, then there’s definitely a difference between HDTs and CDTs. While they’re technically the same species (Cannabis sativa L.), hemp and cannabis produce different amounts of various chemicals and compounds. That means authentic HDT and CDT terpene profiles will taste and smell very different. 

There are also significant price differences when sourcing plant matter. When companies say they’re the same thing, they can charge a premium for HDTs without the market knowing any better. Marketing HDTs as CDTs not only makes it harder to promote a reputable cannabis industry, but it’s also a missed opportunity. 

In reality, botanical, cannabis-derived, and hemp-derived terpenes each have their own market niche, and they serve different functions. None are superior to the other, but manufacturers need all the necessary information to choose which ones are right for their products.

What Are Botanical Terpenes Used For?

In short, botanical terpenes are used for the same thing as terpenes derived from other sources — aroma, flavor, and effects. 

The great thing about isolating terpenes is that once you’ve isolated them to their purest form, they’re essentially no different from the same terpenes you would find in ANY plant. That’s how we’re able to create terpene blends with authentic scents and aromas. While we can create more familiar blends like Lavender Vanilla or Candy Cane, we can also recreate the scent, flavor, and effects of cannabis strains. 

Even though botanical terpenes are sourced from everyday plants and spices, we can use them to authentically re-create the scents, flavors, and some effects of cannabis strains. Want to check out some of these cannabis-forward terpene profiles? Check out our Native Series and our Signature Series!

What does this mean for manufacturers? While they can obviously enhance the authenticity of cannabis products, it also means manufacturers can infuse non-cannabis products with these profiles without having to worry about cannabinoids and/or potential psychoactive effects. 

This opens up a vast world of possibilities for new products with enhanced effects, but none of that would be possible without consistent terpene purity.

How Consistent are Botanical Terpenes?

Consistency in botanical terpenes effectively comes down to one word: isolation. 

When a terpene is isolated correctly and sourced from a plant that’s grown in extremely similar conditions to other batches of the same isolate, your provider is able to ensure a higher level of consistency. That means you’re able to offer your customers a higher level of consistency in your terpene-infused products.

The rise of indoor hydroponic growing has done wonders for the consistency of terpene isolates. It helps to think of your terpenes like you’d think about wine during a visit to a small vineyard. 

Likely, that vineyard grows the same grapes year after year and has developed a streamlined field-to-bottle process that helps each vintage retain the same overall flavor and effect. While no two vintages are going to be exactly the same (due to any number of factors like weather or predatory bugs), the carefully curated process keeps the product as close as possible from year to year. Botanical grows are at least as consistent, if not more so, than the process we just described. 

Terpenes are increasingly popular as organic ingredients that offer a wide variety of useful properties. Most notably, their powerful and pleasing smells. 

However, there are also risks which is why you should choose your terpenes wisely. Unless you can verify that every batch of plants is grown in extremely similar conditions followed by a rigid isolation and extraction process (Psst! That’s what we do.), then there’s no guarantee of their purity or quality.

Why Does My Business Need Botanical Terpenes?

As a business that uses terpene extracts in its products, your number one priority is using the most effective terpene profiles to enhance what your customers are buying.

When you buy botanical terpene extracts for your business, you receive not only the specified terpene isolates, but also their esters, flavonoids, and alcohols extracted from the plant in the process. Each of these compounds helps to give terpenes their flavor, scent, and effects. Trust us when we tell you that those items are precisely what your consumers are looking for. 

First, consumers want products that make good on their promises. If a product says it will smell or taste a certain way, buyers won’t become repeat customers if the products don’t actually work. 

Second, terpenes create phenomenal sensorial experiences. Yes, they add powerful scents and flavors, but they also interact with receptors throughout our bodies for a variety of effects. Some are uplifting, relaxing, energizing, and more! These are the kinds of experiences that consumers will come back to again and again.

Creating these experiences is easier than ever with our AI Terp Effects blends. These specially formulated mood-enhancing terpenes are crafted using machine learning and optimized to deliver specific effects based on over one million data points. Using blends like Peaceful or Focused will ensure consumers have the exact experience you want. 

Try High-Quality Botanical Terpenes from Abstrax Tech

At Abstrax Tech, we conduct peer-reviewed research, we develop one-of-a-kind instrumentation, we’ve built the world’s largest hydrocarbon extractor, and we’ve redefined what is possible both in chemical analysis and flavor experience. 

Using 2-dimensional gas chromatography, combined with our proprietary technology, we can test for well over 500 compounds in botanical, hemp, and cannabis sources. Other labs, however, test for 40-50 compounds at most. We have the most complex terpene profiles on the market and adhere to rigorous processing SOPs to provide you with consistent flavor profiles your customers will love. 

We love this industry. That’s why we want innovators like you to have the necessary tools and information to continue growing and thriving. Have questions? Ready to start infusing your products with terpenes? Contact us today and let’s get started.

Botanical Terpene Isolates, Profiles, and Blends

SHOP beta-Myrcene

beta-Myrcene is a prevalent terpene in hops, mango, bay leaves, lemongrass, and eucalyptus. The flavor is a strong sweetness with minty balsam and a vegetal leafy feel. 

SHOP Linalool

Linalool is a very popular terpene found all around the world. Linalool is floral and slightly sweet with just a hint of mint, very reminiscent of lavender.  

SHOP d-Limonene

As its name suggests, d-Limonene has a loud citrus flavor and smell. It is found in oranges, limes, lemons, grapefruits, and many other citrus fruits.  

SHOP Blue Dream

After years of searching, we’ve discovered the best version of this cultivar and modeled it from a particularly juicy sauce. This invigorating blend of sweet blueberries captures the sexiest, most iconic version of Blue Dream.

 

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 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.

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 cultivator themselves - this is the definitive Jack Herer.

SHOP Lavender Vanilla

Go ahead and slip into your favorite sweats and turn the lights down low - Lavender Vanilla is all about relaxation. Creamy vanilla satisfies sweet cravings while soothing lavender brings the chill with delicate floral notes.

SHOP Candy Cane

The peppermint candy we all know and love is a classic holiday staple - but only when it’s done right. It has to have that rush of cooling mint, a dash of sweetness, and a sprinkling of good cheer.