What Are Botanical Terpenes and Where Do They Come From?

Botanically-derived terpenes are isolated from everyday plants and spices for a more cost-effective alternative

If you’re curious about the term “botanical terpenes,” you’re not alone. Keep reading to find out what botanical terpenes are and where they come from.

Certain plants are particularly terpene dense (mainly cannabis and industrial hemp). Unfortunately, there are a lot of legal loopholes we would have to jump through to extract terpenes from those sources. 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 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 effects for my products? If you’re curious about any of these questions, keep reading to discover exactly what botanical terpenes are and where they come from.

Reading Time - 6 min

Summary:

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

• Botanical terpenes are isolated 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--flavor, aroma, and effects. 
• Indoor, hydroponic growing operations of botanical sources means that botanically-derived terpenes provide high-consistency for your products.
• Your products will benefit from botanical terpenes in several ways. First, increased product effectiveness. Second, 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 (which can be illegal in many places), 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 health benefits, calming and soothing effects, and pungent smells. Some of the most common botanical terpene extracts are myrcene, alpha-pinene, linalool, and limonene. 

Botanical Terpene extraction is essentially the best way to get terpenes out of the plants that host them. What you’re getting with botanical terpenes that you aren’t getting with other extraction processes is better variety and consistency.

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. Yes, you read that right!

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. That means non-cannabis products can utilize these blends 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. 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, healthy chemicals that offer a wide variety of benefits--most notably, powerful and pleasing smells. However, there are also risks which is why you should choose your terpenes wisely.

We are able to grow each batch of plants in strikingly similar conditions and follow the same rigid isolation and extraction process each time. This gives our customers a consistent terpene product that they can be proud to send to market.

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 reduce bacteria, help fight acne, or elevate your mood, buyers won’t become repeat customers if the products don’t actually work. Luckily, each isolate has a set of properties that can enhance your products. Using the correct blend of terpene isolates can actually make your products far more effective than they would be otherwise.

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. Like we mentioned above, some of these effects are what increase the effectiveness of your products (anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, etc.). But terpenes can also make us feel a certain way. Some are uplifting, relaxing, energizing, and more! These are the kinds of experiences that consumers will come back to again and again.

Try Abstrax for High-Quality, Ultra-Pure Botanical Terpenes

At our research and development lab in southern California, our team of scientists and industry veterans have spent years developing the best processes for botanical extraction. We’re proud to have built a client roster of loyal brands that trust these processes. 

None of that would have been possible, however, without our high-quality, ultra-pure terpenes that are 100% free of fillers. 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. Contact us today if you have any questions about our products and don’t forget to follow us for all the latest updates.