What Is More Effective? Cannabis or Botanical Derived Terpenes

Each cannabis strain has a unique aroma and flavor that sets it apart. Cannabis flower has compounds called terpenes that are responsible for scents and flavors and other benefits. Terpenes may also help potentiate cannabinoids and provide their own specific effects. Cannabis genetics determine which terpenes are present on the flower. Terpenes are also found in most plants, and what give them their individual smell.

Terpenes can be extracted from cannabis and other plants and then added to tinctures, oils, ointments, beverages, and edibles to provide enhanced benefits. However, there is an ongoing debate about the pros and cons of cannabis-derived terpenes vs. plant (botanical) derived terpenes.

Purists in the cannabis community argue that cannabis plant terpenes offer a richer experience. Advocates for botanical-derived compounds contend that they are less expensive, unquestionably legal, and can be used to replicate the terpene ratios of most cannabis strains. Typically used in products like essential oil, natural terpenes from plants other than cannabis are becoming more popular in the cannabis industry.

How Terpenes Affect the Body

Terpenes can include scents that energize, soothe, or simply create a pleasant atmosphere. But their impact on the body is not limited to sensory delights. The compounds work with other cannabis molecules to produce various beneficial effects (1).

Research shows that terpenes impact the human body. Specific terpenes provide benefits typically associated with cannabis use.

The Entourage Effect

A terpene that has been extracted from a non-cannabis plant and added to a product provides many of the benefits associated with cannabis. Terpenes extracted from cannabis plants include trace amounts of compounds that may assist in producing desired effects.This is known as the entourage effect and has been the subject of numerous cannabis studies. Essentially, the entourage effect occurs when a specific group of cannabis compounds in terpenes produce a more powerful impact on the body than a single compound.

Cannabis purists generally feel that the entourage effect is crucial and are likely to believe that the best cannabis supplier is one that offers full-spectrum products. Full spectrum means that products contain lots of cannabinoids, essential oils, various cannabis plant extracts, terpenes, cannabinol, and other compounds. Full-spectrum products tend to match the exact terpene spectrum as what’s present on the plant.

Terpenes Are Common in the Natural World

It is no coincidence that the aroma and flavor of cannabis strains often replicate other plants and fruits. Cannabis terpenes are found in dozens of fruits and vegetables and are responsible for various plants’ unique scents and flavors. It’s also no surprise that many plants produce the same terpenes as those found on cannabis plants. (2). Research into terpenes is still in the early stages, but there are ongoing studies and evidence of their benefits.

Common terpenes that are present in cannabis and other plants include:

Caryophyllene

Found in hops, rosemary, cloves, and cannabis, caryophyllene has an unmistakable herbal aroma.

Myrcene

One of the most prominent terpenes in cannabis, myrcene is known for an earthy scent that is typical of most cannabis plants. Myrcene is very relaxing.

Pinene

Pinene is very common in nature and famously found in conifers, particularly pine trees. It has a distinctive pine scent that is associated with certain cannabis strains.

Limonene

Another terpene that is everywhere in nature, limonene, is found in citrus fruits and has a crisp, citrusy scent. Limonene is frequently added to cleaning products.

Cannabis Terpenes

Secreted by plant glands, cannabis terpenes are oils that give plants their intense flavors and scents. The quality and quantity of each plant’s terpenes can be influenced by factors that include fertilizers, climate, soil, and maturation.

Terpenes extracted from cannabis plants include trace amounts of other compounds. While this combination may increase their efficiency, there is also a chance for antagonistic reactions.

Some members of the cannabis industry feel that cannabis terpenes offer the best aroma and experiences. However, it is difficult to produce cannabis-derived terpenes that provide consistent results. So many things affect cannabis terpenes, it is almost impossible to duplicate generations of plants with similar terpene makeup (3).

Botanical Derived Terpenes

Botanically derived terpenes extracted from plants other than cannabis are becoming very popular in the cannabis industry. Botanical terpenes offer a more efficient way of adding terpenes to products, and manufacturers can use a single formula to recreate each product. It’s important to understand that these are not synthetic terpenes, but terpenes that are derived from plants instead of cannabis. Because all plants produce cannabinoids, some manufacturers find it easier to grow plants that produce more of a particular terpene when they’re seeking specific cannabis terpenes profiles.

Because many plants have higher volumes of terpene than cannabis, botanical (or plant) derived terpenes have a bolder taste and scent. When producers can add higher volumes of terpenes to concentrates, the viscosity improves. That makes products more convenient for vaping. Terpenes extracted from a plant also allow for more innovation. For example, companies can re-create older strains that no longer grow naturally. Functions vary greatly for naturally derived botanical terpenes.

Botanically Derived Terpenes vs. Cannabis Derived Terpenes

While dozens of products now contain either botanically derived terpenes or cannabis-derived terpenes, the debate about which is superior continues among customers and members of the cannabis community. Examples of each side’s arguments include:

Pros and Cons of Cannabis Terpenes

Pros:

• It can provide the most authentic aroma and flavor
• Cannabis purists appreciate the value of cannabis-derived alternatives
• Purists like to keep related processes in the cannabis family
• Legal if derived from hemp
• Distinct terpene profiles can be extracted
• Many enthusiasts enjoy cannabis products in their natural form

Cons:

• Difficult to repeat results
• Extracting terpenes from cannabis requires a more expense process

Pros and Cons of Botanical Terpenes

Pros:

• Experts can replicate precise terpene ratios
• Affordable
• Can be used to create appealing non-cannabis flavors

Cons:

• Might not provide the same authentic experience as cannabis-derived terpenes
• Adds non-cannabis ingredients to cannabis products, sometimes in very high concentrations
• May not offer the same level of benefits as cannabis-derived terpenes
• Many distinct terpene profiles are hard to recreate outside of the cannabis plant (4)

The debate over the effectiveness of cannabis-derived terpenes vs. botanical terpenes is likely to go on for some time, as modernists clash with cannabis purists. Each side has pros and cons. However, customers who buy cannabis products from trusted companies can ensure they are getting safe, high-quality products, regardless of the terpene source.

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Disclaimer – Information is provided for educational purposes. It does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice or medical advice. We attempt to be accurate and up to date but the legality of cannabinoids and the science of cannabis is evolving. The author is neither a lawyer or a legal expert, nor a doctor or medical expert. You should check with your local authorities and medical providers before buying or using any products.

References

1. 1. 1. Weedmaps Terpene Dictionary
      2. Terpenes: What The Research Says
      3. Botanical Terpenes vs Cannabis Derived Terpenes
      4.  Pros and Cons: Plant-Derived Terpenes vs. Cannabis Extracted

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