Collection: Terpenes

Cannabis Terpenes vs Botanical Terpenes - Which One Should You Choose?

Most of us are familiar with cannabinoids (CBD) when it comes to using hemp and cannabis extracts for health benefits. Terpene is yet another term in the cannabis extract industry but is less known to many. It’s another type of compound extracted from cannabis. 

But what exactly are cannabis terpenes? How are they different from the botanically produced terpenes? How do you tell the concentration levels found in cannabis before making a purchase? Let’s find out.

What are cannabis terpenes?

The cannabis terpene is a compound found in the cannabis plant. They are responsible for the plant's unique smell and flavor. Terpenes are also known to have various medicinal properties. Cannabis terpenes are the reason why two different cannabis strains with the same THC levels will create different experiences. 

Cannabis terpene complex also exists naturally in other plants but those familiar with it learned about it from cannabis because it’s where it is highly concentrated than in other plants. In cannabis, they give the different cannabis strain profiles their unique taste and aroma.


Cannabis terpenes are thought to be a more potent version of CBD, as they provide all the benefits of CBD with none of the psychoactive effects. This makes them an ideal choice for those seeking the medicinal benefits of cannabis without the high.

Feedback from different consumers has shown that terpenes offer more than a dozen medicinal benefits. These include antimicrobial, anticancer, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antihyperglycemic, antiviral, antiparasitic, and analgesic. The benefits cut across both the cannabis and botanical terpenes. 

What are botanical terpenes?

As mentioned before, terpenes are also present in other plants such as lavender, citrus, cloves,  and rosemary. However, there are only about five types in these plants, while the cannabis terpenes are over a hundred different types. 

Botanical terpenes are less costly since they’re available readily in large supplies. Their extraction is also much easier compared to the cannabis terpenes.

Botanical or cannabis terpene – which is the best?

Most people and manufacturers of terpene compounds argue that the cannabis terpene complex is the more effective type than the botanical one. This is not true since both terpenes have equal efficacy. 

The botanically derived terpenes are also able to enhance the entourage effect while also increasing the potential of cannabinoids to function better in the body. That’s the same experience that the cannabis variant produces. It’s the consumer’s preference that matters and therefore has to distinguish the botanically derived from the cannabis terpenes using the smell.