The Science
Understanding Terpenes
Cannabis has over 200 identified terpenes. They're responsible for flavor, aroma, and — working alongside cannabinoids — the character of the experience itself.
Two products at 25% THC. One puts you on the couch. One has you reorganizing your apartment at midnight. The terpenes are why.
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How to read a terpene profile
When a processor provides a terpene profile on a product, read it like a map. The dominant terpene sets the direction. The secondary terpenes add character and nuance. The minor terpenes are the finishing notes.
A product with myrcene dominant, linalool secondary, and caryophyllene tertiary is telling a rest and recovery story. A product with limonene dominant, terpinolene secondary, and pinene tertiary is telling a daytime creativity story.
The THC percentage tells you the volume. The terpene profile tells you the song.
Myrcene
RestfulEarthy, musky, herbal — like cloves or fresh mango
Calm, heavy, restful. Evening use. Body-forward. The most common terpene in commercial cannabis.
“If you've ever eaten a mango before consuming cannabis and noticed stronger effects — that's myrcene. Same compound, different plant.”
Common Michigan Strains
Strain data coming as Michigan dispensaries connect with Photi.
Limonene
EnergeticBright citrus — lemon, orange, grapefruit
Bright, social, mood-lifted. Daytime. Creative. Uplifting without being overwhelming.
“Limonene is the terpene that makes a strain feel like sunshine. If you're going into something social or creative and you want to feel up rather than heavy, look for it.”
Common Michigan Strains
Strain data coming as Michigan dispensaries connect with Photi.
Caryophyllene
BalancedSpicy, peppery, woody — like black pepper or cloves
Grounding, calming, potentially anti-inflammatory. The only terpene that binds directly to cannabinoid receptors.
“Caryophyllene is the overachiever of terpenes. Every other terpene works indirectly. This one actually binds to your cannabinoid receptors directly. Next time you smell black pepper — you're smelling a cannabinoid.”
Common Michigan Strains
Strain data coming as Michigan dispensaries connect with Photi.
Linalool
RestfulFloral, lavender, slightly spicy
Soft, calming, sleep-supportive. Evening. Anxiety relief. Gentle and approachable.
“Linalool is why your grandmother's lavender sachets actually worked. Same compound. Cannabis just delivers it differently.”
Common Michigan Strains
Strain data coming as Michigan dispensaries connect with Photi.
Pinene
EnergeticSharp, fresh pine — like a forest after rain
Alert, focused, clear. Daytime. Functional. May counteract some short-term memory effects of THC.
“Pinene is the terpene for people who want to think while they're high. It's one of the reasons some strains feel sharp and functional while others feel foggy — the pinene content is often the difference.”
Common Michigan Strains
Strain data coming as Michigan dispensaries connect with Photi.
Terpinolene
CreativeFresh, floral, slightly herbal and citrusy — complex and hard to pin down
Creative, energetic, cerebral. Daytime. The hidden gem. Lifts without scattering.
“Terpinolene strains tend to be the ones people describe as 'different' without being able to say exactly why. The ones who find it become evangelists for it.”
Common Michigan Strains
Strain data coming as Michigan dispensaries connect with Photi.
Humulene
BalancedEarthy, woody, subtly hoppy
Grounding, anti-inflammatory, appetite-neutral. Often found alongside caryophyllene.
“Humulene is the quiet one in the room that actually knows the most. No drama, just grounding. And it's the rare terpene that won't have you raiding the kitchen.”
Common Michigan Strains
Strain data coming as Michigan dispensaries connect with Photi.
Ocimene
FunSweet, herbal, woody with tropical notes
Light, uplifting, social. Less studied but increasingly present in premium cultivar profiles.
“Ocimene is the terpene you find in something that smells unlike anything else you've tried. Fresh and tropical in a way that's hard to describe until you smell it.”
Common Michigan Strains
Strain data coming as Michigan dispensaries connect with Photi.
Bisabolol
RestfulDelicate floral, slightly sweet — similar to chamomile
Gentle, calming, approachable. Best for newer consumers or anyone who tends toward anxiety.
“If someone tells me they're new or anxious about cannabis, I look for bisabolol and linalool in the profile. Those are the terpenes that tend toward gentle.”
Common Michigan Strains
Strain data coming as Michigan dispensaries connect with Photi.
Valencene
FunFresh citrus, orange peel, slightly woody
Fresh, social, uplifting. A clean citrus character distinct from limonene's sharper lemon quality.
“Valencene is limonene's more relaxed cousin. Same citrus family, different character — rounder, sweeter, less sharp. Great for social situations where you want to be present without being wired.”
Common Michigan Strains
Strain data coming as Michigan dispensaries connect with Photi.
Geraniol
RestfulFloral, rose-like, fruity
Relaxing, distinctive, evening. Strains with notable geraniol have an unusually floral character that people remember.
“Geraniol strains are the ones people describe as smelling like a flower shop. It's distinctive enough that once you know it, you recognize it immediately — and you understand why some people seek it out specifically.”
Common Michigan Strains
Strain data coming as Michigan dispensaries connect with Photi.
Now that you know the science
Talk to Photi and find the right terpene profile for your headspace today. The knowledge is interesting. The right product is the point.
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