Terpene Spotlight: Linalool

In the first installment of our latest blog series, we are diving a little deeper into individual terpenes. We’ll discuss which plants contain individual terpenes, the aroma, and flavor of terpenes, as well as some potential health benefits they may have. Here we are discussing linalool.

If you are wondering about the basics of what terpenes are, take a look at our Terpenes 101 article. Before we get into more in-depth information about linalool, let’s reiterate some important facts about terpenes.

General Facts About Terpenes

• Terpenes are found in hundreds of plants in our natural world. Terpenes are organic compounds that are responsible for giving plants their distinct smell, taste, and effect when ingested.
• Terpenes also can be found in fungi, microbes, and even some insects. Scientific researchers hypothesize that terpenes account for the most complex communication network in our natural world.
• When combined, specific terpenes go well together when it comes to taste, aroma, and effects.
• Over 150 terpenes can be found in varieties of cannabis! Like most things cannabis, trying out different combinations of terpene profiles will help you decide what you like best.
• Terpenes are located in the part of the plant called trichomes. These glands are found in cannabis flower - and they contain terps, cannabinoids, and all of the good stuff we love about cannabis. Check out our Trichomes 101 article for more information about the most important part of the cannabis plant.
• A combination of terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids in individual cultivars has been called “the Entourage Effect” by scientific researchers. More studies and research must be done, but this combined effect is thought to provide the therapeutic benefits of cannabis. More on the Entourage Effect in future articles.

Now that we’ve gone through a bit of a refresher course and reiterated some general facts about terpenes, let’s discuss specifics about linalool. We’ll cover how linalool smells and tastes, cultivars that contain this terpene, as well as some potential benefits of ingesting linalool.

Terpene Spotlight - Flavor and Aroma of Linalool

Linalool is one of the most common terpenes found in our natural world. According to Science Direct, linalool can be found in over 200 plants. Linalool has a mostly floral and slightly sweet aroma, which is pleasant to the nostrils. Linalool can be found in some of the highest concentrations in the plant lavender. Other plants and spices that contain linalool include basil, thyme, jasmine, and rosewood.

"Linalool can be found in some of the highest concentrations in the plant lavender. Other plants and spices that contain linalool include basil, thyme, jasmine, and rosewood."

Depending on the plant, linalool can also give off a taste and smell that is a bit spicy, especially when combined with Caryophyllene. More on Caryophyllene in future Terpene Spotlights. Linalool has a very pleasant scent, which is why it can be found in a multitude of flowers and spice plants worldwide. In fact, Linalool is so common in our natural world, that even those of us who don’t consume cannabis might ingest up to 2 grams a year just by eating common foods.

Popular Cultivars that Contain Linalool

Although linalool is found in many plants in our natural world, it’s not a terpene that dominates most cannabis varieties. In fact, linalool is typically listed as the third or fourth terpene found in specific cultivars. Some of the most popular cultivars that contain linalool include:

• Do-Si-Dos
• Trainwreck
• Chemdawg
• Zkittlez
• Grandaddy Purple

Linalool can be found as a third terpene in many purple cultivars, although this doesn’t always mean that purple varieties will taste or smell floral. Linalool is often overpowered by the first and second terpene in a cultivar’s profile, so if you are in search of varieties with a significant linalool content, you might find it to be a bit of a difficult search.

Potential Benefits of Linalool

One reason why linalool is found in hundreds of plants in our natural world is thanks to this terpene’s antimicrobial properties. Linalool serves as protection for many plants, and can also possibly be useful for human consumption. This terpene is found in lavender and peanut leaves, which is why it has been used in herbal healing methods for years - thanks to its sedative effects and anti-microbial properties.

When exposed to this interesting terpene, mice in laboratory situations have shown a decrease in anxiety and depressive behaviors. These studies in mice don’t always translate to usefulness in humans, but it’s a promising sign that should be looked into further as cannabis policy reform progresses. In addition to its anti-microbial and sedative properties, the terpene linalool can possibly be useful for pain and stress relief and act as an anti-anxiety.

Terpenes - the Future of Cannabis

As the future of cannabis classification needs a serious update, we believe that terpene profiles will be at the forefront of this classification update. The traditional Indica VS Sativa classification is outdated and is lacking quite a bit - especially since it’s next to impossible to quantify the specifics of cannabis phenotypes. As we learn more about the cannabis plant, terpenes will be integral to learning more about the incredible amount of useful and helpful properties contained within.

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