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Pine is one of the most intense scents that instantly teleports your mind to thoughts of the holiday season and your favorite kitchen cleaners. But do you know what gives pine trees and Pine-Sol their iconic scents? Pinene.
Pinene is a terpene named after its most recognizable source–pine trees. But this aromatic compound is also the most abundant terpene in nature, which means it occurs in various substances, including herbs, citrus, cleaning products, and cannabis.
In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about the powerful benefits of pinene, its variations, and how it affects your favorite cannabis strains.
Terpenes are chemical compounds responsible for giving plants their unique scents, from the sharpness of black pepper to the fragrance of a pine forest. They also help plants attract pollinators like bees while keeping away predators.
There are thousands of terpenes in nature, and over 150 of them occur in the cannabis plant. Every cannabis strain has a unique terpene profile that develops throughout its growth, and these compounds work alongside cannabinoids like CBD and THC to produce specific, desirable physiological effects. Different levels of terpenes across chemovars explain why our cannabis experience varies from strain to strain.
Pinene may be the most abundant terpene globally, but that’s partially due to its structural varieties–alpha-pinene and beta-pinene. The two have slight anatomical differences, but the main distinction is alpha-pinene is water-soluble while beta-pinene is not.
Alpha-pinene also referred to as simply “pinene,” is the compound responsible for the iconic smell of pine needles, as well as herbs like rosemary. This variation is more common in cannabis and clinical research.
Beta-pinene has a slightly different pine scent, which is responsible for the aromas of herbs like dill, basil, parsley, and hops. This variation is less common in cannabis and less researched, although preliminary studies show beta-pinene may have similar benefits and properties to alpha-pinene.
When it comes to cannabis’ full spectrum of therapeutic compounds, together is better. Known as the “entourage effect,” this concept refers to the way the plant’s chemical compounds, including cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids synergize to enhance its healing properties. In the past, most people attributed cannabis’ benefits to singular cannabinoids like THC and CBD. Now research tells us that the entire profile of compounds is critical to the overall effect.
Terpenes are a vital part of the entourage effect, comprising between 10 – 20% of the resin on the flowers. Pinene’s role is to help increase lung capacity and counter the effects of potent THC strains, like short-term memory loss. It also interacts with CBD to strengthen the strain’s anti-inflammatory properties.
The benefits of pinene are far-reaching. A 2019 review concluded the benefits of alpha and beta-pinene included antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, antioxidant, gastroprotective, and neuroprotective properties.
No. Isolated terpenes like pinene will not get you high. But terpenes are a crucial part of the entourage effect we mentioned, which means the presence of terpenes like pinene can directly affect the type of psychoactive experience you have.
Pinene is a bronchodilator, which means it expands your lung capacity, even when smoking. So when you inhale cannabis, you’re able to take deeper, fuller breaths, which can increase the high experience.
Like all terpenes, pinene can enter your system through aromatic compounds in the air or your food. But pinene is such a beloved scent that it pops up in a variety of other places too. Here’s where you can find it:
Pinene is common in cannabis, but it’s rarely the most dominant terpene (that honor goes to myrcene). It is, however, commonly the second most abundant terpene in cannabis, meaning you can find pinene in some of your favorite strains:
Pinene is abundant both throughout nature and in cannabis. Its unique ability to help you breathe better makes it an essential terpene in your favorite strains (and a good reason to get outside in wooded areas). But pinene is capable of so much more, and we’ve only just scratched the surface.
If you’re looking for pinene dominant strains, make sure to check the COA (certificate of analysis) before you buy. Every cannabis product you spend your money on should have a COA from a verified testing laboratory.
All COAs list the cannabinoid contents and safety information, but the best brands go further to include the terpene profile as well. Ask your budtender about which brands test for terpenes to find a product that fits your specific needs.