Terpenes are a large class of aromatic compounds found in the essential oils of most plants, not just cannabis, and are responsible for their unique scents and flavors, from the musky smell of myrcene in mangoes to the citrusy scent of limonene in lemons. In nature, these compounds help plants deter pests and attract pollinators. In cannabis, over 150 different terpenes have been identified, all secreted by the same glandular trichomes that produce cannabinoids like THC and CBD.

While not intoxicating on their own, research suggests terpenes interact synergistically with cannabinoids in the body through what is known as the "entourage effect," which can modulate or enhance the overall therapeutic and psychoactive effects of a particular strain, such as promoting relaxation or alertness.