What are terpenes?

What are terpenes?

Terpenes are a very large family of natural organic compounds made of carbon and hydrogen. Every one of them is assembled from the same small building block, isoprene, which has the formula C5H8 and is catalogued in PubChem’s isoprene record. Join two isoprene units and you get a ten-carbon monoterpene such as limonene or myrcene (both C10H16). Join three and you get a fifteen-carbon sesquiterpene such as caryophyllene (C15H24).

The name comes from turpentine, the pine resin product in which chemists first studied these molecules. The German chemist August Kekulé is credited with coining “terpene” in the nineteenth century. Today tens of thousands of terpene and terpenoid structures are known, which is why a lemon, a pine forest and a hop field can all smell so different while sharing the same basic chemistry.

Three ideas are enough to start with:

• Terpenes are small and volatile. They evaporate easily, which is exactly why we can smell them.
• They are built on a pattern. Count the carbons and divide by five to see how many isoprene units a molecule contains.
• Each one has its own aroma. Limonene smells of citrus peel, pinene of pine, linalool of flowers, caryophyllene of pepper and spice.

This page is the plain-English hub for everything else on the site. Use the contents list above to jump to a question, or read it through from the top.

Where do terpenes come from in nature?

Terpenes are made by plants, and also by some fungi, insects and bacteria. Plants produce them in tiny glands, resin ducts and oil sacs, which is why scratching a citrus peel or crushing a pine needle releases a burst of scent. The two-step recipe is the same everywhere: the plant makes isoprene-based building blocks, then enzymes join and fold them into hundreds of different shapes.

You meet terpenes every day, often without noticing. A short tour of familiar sources shows how widely they are spread:

• Citrus peel: orange, lemon and clementine oils are made largely of limonene, which can account for around nine-tenths of orange peel oil.
• Conifers: pine, spruce and fir resin carry pinene, the smell of a forest in the sun.
• Herbs and spices: rosemary, basil, thyme, black pepper and cloves each lean on their own terpene mix. Black pepper and cloves are rich in caryophyllene.
• Flowers: lavender, rose, jasmine and chamomile carry linalool, geraniol and bisabolol.
• Hops: the beer ingredient contains myrcene, humulene and caryophyllene, which is why humulene is named after Humulus lupulus.
• Fruit: mango, grape and apple skin carry small amounts of several terpenes.
• The cannabis plant: it produces dozens of terpenes, and the smell of a strain is mostly down to its terpene mix.

Review papers on plant chemistry, such as this open-access overview of terpene biochemistry, describe how widely these molecules are spread. For the specific aroma and source of one molecule, our single-terpene guides go deeper, for example pinene, geraniol and citral.

Natural amounts vary with the plant variety, the region and the extraction method, so no source has one fixed recipe. That variation is the reason a supplier blends and tunes a profile rather than relying on a single raw oil.

What do terpenes do in a product?

In a finished product, terpenes provide aroma and flavour. That is their whole job on this site. Elite Terpenez sells terpenes as flavour and aroma ingredients and makes no claims about effects. What you can say precisely is how a terpene smells, how fast it evaporates and how it behaves next to the other ingredients.

The key idea is volatility. A molecule with a low boiling point leaves the liquid quickly, so you smell it first. A molecule with a higher boiling point lingers. Perfumers use this to describe a scent as three layers, and the same logic applies to flavour work:

Boiling points here are rounded from PubChem records. They are a guide to the order of evaporation, not a fixed rule, because the other ingredients in a blend change how each note behaves. The practical lesson: a profile loaded with light top-note molecules smells brilliant when you open the bottle but fades faster than one with a strong base.

The question “what do terpenes do” is often asked about the plant itself. Plants make terpenes as part of their own chemistry, and botanists study the reasons. For a product maker the answer is simpler: they supply the smell and taste that make a product recognisable.

What types of terpenes are there?

Terpenes are grouped by how many isoprene units they contain. Review articles such as this open-access paper on terpenes in essential oils use the same scheme: hemiterpenes (one unit), monoterpenes (two), sesquiterpenes (three), diterpenes (four) and so on. The size of the molecule largely decides how easily it evaporates.

For flavour and aroma work, only the first three rows matter. Diterpenes and larger molecules are too heavy to evaporate and carry scent, so they play little part in what you smell. Monoterpenes make up the bright, quickly-moving top of most profiles. Sesquiterpenes add depth and a slow finish. That is why the same product can smell different a minute after opening and an hour later.

Within each class, molecules differ by shape. They can be a straight chain (acyclic, like myrcene), a single ring (monocyclic, like limonene) or two joined rings (bicyclic, like pinene). Two molecules can share the same formula yet smell completely different, because the arrangement of atoms is different. Limonene and terpinolene are both C10H16; one smells of orange peel, the other of sweet pine with a floral edge.

What is the difference between terpenes, terpenoids, flavonoids and cannabinoids?

These four words are often mixed up. Terpenes and terpenoids are close relatives. Flavonoids and cannabinoids are different chemical families that sometimes turn up in the same plants. The table gives the short version.

Strictly speaking, “terpenoid” is the wider word, since a terpenoid is any molecule derived from the terpene pattern. Linalool, geraniol and borneol are terpenoids because they carry an alcohol group. The trade, and this site, uses “terpenes” for both, except where the difference matters, as it does in our geraniol guide and borneol guide.

Cannabinoids are a separate family and not terpenes at all. The plant builds them using a terpene-like part, which is one reason the two are mentioned together, but chemically and commercially they are different things. Diamond Line terpenes contain no THC or other cannabinoids. For the other lines, contact us and we will confirm before you order.

What are the main terpenes and what do they smell like?

Hundreds of terpenes exist, but a handful carry most of the aromas people recognise. The table lists twelve you will see on supplier sheets and in the aroma notes of terpene products, with the numbers a buyer needs. Data comes from PubChem records, with boiling points at normal pressure unless stated.

Read the aroma column as a smell description, nothing more. Each of these molecules has its own PubChem entry if you want the raw data, for instance limonene and caryophyllene. Four things are worth remembering when you compare suppliers:

• Check the CAS number. Limonene appears as 138-86-3 for the general material and 5989-27-5 for the d-form; pinene and bisabolol each have several entries.
• Isomers matter. Alpha-pinene and beta-pinene share a formula yet smell different. Citral is itself a mixture of two isomers, geranial and neral.
• No single molecule smells like a strain. A strain’s aroma comes from a combination.
• Neighbours change the picture. Linalool beside citrus smells different from linalool beside pine.

We publish single-molecule guides for the less obvious ones: geraniol, pinene, bisabolol, terpinolene, citral and borneol. They sit in the Guides section of the journal, together with newer explainers.

More single-terpene guides: humulene, eucalyptol, terpineol, fenchol and ocimene, nerolidol, and the explainer terpenoids: how they differ from terpenes.

What is a terpene profile, and what are strain-specific terpenes?

A terpene profile is the particular mix of terpenes and other aroma molecules that makes up one smell. A plant’s profile is set by its genetics, its environment and how it is processed afterwards. When someone says “this strain smells of lemon, fuel and spice”, they are describing a terpene profile in everyday words.

Strain-specific terpenes are profiles built to match the aroma and flavour of a named cultivar, such as Biscotti, Gelato or Sour Diesel. Reports of what lab tests commonly find in the flower often point to caryophyllene, limonene and myrcene, but a strain’s character comes from the many smaller components around them. For that reason we describe our profiles by their listed aroma notes rather than by percentages.

A strain’s aroma is recreated in one of two ways:

• From the plant itself. Cannabis-derived terpenes (CDTs) are extracted from the strain and refined to keep its character. These are the Diamond Line and Premium Line.
• From botanical sources. Botanical-derived terpenes (BDTs) are blended from non-cannabis plants and flavouring to match the target aroma. These are the Natural, Infused and Flavour Catalogue ranges.

Our strain write-ups show how this works for individual flavours, including Biscotti, Lemon Cherry Gelato, Ice Cream Cake, Purple Punch, Sour Diesel and Blue Zushi. Each covers the flavour, the reported lineage and the Elite profiles that carry it. Elite Terpenez does not sell cannabis, and the strain names describe a flavour, not a product that contains the plant.

Cannabis-derived or botanical-derived terpenes: what is the difference?

Both types are real terpenes. The difference is where the aroma molecules come from. Neither is better in every case, and the honest answer depends on what you are making and what you need to document.

The source can matter for compliance in your own product, so ask before you build a recipe around a profile. The ingredient field on every Elite product page states whether it is CDT, BDT or both and whether flavouring is listed. Whichever you choose, the product is sold for its aroma and flavour only.

If you already work with another supplier’s profile, tell us what you use and we will suggest the closest Elite match. Details are on the wholesale and bulk page, and the news post on wholesale accounts for UK brands explains how to apply.

What are Elite Terpenez’s terpene lines?

Elite Terpenez sells 471 terpene profiles in five lines, and each profile comes in 2 ml, 5 ml and 10 ml bottles. The lines differ in where the terpenes come from and how they are described, not in what they are for: all are flavour and aroma ingredients for product makers and brands (adults only, 18+).

The Flavour Catalogue is made up of five series, which you can also browse on their own:

• DNA Series (36 profiles): strain-true profiles built from the original cultivar, using CDT and BDT.
• All Natural Infused (30): strain flavours with natural flavouring.
• Classic Flavour Infused (30): classic strain flavours with an infused lift.
• Flavour Infused (96): fruit, candy, dessert and ice flavours.
• Classic Strains (50): the classic strain profiles people already know and ask for.

Here is how the lines map to the job a maker has in mind. It is a starting point, not a rule:

Each product page lists its own aroma notes and ingredients. We describe profiles only by those listed notes and never state a recipe or percentage. The same flavour often exists in more than one line, so you can compare, for example, Biscotti in the Diamond Line with Biscotti in Classic Flavour Infused. Free UK delivery on orders over £80.

Choosing between lines? Read strain specific terpenes explained for how a profile is rebuilt, how to choose a UK terpene supplier for a buyer checklist, and what are terps for the slang.

How do you choose a terpene profile?

Choose by aroma first, then by base product, line and budget, and confirm with a 2 ml sample. A short sequence saves wasted batches:

1. Pick an aroma family. Citrus, pine and forest, floral, fruit and candy, dessert and cream, fuel and earth, or spice. Our product pages list three aroma notes per profile, so scan those.
2. Think about the base product. A rich, creamy base softens citrus and tends to carry dessert notes well. A thin, clear base shows every detail, good or bad.
3. Choose the line. Decide whether you need cannabis-derived terpenes (Diamond, Premium, DNA) or botanical-derived ones (Natural, Infused and the rest of the Flavour Catalogue).
4. Set a budget in terms of use. A profile that works at 1% costs less per batch than one you need at 6%, so compare cost per finished unit, not per bottle.
5. Order a 2 ml sample. Blend a small test batch, let it rest, then judge the aroma again after a day.

A quick guide to aroma families and where to look:

• Citrus: Super Lemon Haze (Classic Strains) lists fresh lemon, lemon peel and sweet citrus; Clementine lists citrus, sweet and fresh.
• Pine and forest: White Fire OG and Skywalker OG both list pine in their notes.
• Floral: Blueberry Lavender Jones lists soft lavender, and Ghost Train Haze lists sweet, floral and citrus.
• Tropical fruit: Twisted Tropics lists ripe mango, tangy pineapple and a passionfruit twist.
• Cool and minty: Peppermint Mocha lists cool peppermint, rich cocoa and roasted coffee.
• Spice and pepper: King Louis XIII lists sweet earthy pine and peppery spice.

Not sure where to begin? Browse the whole Flavour Catalogue, or use the contact page to describe what you are making and we will suggest options.

How do you use terpenes in a product?

Terpenes are used diluted, never undiluted, at a small percentage of the total weight of a batch. The percentage depends on the product type, the strength of the profile and your own taste, so always start low and test a small batch first. The site’s starting cuts are below.

These are starting points only, and intended for adults making products within the law. Your base ingredients, recipe and local rules all affect what works for you. A step-by-step approach keeps results repeatable:

1. Weigh, do not measure by drop. Use a scale accurate to 0.01 g. Terpene density varies, so weight is more reliable than volume.
2. Calculate the cut. Multiply the batch weight by the percentage. For a 50 g batch at 2%, that is 1 g.
3. Make a small test batch first. A tenth of your normal size is plenty.
4. Mix thoroughly and gently. Add the terpene to the base, mix until it is evenly distributed, and avoid unnecessary heat, which drives off the light top notes.
5. Rest, then judge. Compare the smell and taste after a day, not just after mixing.
6. Write it down. Record the profile, weight, percentage, base and date so a good batch can be repeated.

The terpene mixing calculator does the arithmetic for you and shows which bottles to order (a mix of 2 ml, 5 ml and 10 ml) for your batch size, pointing to bulk when the batch is large. The update is described in our calculator news post. Sizes are explained in the sizes post, and larger volumes are available on request through the wholesale page.

Step-by-step maths, mixing order and test batches: how to use terpenes.

How should you handle and store terpenes?

Store terpenes cool, dark and tightly closed, with as little air in the bottle as possible. Refrigerated storage is ideal. Light, warmth and oxygen are the enemies: they speed up oxidation, which changes the smell and can make the liquid smell flat, sharp or off.

Oxidation is why limonene-led profiles can drift over time. Citral, the lemon-smelling aldehyde, is made when geraniol oxidises, which is why aged floral profiles can swing towards lemon. The practical response is simple: label the date you open each bottle, and if a profile starts to smell different from a fresh sample, test again with fresh material rather than adjusting the recipe to compensate.

Check each bottle’s label for the shelf life. Match your bottle sizes to your rate of use: a 2 ml bottle suits trials, a 10 ml bottle suits regular small batches, and bulk suits production.

How do you check terpene quality and use them safely?

Quality starts with knowing what you are buying and ends with careful handling. Many terpenes are flammable liquids that irritate skin and eyes, and some, such as geraniol and oxidised citrus terpenes, can cause skin sensitisation. Safe habits are not optional.

What to look for in a supplier

• A clear product record. Name, line, listed aroma notes, ingredients (CDT, BDT, flavouring) and size.
• Documentation on request. A certificate of analysis (COA) is a lab report for a specific material. In general terms it can show identity and composition measured by gas chromatography, and test results for items such as pesticides, heavy metals or residual solvents. Ask what documentation exists for the exact product you plan to buy.
• Honest labelling. Our bottle labels were rolled out between 21 and 23 October 2026. Each is coded to its line by colour and name, carries a QR code that opens that exact profile and size on the website, and shows the warning text, company address and shelf life. Read how in our label and QR code news post.
• A named seller. Elite Terpenez is sold by ELITETERPENES LTD, UK company 16599313, based in Bolton. See about us and quality and safety.

Safe handling of concentrated terpenes

• Never use a concentrated terpene undiluted; dilute it as set out above.
• Wear gloves and eye protection, and work in a well-ventilated space.
• Keep away from children and pets, and away from heat, sparks and flames.
• Keep bottles tightly closed, labelled and stored as above.
• Clean spills straight away, and follow the warning text on the label.

The UK Health and Safety Executive explains the general approach to chemical hazards on its COSHH basics page. Our own quality and safety page sets out the site’s approach, and the FAQ page covers common order questions. Products are for adults (18+) only.

Are terpenes legal in the UK?

Terpenes are aroma and flavour compounds found in many everyday plants, and they are sold as ingredients in the UK. Whether a particular product is lawful, though, depends on what it contains, where its terpenes come from and how it is used, so there is no single yes or no for every case. This is general information, not legal advice.

Three points to keep clear:

• Cannabis flower is a controlled drug in the UK, and Elite Terpenez does not sell cannabis. Our strain names describe a flavour. The main law is the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, available on legislation.gov.uk.
• Diamond Line terpenes contain no THC or other cannabinoids. For the other lines, contact us and we will confirm before you order.
• Your own product is your responsibility. If you are making something for sale, check the rules that apply to that product type and take advice if you are unsure.

Elite Terpenez sells terpenes to UK adults and businesses (18+) as flavour and aroma ingredients. We make no claims about medical use, and the information on this site is not medical advice.

Terpene glossary

A short list of the words you will meet on supplier sheets and product pages.

Frequently asked questions

Ready to build a flavour? Browse the Flavour Catalogue, the Diamond Line, Premium Line, Natural Terpenes and Infused Terpenes, order 2 ml samples, or contact us for bulk quantities and to confirm anything about a profile before you order.