Key takeaways
- Terpenes are hydrocarbons made of isoprene units (C5H8). Terpenoids are terpenes with added oxygen or other changes, such as alcohol, aldehyde, ketone or ether groups.
- Limonene, pinene, myrcene and caryophyllene are terpenes. Linalool, geraniol, citral, menthol, borneol and eucalyptol are terpenoids.
- The difference matters for aroma: hydrocarbons tend to smell sharp and fresh, while oxygen-containing terpenoids tend to smell floral, minty, rosy or lemony.
- Oxidation turns terpenes into terpenoids over time, which is why an old, half-empty bottle can smell different.
- Labels say “terpenes” for both groups because that is the standard trade term. Elite Terpenez uses it the same way.
- Elite Terpenez profiles are blends. Their listed aroma notes describe the smell, not the contents.
What are terpenoids?
Terpenoids are natural compounds made from the same building block as terpenes, a five-carbon unit called isoprene, but with a modified structure. The usual change is the addition of oxygen, which turns a hydrocarbon into an alcohol, aldehyde, ketone, ether or acid. Some terpenoids have also lost or moved a methyl group, so the carbon count no longer follows the neat multiples of five that pure terpenes show.
A review in a peer-reviewed journal describes terpenes as hydrocarbons and terpenoids as oxygen-containing terpenes, and notes that the name “terpene” was suggested in 1866 for the C10H16 hydrocarbons. Some sources call the wider family isoprenoids.
Isoprene itself is a small molecule with the formula C5H8, a molecular weight of 68.12 g/mol and the CAS number 78-79-5, and it boils at only about 34 C, according to PubChem’s isoprene record. Plants join these units head to tail in chains and rings to make every terpene and terpenoid. For the basics, our guide to what terpenes are is the best place to start.
Are terpenoids and terpenes treated the same on a product label?
The difference is the presence of oxygen and other changes to the skeleton. A terpene contains only carbon and hydrogen. A terpenoid contains carbon, hydrogen and at least one extra feature, most often oxygen. The same ten-carbon frame can be a terpene or a terpenoid, and the smell changes with it.
| Feature | Terpenes | Terpenoids |
|---|---|---|
| Composition | Carbon and hydrogen only | Carbon, hydrogen and usually oxygen |
| Other names | Hydrocarbon terpenes | Oxygenated terpenes, isoprenoids |
| Typical formula (C10 examples) | C10H16 | C10H18O, C10H16O, C10H20O |
| Examples | Limonene, pinene, myrcene, terpinolene | Linalool, geraniol, citral, menthol, eucalyptol |
| Typical aroma | Sharp, fresh, citrus, pine, earthy | Floral, rosy, minty, lemony, camphor-like |
| Volatility | Light hydrocarbons are usually the most volatile, the first notes you smell | Usually less volatile than hydrocarbons of the same size, sitting in the middle of a blend |
| Solubility | Mix with oils, almost insoluble in water | Mix with oils and are usually a little more water-soluble |
The line between the two is not always drawn. Some authors use “terpenoid” for every member of the family, hydrocarbons included. That is why you will see both words used for the same compounds across papers, suppliers and shops.
How are terpenes and terpenoids classified by size?
Both groups are sorted by how many isoprene units they contain. A review of terpenes and terpenoids in essential oils lists the classes as hemiterpenes (one unit, C5), monoterpenes (two units, C10), sesquiterpenes (three units, C15), diterpenes (four units, C20), triterpenes (six units, C30) and tetraterpenes (eight units, C40).
| Class | Isoprene units | Carbons | Example terpene or terpenoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hemiterpene | 1 | C5 | Isoprene |
| Monoterpene or monoterpenoid | 2 | C10 | Limonene (terpene), linalool (terpenoid) |
| Sesquiterpene or sesquiterpenoid | 3 | C15 | Caryophyllene (terpene), bisabolol (terpenoid) |
| Diterpene or diterpenoid | 4 | C20 | Phytol (terpenoid) |
| Triterpene | 6 | C30 | Squalene |
| Tetraterpene | 8 | C40 | Beta-carotene |
For aroma and flavour work, almost everything of interest sits in the two middle classes. Monoterpenes and monoterpenoids are light enough to evaporate and be smelled readily. Sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpenoids are heavier and linger. Larger molecules from diterpenes upward are mostly too heavy to be smelled at room temperature.
What are examples of common terpenes and terpenoids?
The table below lists the molecules makers meet most often, sorted into hydrocarbon terpenes and oxygenated terpenoids. Data comes from PubChem and the matching Elite Terpenez guide, and the aroma column is a general description.
| Molecule | Group | Formula | CAS number | Aroma |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Limonene | Terpene (hydrocarbon) | C10H16 | 138-86-3 | Citrus peel |
| Alpha-pinene | Terpene (hydrocarbon) | C10H16 | 80-56-8 | Fresh pine |
| Myrcene | Terpene (hydrocarbon) | C10H16 | 123-35-3 | Earthy, herbal |
| Beta-caryophyllene | Terpene (hydrocarbon) | C15H24 | 87-44-5 | Spicy, peppery |
| Linalool | Terpenoid (alcohol) | C10H18O | 78-70-6 | Floral, lavender-like |
| Geraniol | Terpenoid (alcohol) | C10H18O | 106-24-1 | Sweet rose |
| Citral | Terpenoid (aldehyde) | C10H16O | 5392-40-5 | Sharp lemon |
| Eucalyptol | Terpenoid (ether) | C10H18O | 470-82-6 | Fresh, camphor-like |
| Borneol | Terpenoid (alcohol) | C10H18O | 507-70-0 | Piney, camphor-like |
| Bisabolol | Terpenoid (alcohol) | C15H26O | 515-69-5 | Soft, floral, sweet |
Notice that linalool, geraniol, eucalyptol and borneol share the formula C10H18O. They differ only in how the atoms are arranged and which functional group they carry, which is why four molecules with the same formula smell so different. It is also why the CAS number, not the formula, is the safe way to identify a molecule on a supplier listing.
How does oxidation turn terpenes into terpenoids?
Terpenes react slowly with oxygen in the air, and the products are oxygen-containing molecules, in other words terpenoids. This is called oxidation or autoxidation. Limonene, for example, can form oxygenated products such as limonene oxide and carvone, and pinene can form oxides and related alcohols and ketones. Geraniol can oxidise to the aldehyde geranial, one of the two forms of citral, which is why an aged floral note can drift toward lemon.
The practical result is a change in smell. A fresh citrus profile can lose its bright top note and pick up a flat, turpentine-like or old-peel character. Warmth, light and air speed this up, which is why Elite Terpenez asks for tightly closed bottles stored cool and dark, refrigerated if possible. Oxidised terpenes can also be harder on the skin than the fresh material, which is one more reason to wear gloves.
Plants make terpenoids on purpose too, not only by accident. Enzymes in the living plant add oxygen or water to terpene precursors, so a natural plant extract already contains both groups.
Why do labels say terpenes and not terpenoids?
Labels say “terpenes” because that is the standard trade word for the whole family of plant aroma molecules. “Terpene profile” is the term makers, buyers and suppliers all search for and recognise, and the stricter “terpene and terpenoid profile” is clumsy. In practice a profile described as a set of terpenes is almost always a mixture of hydrocarbons and oxygenated molecules.
Elite Terpenez follows the trade usage. Our product word is “terpenes”, our lines are named by origin (cannabis-derived terpenes, CDTs, and botanical-derived terpenes, BDTs), and we describe each profile by its listed aroma notes rather than by a list of molecules. When we need to be precise, as in our single-molecule guides, we name the class: hydrocarbon terpene, terpenoid alcohol, terpenoid ether, and so on.
Which Elite Terpenez profiles show the range from fresh to floral?
Elite Terpenez does not sell single-molecule terpene or terpenoid products. Every profile is a blend, and we do not state the contents of any profile, so the table shows each profile’s listed aroma notes only. As a rough guide, fresh, sharp notes such as citrus and pine tend to come from hydrocarbons, while floral, minty and rosy notes tend to come from terpenoids. These profiles show both directions:
| Profile | Line | Listed aroma notes |
|---|---|---|
| Super Silver Haze | Classic Strains (BDT) | Earthy spice, sweet citrus, woody floral |
| ATF (Alaskan Thunder F*) | Diamond Line (CDT) | Menthol, pine, citrus, skunk, sage |
| Blueberry Lavender Jones | Infused Terpenes (BDT) | Sweet blueberry, soft lavender, floral jam |
| Ghost Train Haze | Premium Line (CDT) | Sweet, floral, citrus |
| Super Lemon Haze | Classic Strains (BDT) | Fresh lemon, lemon peel, sweet citrus |
| Jack Herer | Natural Terpenes (BDT) | Bright pine, zesty citrus, spicy herbal finish |
For a sharp, fresh direction, look at Super Lemon Haze or Jack Herer. For a softer floral or minty direction, look at Ghost Train Haze, Blueberry Lavender Jones or ATF. For a profile that mixes both, such as woody floral with citrus, start with Super Silver Haze. To browse more, see the Classic Strains, Diamond Line and Natural Terpenes collections, or the full Flavour Catalogue.
For cannabinoid content of any profile other than the Diamond Line, contact us and we will confirm before you order. Diamond Line terpenes contain no THC or other cannabinoids. Cannabis flower is a controlled drug in the UK and Elite Terpenez does not sell cannabis.
Why does the terpene-terpenoid difference matter to makers?
It matters because the two groups behave differently in a recipe, and knowing which is which helps you read a supplier listing and predict how a blend will age. You do not need to be a chemist to use it, but four rules of thumb are worth keeping:
- Top notes fade first: hydrocarbon terpenes are usually the most volatile, so citrus and pine top notes fade before floral and woody middles.
- Check the CAS number: many terpenoids share a formula, so the number, not the name or the formula, tells you which molecule you are buying.
- Expect aging to change the smell: as hydrocarbons oxidise they turn into terpenoids, so an old bottle drifts toward flat, floral or lemony.
- Test small: because the two groups mix differently with fruit, cream and spice, run a small batch, wait a day, and re-smell it before scaling.
The practical guides to individual molecules are the best next step, and our terpinolene guide, which covers a hydrocarbon terpene with a fresh, slightly floral smell, is a good place to see how a single molecule is profiled.
What are the starting cuts and handling rules?
Terpene profiles are concentrated and must never be used undiluted. Elite Terpenez’s starting cuts are 6% for vape cartridges, 4% for concentrates, 2% for tinctures, 1% for edibles, 0.5% for beverages and 3% for topicals. Use the terpene mixing calculator to turn a percentage into a weight, and always test a small batch first.
Many terpenes and terpenoids irritate skin and eyes, and some are flammable or classed as skin sensitisers. Wear gloves and eye protection, keep every bottle away from children, pets, heat and flames, and work in a ventilated space. For general workplace guidance, see the HSE’s COSHH basics. Products are for adults (18+) only. This guide is about flavour and aroma, and it is not medical advice.
Storage
Store terpene bottles tightly closed in a cool, dark place; refrigerated is ideal. Light, warmth and air speed up oxidation, so a half-empty bottle left open will lose its freshness faster than a full, closed one. Decant what you need and reseal promptly.
If a profile starts to smell flat, sharp or stale, it has probably aged. It is better to test a fresh bottle than to adjust your recipe to compensate. Label the date you opened each bottle so you can track how long it has been in use.
Sizes and bulk
Profiles come in 2 ml, 5 ml and 10 ml bottles. For larger runs, ask about bulk on the wholesale and bulk page. Free UK delivery on orders over £80.
Frequently asked questions
What are terpenoids?
Terpenoids are terpenes that have been chemically modified, usually by adding oxygen to make an alcohol, aldehyde, ketone or ether. Examples include linalool, geraniol, citral, menthol and eucalyptol. They are built from the same five-carbon isoprene units as terpenes and are found in the essential oils of many plants.
Are terpenoids and terpenes treated the same on a product label?
Terpenes are hydrocarbons containing only carbon and hydrogen, such as limonene, pinene and myrcene. Terpenoids contain oxygen or other modifications, such as linalool and geraniol. Terpenes tend to smell sharp and fresh, while terpenoids tend to smell floral, minty or rosy. In everyday use the word terpenes often covers both groups.
Is limonene a terpene or a terpenoid?
Limonene is a terpene. Its formula is C10H16, so it contains only carbon and hydrogen and has no oxygen. Linalool, by contrast, is a terpenoid because its formula, C10H18O, includes an oxygen atom in an alcohol group. Limonene can oxidise in air to oxygen-containing products such as limonene oxide.
Is linalool a terpene or a terpenoid?
Linalool is a terpenoid, specifically a monoterpenoid alcohol with the formula C10H18O and CAS number 78-70-6. Many suppliers and shops still call it a terpene, which is correct in the broad everyday sense. The strict chemical term is terpenoid because the molecule contains oxygen in an alcohol group.
Why do products say terpenes and not terpenoids?
Terpenes is the standard trade term for the whole family of plant aroma molecules, and people search for it, so labels and shops use it for both groups. Elite Terpenez follows that usage. Where precision matters, as in our single-molecule guides, we name the class, such as hydrocarbon terpene or terpenoid alcohol.
Do terpenes turn into terpenoids?
Yes, through oxidation. Terpenes react slowly with oxygen in the air to form oxygen-containing products, which changes the smell and can make an aged bottle smell flat or different. Light, warmth and air speed this up. Storing bottles tightly closed, cool and dark, and refrigerated if possible, slows it down.
Which Elite Terpenez profiles have floral or minty aromas?
Profiles with floral, lavender, minty or sage-led aromas include Ghost Train Haze, Blueberry Lavender Jones, Super Silver Haze and ATF, across four lines. Each lists its own aroma notes on its product page. Elite Terpenez does not state the contents of its profiles, only their listed aroma notes and ingredients.
Ready to explore the range from fresh citrus to soft floral? Browse the Classic Strains, Diamond and Natural Terpenes ranges, order samples in 2 ml bottles, or contact us for bulk quantities and to confirm anything about a profile before you order.
