While hemp is a material that has been utilized for centuries, it has only recently been legalized and taken off the controlled substance list. This has opened up a lot of promise for the world of hemp, as well as the boost it is offering our economy. A lot of people get hemp confused with marijuana. This is understandable, as they both come from the cannabis plant. If you have ever been in the room with someone who is smoking weed you can instantly tell. So, one question we get a lot from our customers is, “Does hemp smell like skunk?”
The short answer is, hemp can have a skunk smell. It can resemble the aroma of marijuana, but it can have a number of other smells as well. Let’s find out more about the aroma of hemp and what you can expect when smoking hemp flowers.
The Different Scents of Hemp Flower
If you are new to hemp and wondering, “does hemp smell like skunk,” then you are in the right place. Since marijuana and hemp are both from cannabis, both will have similar smells. However, with hemp flowers, each strain has its own unique scent.
In addition, you will find that cannabis itself has a very distinctive smell. Hemp plants and marijuana plants are similar when it comes to aroma, but not always the same. When you drive past a hemp farm take notice if you can smell the plants. If the flowers are potent then you should smell the aroma quite distinctively.
It is not uncommon for various industries to offer up different descriptions of the aroma of their products. For example, coffee may have a nutty, smoky, and berry-like taste and smell. Wine on the other hand may have notes of being tart, fresh, or crisp.
Hemp can resemble a lot of different smells. It highly depends on the different strains that you are trying out, as to what aroma you will experience. So, a skunk smell is just one of many aromas that you may experience. It all comes down to the strain that you have as to what type of smell it will possess. Here are just some categories that you may experience when smoking hemp flower.
- Natural — earthy, herbal, woody
- Pungent — tea, sage, cheese
- Fruity — sweet, lemon, grapefruit
- Flowery — lavender, rose, violet
- Chemical — diesel, tar, ammonia
What Impacts the Aroma of CBD Flowers?
The terpenes within the CBD hemp flower are directly responsible for the aroma of the flower. Terpenes happen to be in all types of plants and fruits. In addition, they are the main ingredient in essential oils. They naturally occur and help serve as a defense mechanism, as well as attract insects for pollination.
Over 100 terpenes have been identified in cannabis. However, there are only some that occur in great enough quantity to be deemed as significant. When the hemp flower is left alone to bloom, the terpenes will have a strong odor. When the flower is harvested early, it will have a milder scent.
Why Does Smell Matter?
Many people are taking CBD products because of the overall wellness and balance that they have to offer. In doing so, the different aromas of hemp have come into play. The aroma of the CBD flower is somewhat important, as individuals will be drawn to different scents. When a person is drawn to a specific scent, they are more apt to try it. Smell is one of our 5 senses and the scent of the flower will change the overall experience that you have.
Scent is one of those things that make people think that the flower is more potent. While this may not always be true, it is a characteristic that draws people to one type of hemp flower over another.
CBD flowers have a distinct aroma that is easily described. The main scent of the flower can typically always be identified. A lack of smell tends to be a sign of low-quality bud.
How the Smell Changes When Smoking Hemp Flowers
You will notice that your hemp flower will smell different before it is lit. Once the flower is burning, it takes on a new aroma. The smell will become more intense and be very distinctive. Most people can easily identify the scent once they light their CBD flower. Of course, you must consider the other odors that are being mixed in when smoking hemp flowers, such as the fire, smoke, ash, and paper.
Popular Terpenes
Terpenes can also have a direct effect on the overall wellbeing that you receive from your CBD flower. Here are just some of the most popular terpenes profiles.
Pinene
You may have guessed it already, but pinene provides a pine scent. It is prevalent in the wood of conifer trees and hemp flowers. This terpene is often utilized in Chinese medicine.
Limonene
Limonene has the scent of lemons. It is an uplifting scent that can help improve the support that you get when smoking CBD flower.
Myrcene
Myrcene has a topical mango scent. It also contributes to the skunk smell in cannabis. You may also notice this terpene in mangoes, hops, and thyme.
Bisabolol
Bisabolol scent can range from floral, fruity, and even nutty. You may notice it smelling like coconut in some products.
Linalool
Linalool is prevalent in cannabis. It can also be found in lavender.
Guaiol
Guaiol also has a pine smell with a touch of rose. It is a major terpene profile that is found in hemp flower but also appears in an evergreen tree called guaiacum and the cypress pine.
Caryophyllene
Caryophyllene has a peppery and spicy scent. It is prevalent in cloves and rosemary.
Humulene
Humulene is found in hops and provides a beer-like scent to hemp flowers.
Terpinolene
Terpinolene can be identified in many flowers, trees, herbs, and fruits. It has a citric, pine, and floral scent to it. However, you will rarely see it listed as the main terpene in a hemp strain.
Comparing Hemp Strains
Let’s take a look at some popular hemp strains and their terpene profile.
- Lifter — Heavy limonene scent and gives off a sweet and citrusy smell.
- Sour Space Candy — This strain has an abundance of sweet, sour, and earthy scents.
- Special Sauce — Special sauce contains some rarer terpenes, such as b-caryophyllene (spicy), phytol (floral), and farnesene (hops).
- Pineberry — The main terpene in this strain is alpha-pine, which has an earthy, pine smell. You may also notice a fruity aroma.
- Elektra — This strain possesses the classic myrcene terpene.
- Hawaiian Haze — Just like it sounds, this tropical strain contains a fruity profile. It also has some floral undertones.
CBD Flower USA
As a premium vendor for CBD hemp flower, we offer a long range of products. If there is a specific terpene profile or particular strain that you are looking for, please do not hesitate to contact us. We would be happy to tell you more about our products. We hope we have answered your question, “Does hemp smell like skunk?” Next time you try a new strain of CBD flower take notice of all the different terpenes that it has to offer.
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