Whenever you invest in a new CBD product, make it a
habit to give it a good whiff before trying that said product. Similarly, it’s good practice to smell your
CBD periodically while it is in your possession. CBD’s known for its particularly pungent
aroma, which many hemp enthusiasts like to analyze like a fine wine. The smell of cannabidiol actually tells us a
lot about its quality, potency, and even its properties.
Where Does CBD Actually Get Its Smell From?
Whenever a person tries a CBD product for the first
time, they are likely to remark in surprise that their new formula smells like
marijuana. Well, that’s not too
surprising. Hemp, from which we derive
cannabidiol, and marijuana are siblings, belonging to the cannabis genus. They are so similar in terms of their
chemical composition that they smell basically identical to one another.
Hemp and marijuana are both known for their pungent
aroma that is herbal, minty, citrusy, earthy and even a bit skunky. It is a strong smell that we can detect from
several feet away if a person is smoking cannabis within our vicinity. Of course, these two plants are quite
different from one another despite the fact that they smell the same to one
another.
The difference between the two plants, which explains
the difference in legal status, is their cannabinoid content. CBD and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
are both cannabis derived-cannabinoids. CBD
is the dominant compound in hemp, while THC is the dominant compound in
marijuana. This is why marijuana gets
you high and hemp does not.
Cannabinoids like CBD and THC may produce specific
effects, but they are odorless.
Cannabinoids do not have a flavor or smell whatsoever. So, the reason why hemp and marijuana smell
alike is because of the terpenes
in cannabis. Terpenes are secondary
compounds in cannabis, and each plant has over one hundred distinctive
terpenes.
Marijuana and hemp share identical terpenes, and it’s
the terpenes that give this plant its aroma profile. The hundreds of terpenes work together to
create a distinctive smell that is totally unique to cannabis. Therefore, the hemp smell that you’ve come to
know, and love is deriving purely from the terpenes in the plant, and not from
the CBD itself.
CBD Isolate vs. Broad Spectrum or Full Spectrum CBD
So, do all CBD products have the same, strong hemp
smell? Well, not exactly. It depends on the product that you are using.
For one thing, any hemp product, with the exception of
flower, can contain one of three types of hemp extracts.
- Full Spectrum Hemp: Contains
every compound in hemp, including the trace amount of THC naturally found in
the flower, along with every terpene that naturally occurs. - Broad Spectrum Hemp: THC-free,
but still has every terpene in the plant. - CBD Isolate:
An isolated cannabidiol extract without any terpenes or other compounds
present. It’s odorless and flavorless,
and so products made with CBD isolate will not smell like hemp.
An array of CBD-infused formulas on the market, like topicals,
tinctures, and even edibles are made with additional ingredients that have
their own distinctive smell. For
instance, gummies taste like sweet and fruity candy, which obviously has
nothing to do with the compounds of hemp.
Strains of Hemp and Their Aroma Profiles
Another thing worth keeping in mind is that the
precise aroma profile of hemp varies between strains. The strain refers to the breed of the hemp
plant, as each strain has its own distinctive configuration of terpenes. As each terpene adds an aroma note to the
hemp plant, different strains smell differently from one another. Some strains have a strong skunky smell, and
others are sweet and fruity. There are
hundreds of unique strains, each with its own particular smell.
Freshness and Quality, and Their Impact on CBD’s Aroma
Terpenes, along with cannabinoids, can destabilize and
degrade over time. When this happens,
they lose their potency, along with their aroma. So, the smell of your hemp can give you a
great idea as to how potent it is.
If your CBD product contains full spectrum or broad
spectrum extract, or is a flower product, and the smell is weak, then you know
that the terpenes have degraded in some way.
This can be because the product has aged, which happens after about two
years with an extract, and six months with flower. Or, the product might have been produced
using subpar methods, such as solvent-based extraction methods, that can make
the terpenes unstable and prone to breaking down quickly.
How You Store Your Hemp Can Affect its Smell
Another aspect that affects smell is storage. Once you’ve acquired CBD, you must store it
properly or else its compounds can break down and lose their potency, with the
terpenes losing the potency of their aroma as well. CBD should always be kept in a cool and dark
place that stays dry during the day, because light, heat and humidity can all
degrade these delicate compounds, causing them to weaken at a rapid pace.
Therefore, if you have CBD that has been sitting
around for a while, give it a good whiff.
If you can still smell the terpenes, you’re good. Of course, CBD isolate products will never
smell like terpenes because there are none, so do not expect them to smell like
anything.
When the Smell Indicates that Something is Wrong
In rare cases, hemp products can go bad in the sense
that they are harmful to take. If your CBD
product has the smell of mildew, or has a rancid taste, simply throw it
out. This indicates that harmful
microbes have entered the product.
Sometimes, a Simple Whiff Can Really Help Before Taking that Said CBD
Product
As you can see, CBD products that contain terpenes
have a distinctive smell, and that’s a good thing, because it means that the
compounds are fresh and full of properties that can yield desirable
results. Always make a point to smell
your hemp products to check for freshness and quality, as well as safety and
potency. And, if a CBD product smells
rancid or mildewy, simply toss it out and replace it when you can.
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