Close your eyes and smell it!

The aromatic scents of cannabis flowers are usually the first you hit when you pull them out of the packaging. One of the fun parts of buying cannabis is opening the bag and sniffing to inhale the sweet or skunky aroma of your buds.

In general, cannabis has dozens of scents thanks to its rich terpene profiles. These terpenes combine to create an intoxicating space of magical smells with notes of funky cheese, diesel, lavender perfume, fresh pine, tropical pineapple, sweet berries, citrus, and many others. One thing about inhaling these unique combinations is that you feel like you’re floating.

Have you ever tried to distinguish cannabis strains based on their scents? Or at least distinguish indica from sativa-dominant strains by their aromas? Without considering their smells, modern day sativa and indica cannabis plants are becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish. This could come easily to a regular user of both strains and hybrids. To a new cannabis novice, however, it might look like muddy water.

The general claim is that sativa strains smell sweet and fruity, while indica strains smell grassy and earthy. If, on the other hand, it is a mixture of these fragrances, then it is a hybrid. Let’s examine how true this notion is.

Distinguishing between indica and sativa plants

If you’re wondering if there’s any scientific research to tell these two apart, I’m here to tell you there isn’t. Cannabis research focuses on other aspects than finding a way to differentiate between indica and sativa plants. Not to mention the drug’s long-standing federal ban in the United States. I imagine dozens of people will be lining up to participate in this remarkable study when scientists are finally ready to differentiate between indica, sativa, and hybrids based on their scents. However, we are still months away from this research.

While the focus right now is on distinguishing both variants, there’s no question that the plants in each group appear different. While sativas are thin and tall and are found in tropical climates like Hawaii and Mexico, indica plants are stocky and short. They are commonly grown in Central Asian regions such as Afghanistan and Pakistan. If you notice a cannabis plant with dense buds and broad leaves, it is indica, while one with scrawny buds and thin leaves is sativa.

Speaking of effects, some consumers are beginning to argue that as more strains are crossed, the difference between indica and sativa effects diminishes. They name the increasing mixing speed of both strains as the sole reason. Everyone used to think that sativa strains were for the head, while indica strains got you straight to bed. Today, this narrative is pushed against.

Now that you have all of that in mind, let’s dive into the aromas of cannabis plants and the compounds responsible for those unique scents, called terpenes.

Terpene effect on sativa and indica

Terpenes are naturally occurring oils produced by plants. They give plants their unique smell and taste. Each cannabis plant has individual terpene profiles that are partially responsible for the effects it induced upon consumption. Common terpenes are limonene, pinene, linalool, caryophyllene, etc.

Sativa plants produce pinene and limonene in large quantities. Smelling like fresh lemons, limonene is associated with elevated mood and bursts of energy. Pinene leaves your cannabis smelling fresh and citrusy. It sometimes makes a crop of cannabis plants smell like northwestern woods. This chemical compound is associated with memory and sharpness.

In contrast, indica plants produce significant amounts of linalool and caryophyllene. Linalool smells like lavender. It induces relaxing and sedative effects in users. Caryophyllene makes your plant smell like pepper and wood, which is commonly associated with pain relief.

In all, there are over a hundred identified cannabis terpenes. However, I have to say that the general statement about indica and sativa above might be valid. If you’ve got a bud that smells like a potpourri basket, you can also prep your bed before lighting the blunt, but if it smells like fresh lemon pine brine, save it for a fun night out.

However, some terpenes are difficult to place. Myrcene is one. Also, some typical indica and sativa plants smell like clover and paprika, which makes you wonder why.

Common terpenes produced by sativa and indica plants

myrcene

Myrcene smells of cloves and paprika. It is an important terpene in both sativa and indica plants. In all cannabis plants, it is responsible for inducing couchlock and a calming feeling in the user. Researchers also suggest that it may lower the resistance of the blood-brain barrier. This ensures that more cannabinoids have access to the ubiquitous CB1 receptors. Myrcene induces both sativa and indica effects, although some claim it has stronger psychoactive effects

If you have a strain that smells like cloves, cigarettes, or paprika, you can’t tell if it’s indica or sativa based on the smell. You may be able to use the other cannabinoids and terpenes to gauge which strain it is. If the next strongest smell is diesel, it could be sativa; However, if you have the second strongest smell close to a floral perfume, it is an indica.

limes

You will smell lime in the regular indica Bubba Kush and Sour Diesel, a sativa.

pinen

Pinene is found in the well-known indica Romulan and the distinctly sativa Jack Herer.

The entourage effect is important

All strains have different percentages of terpene profiles. And their induced effect in the long term depends on how well they interact with other chemical compounds in the plant and in the body. For example, myrcene must interact with other terpenes and cannabinoids before a significant effect can be induced. This phenomenon is commonly known as the entourage effect.

final remark

At this point, distinguishing between an indica plant and a sativa plant based on smell is not a reliable method. It is best to rely on the look and overall effect. However, if you think you can use your nose to accurately distinguish between the two, you are special. While you can’t use smell to differentiate, you can use it to select your buds for the week. As they say, if it smells good, it would probably treat you well.

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