What is caryophyllene?
Caryophyllene is a terpene, one of the aromatic substances that give plants their smell and taste. It smells of spices: peppery, woody and with a hint of black pepper. It's one of the terpenes often found in cannabis.
Its full name is beta-caryophyllene, and it comes from the old scientific name for cloves, one of the spices it appears in. When you open a jar of freshly ground black pepper, part of that sharp smell is caryophyllene.
In cannabis, like the other terpenes, it's produced in the trichomes, the tiny glands that cover the buds. Each strain has its own blend and, in some, caryophyllene is one of the main players.
What does it smell like?
Its aroma is described as spicy, peppery, woody and a little earthy. In cannabis it adds a peppery, spicy or woody background that makes the strain's scent deeper and less sweet.
Where else can you find it?
- Black pepper: one of its best-known sources.
- Cloves: it's part of their aroma, along with other substances.
- Herbs: it's found in rosemary, basil and oregano.
- Hops and cinnamon: it shows up in these too.
A slightly different terpene
Most terpenes are small, very volatile molecules, meaning they evaporate easily. Caryophyllene is a bigger, heavier molecule, so it takes longer to evaporate than terpenes like limonene.
What it means on a product page
If you see "Terpenes: caryophyllene" on a product page, the seed bank is telling you that the strain leans towards spicy, peppery or woody aromas. If you like scents with character rather than sweet or fruity ones, it's a good clue.
As with all terpenes, use it as a guide to aroma and flavor, not to the effect: that depends on the plant's whole makeup and on each person. And remember that the actual amount depends on how it's grown, harvested and dried.
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