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Terpenes recently became a fascinating topic to talk about in the world of cannabis users and breeders worldwide. Along with its beautiful aroma, many people have been wondering what they are and where they come from. If you're one of these people, keep reading in order to gain knowledge on not only these two questions but also about their health benefits and why they're essential.

What are terpenes?

Terpenes or terpenoids are aromatic chemical compounds that you can usually find in hemp, marijuana, or other plants. The aroma differs from plant to plant depending on the plant strain because each specific strain has a different scent and flavor. This is why these aromatic oils are used in cannabis varieties to have flavors such as mint or berry, or citrus.

Terpenes were used in cannabis when people realized that plants used them for adaptive purposes. So instead of using it for its scent or aroma, the primary goal was to repel predators and lure pollinators. However, now terpenes have a wide variety of uses and benefits that we will talk about in a while.
Where do they come from?

Reaching the most crucial part of this article, many of you may be wondering where terpenes come from. This part might be a little complicated to understand, but we will try our best to guide you through the process with the knowledge we have.

As we've mentioned above, terpenes are compounds found in plants. One such plant is a cannabis plant, where they're produced on the trichomes. The reason that each strain is unique is that the trichomes consist of various terpenes that are responsible for this. Trichomes have everything needed for cannabis- from CBD to THCA.

For a more scientific answer, terpenes are formed by the fusion of a hydrocarbon and five carbon atoms, commonly known as isoprene. The basic structure of terpenes is one or two units of isoprenes, and the terpene is classified according to the number of units of isoprene found in it.

Why does the plant end up producing terpene? The reason plants even produce terpenes is to protect themselves from herbivores, insects, and other dangers that might be present in the environment. It's used for the plant's oxygenation and regeneration, so it's no wonder that terpenes provide immunity defenses in both people and plants

Terpenes vs. terpenoids and cannabinoids

Although used interchangeably, there is one difference between the two. Terpenes are found naturally in plants, whereas terpenoids form when the additional atoms present in them start to oxidize.

If we talk about how terpenes are different from cannabinoids, cannabinoids are chemical compounds found in cannabis. They're responsible for the therapeutic and medicinal benefits of cannabis, whereas the terpenes are responsible for providing it with flavor and smell. However, terpenes and cannabinoids work together to form entourage effects meaning that the terpenes could either help or downplay the effects of cannabinoids.

Common types of terpenes and the plants they're found in If you're looking to learn about terpenes better, here are a couple of better-known terpenes that scientists have found and their uses.