If you’ve ever searched up terpenes online, you’ve probably seen the argument that botanical terpenes can’t deliver the same experience as cannabis-derived terpenes. Or at least, that’s the position Terpene Belt Farms takes.
They argue that botanical terpenes are different from cannabis-derived terpenes because of differences in molecular orientation. But what even does that mean?
This is basically the idea that botanical terpenes are inferior, artificial, or incapable of creating a great cannabis experience.
But that argument is way too simplified.
There’s more to consider than where every terpene molecule started. Botanical terpenes are far from inferior and can actually create consistent, flavorful cannabis experiences.
first, what are terpenes?
Terpenes are naturally occurring, aromatic compounds that give every plant its unique taste and smell. They’re found everywhere: houseplants, fruits, herbs, flowers, and, of course, cannabis.
Different cannabis strains contain different terpenes, which is part of why one strain can smell citrusy and sweet while others are earthy, piney, fruity, or spicy.
Researchers have identified more than 150 terpenes present in cannabis plants and different varieties, and many of the same types of terpenes can show up in completely different plants.
Limonene occurs naturally in citrus fruits, pinene is found in pine trees and pine needles, while linalool occurs in plants including lavender. These compounds–limonene, linalool, pinene, and so many more—give each plant a unique trait that gives the plant certain benefits, like repelling harmful insects or attracting others.
Those same terpenes can also play a role in the benefits, flavors, and feelings you experience with different cannabis strains.
what are cannabis-derived terpenes?
Cannabis-derived terpenes are the terpenes extracted from cannabis plants, like cannabis flowers and other cannabis material. Some common cannabis derived terpenes are
- myrcene
- limonene
- caryophyllene
- pinene
- linalool
- terpinolene
Notice anything familiar?
Because they’re sourced from cannabis, the final extract can contain a combination of terpenes that naturally occurs in a particular cannabis strain (remember cannabis = plant = terpenes.)
That’s one reason cannabis-derived terpenes are often marketed around strain-specific terpenes and authentic cannabis profiles.
Sour Diesel, for example, has a different vibe than White Widow does, and that’s all because of their unique terpene profiles, just like a peach differs from a lemon.
But that doesn’t mean every cannabis-derived terpene product perfectly captures the plant it came from.
The final profile of an oil, tincture, resin, and so on depends on the cannabis material, growing conditions, cultivar, harvesting, storage, and extraction process.
In other words, cannabis-derived doesn’t automatically equal better. But it’s part of the goodness equation.
where do botanical terpenes come from?
Botanical-derived terpenes are extracted strictly from non-cannabis plants. They can come from:
- citrus fruits
- pine trees
- lavender
- herbs
- flowers
Botanical terpenes are the specialty in the botanica blends lineup. turn uses natural botanicals found in natural plants with single-source cannabis oil to build distinctive flavor profiles, giving each blend its own taste and aroma.
botanical terpenes create a consistent canna experience
Botanically-derived terpenes can be extracted and isolated from other less-than-savory plant compounds, making them much easier to produce consistently. And that matters when you reach for your favorite cannabis product. It’s what makes your go-to the go-to.
Instead of hoping each cannabis plant is grown and processed the same way, manufacturers can use specific botanical terpene isolates to build a repeatable flavor profile.
cannabis terpenes vs. botanical terpenes
| cannabis-derived terpenes | botanical terpenes | |
|---|---|---|
| source | cannabis plants | non-cannabis plants |
| extraction | extracted from cannabis material | extracted from botanical sources |
| profile | naturally occurring cannabis profile | formulated from botanical compounds |
| consistency | can vary with strain and harvest | easier to reproduce consistently |
| flavor | cannabis-forward and strain-specific | flexible and customizable |
| production | more specialized | easier to scale |
| cost | generally higher | generally lower |
So yes, cannabis-derived terpenes vs botanical terpenes have a different source, but source isn’t the only thing that determines the quality of the final product.
chemically identical doesn’t mean chemically useless
One of the biggest points in the cannabis vs botanical debate is that some terpene molecules can exist in different molecular arrangements, called enantiomers.
When you’re buying a vape, you’re not buying a single isolated molecule in a lab vial; you’re buying a finished product that has a lot of stuff put together.
The same terpenes taken from cannabis and botanical plants can have the same chemical structure. For example: limonene is still limonene at the molecular level; where it came from originally doesn’t change the molecules. Limonene can exist in both lemons and oranges, but they’re still different fruits, right?
This is just a long, fancy way to say “the same terpene can smell and taste a little different depending on how it’s made.”
Why does that matter? Because while the source of the terpenes changes, the terpene itself is the same.
What makes a real difference is what you add to the final product, the concentrations, and other small things that can really make or break the experience.
this is why turn uses botanical terpenes
Botanical terpenes differ because they give you more control over the flavor and aroma experience you want to create. It’s how we made botanica blends line.
Cannabis is a plant, and nothing in nature is a perfect copy.
Different genetics, growing environments, harvests, and processing methods can all influence terpene profiles. Botanical terpene isolates give formulators another level of control.
If you find a flavor you love, you don’t want your repurchase to taste completely different because the source plant changed, right?
Botanical formulations can help create:
- consistent flavor
- recognizable strain-inspired profiles
- bright citrus notes
- sweet and fruity profiles
- earthy or pine-forward flavors
- controlled terpene ratios
- repeatable experiences from batch to batch
botanical terpenes aren’t the same as synthetic terpenes
This distinction is very important, and one that certain naysayers are getting wrong: Botanical terpenes are plant-derived, and synthetic terpenes are created through chemical synthesis. Those aren’t the same thing.
So when you see “botanical terpenes” on a product label, it doesn’t mean the flavor was created with artificial chemicals; it means it can come directly from a plant, found right out there in the natural world.
That also means “botanical” shouldn’t automatically be interpreted as “fake cannabis flavor.” It’s simply describing where the terpene came from: nature.
can botanical terpenes mimic cannabis-derived terpenes?
Yes, and this is one of the biggest differences when it comes to your canna experience.
Botanical terpene blends can be made to create familiar cannabis flavors and aromas.
You can mix different compounds to create citrusy, sweet, earthy, piney, or fruity flavors that remind you of a certain strain.
Will it be exactly the same as an extract taken from that specific cannabis plant? Not really. But that doesn’t mean it can’t taste great.
Think about it like this: you’re not always trying to copy the plant exactly. Sometimes you’re just trying to create a great flavor. That’s where botanical terpenes come in.
does it matter where the terpenes come from when it comes to the entourage effect?
The idea behind the entourage effect is that cannabinoids and other cannabis compounds can work better together than they would by themselves.
Research into this is ongoing, and the science is more complicated than just “more terpenes means stronger effects.”
Terpenes can contribute to the overall cannabis experience, and early research suggests that terpenes may influence how cannabinoids are absorbed and processed in the body.
But it’s a stretch to say that a botanical terpene automatically makes a product inferior because it didn’t originate in cannabis.
Like we said, the finished formulation matters. And so do the cannabinoid content, the dose, and the individual using it.
botanical terpenes can also cost less!
Cannabis flowers contain relatively small amounts of terpenes, which makes extracting cannabis-derived terpenes pretty intense.
Cannabis-derived terpenes may yield only around 0.5% to 2% by weight from cannabis flowers, depending on the plant and its terpene profile. Extracting those compounds at larger scales also requires specialized equipment, adding to production costs. That means your out-of-pocket price at the dispensary goes up, too.
Botanical terpenes can be sourced from plants that are widely available at commercial scale.
That makes botanical extraction and isolated terpene production more economical.
does botanical mean lower quality?
Nope. Quality comes down to the actual ingredients, formulation, manufacturing process, and testing.
A poorly made botanical terpene blend isn’t going to become high quality just because it’s botanical. The same is true for cannabis-derived terpenes.
A standard terpene analysis can tell you which compounds are present and their concentrations. That’s useful information regardless of whether the terpenes are cannabis-derived or botanically sourced.
A reputable manufacturer should be able to provide information about its ingredients and testing. When you’re evaluating a cannabis product, look for:
- clear ingredient information
- cannabinoid content
- terpene profiles
- batch information
- third-party testing
- contaminant testing
so, which is better?
Truthfully, there isn’t a single, universal winner. Natural terpenes are always best, in our biased opinion, but we’re biased for good reason: there’s proof.
Cannabis-derived terpenes are good for preserving the aromatic profile of cannabis material as closely as possible. And botanical terpenes create consistency, control, flexibility, and flavor. Either way, lab-created terpenes can’t do either.
We prefer having flavor and aroma you can expect every time, which is why we’d argue that botanical terpenes have the better deal. But for now, we’ll settle for convincing you that they’re just as good as any other terpene in the canna world.
We’re not trying to convince you that a botanical terpene is secretly a cannabis-derived terpene; we’re saying something much simpler: botanical terpenes are a legitimate way to create flavorful, consistent cannabis products.
what should you actually look for?
Don’t let “cannabis-derived” or “botanical” be the only thing you look at:
- look at the cannabinoid content.
- look at the terpene profile.
- check the ingredients.
- third-party testing.
If you want a terpene extract pulled directly from cannabis flower, cannabis-derived terpenes are an obvious choice. If you want consistent flavor, formulation control, flexibility, and a repeatable cannabis experience, botanical terpenes have a lot going for them.
At the end of the day, the terpene source is only one part of the experience and what matters is what’s actually in the product, how it’s formulated, how it’s tested, and whether you like what you taste.
