Monoterpene

Limonene

Limonene is the second most common terpene in cannabis, with a bright citrus aroma. It is dominant in many modern dessert hybrids like Wedding Cake and Gelato, and is associated with uplifting, mood-elevating effects. Limonene is also found in citrus rinds and is a common food-grade flavoring.

Aroma

Citrus rind, lemon, orange, bright

Boiling point

176°C / 349°F

Associated effects

uplifting, mood-elevating, stress-relief

Also found in

lemon, orange, grapefruit, rosemary

Limonene is a cyclic monoterpene and the second most abundant terpene in commercial cannabis. The bright citrus aroma is unmistakable — when you smell a cannabis flower and your first descriptor is 'lemon' or 'orange rind,' you are smelling limonene. Modern dessert-lineage hybrids (the Cookies, Wedding Cake, and Gelato families) have driven limonene to commercial prominence over the last decade. Limonene is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) as a food flavoring and is one of the more studied cannabis terpenes pharmacologically, with literature suggesting anxiolytic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Frequently asked questions

What does limonene do?

Limonene is associated with uplifting mood, stress reduction, and mild anxiolytic effects in the cannabis context. It is also a documented anti-inflammatory in cell and animal models.