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If you’ve ever cracked a jar of flower and caught a noseful of citrus, spice, or pine, you already know: cannabis speaks before you light it. The language it speaks isn’t just numbers on a label — it’s the volatile molecules that make each cultivar smell and taste the way it does.
At Victoria Cannabis Company, we’ve always believed THC is only part of the story. The rest of the narrative — the flavour, the aroma, and much of the experience itself — is carried by the plant’s aromatic profile.
But as breeder and scientist Ryan “Chimera” Lee reminds us, even the word “terpenes” doesn’t capture the whole picture.
In cannabis culture, “terpenes” often gets used as shorthand for all the scent molecules that hit your nose. Ryan points out that’s an oversimplification:
“Terpenes, often broadly used to mean volatile scent molecules, are only one part of a larger class of compounds, including thiols and esters, that contribute significantly to the plant’s characteristics.”
That’s why two plants with the same terpene fingerprint can smell completely different. Other compounds — thiols, esters, the full orchestra of volatile organic molecules — are changing the tune.
One of the biggest misconceptions is that if you see a terpene on a menu, you can predict exactly how it will make you feel. Ryan doesn’t shy away from pushing back on that idea:
“The enjoyment derived from flavour and scent might be more of a psychosomatic effect rather than a direct pharmacological one.”
That doesn’t mean aroma doesn’t matter. It means what you feel could be as much about your brain’s expectations and associations as about what the molecules are doing on a receptor level.
The term “entourage effect” has become cannabis shorthand for terpenes and cannabinoids working together. But Ryan is careful with it:
“The ‘entourage effect’ has never been scientifically proven through well-crafted, double-blind studies, despite being a widely discussed concept that originated from an article by Ethan Russo.”
So while it’s a useful metaphor, don’t mistake it for settled science.
With so much uncertainty around the exact pharmacology, Ryan suggests a simple consumer mindset:
“View your experience as a ‘choose your own adventure,’ focusing on personal preferences for flavors and scents rather than relying on terpenes for specific medical outcomes.”
In other words, let your nose and palate lead the way. Track what scents you gravitate to, and how those sessions feel to you personally.
Ryan also pulls no punches on the obsession with THC numbers:
That’s why at VCC, we employ practices designed to preserve volatile compounds in their most delicate state.
Here’s a closer look at some of the major terpenes in our lineup, what they smell and taste like, and the cultivars where you’ll find them.
For decades, BC growers judged flower with their nose, not a number. Crack a jar, take a deep breath, and you knew what journey you were about to take.
At VCC, we still operate that way. We do everything pre, during and post-harvest to preserve terpenes in their most delicate state. THC will always be part of the story, but it doesn’t explain why Ukee smells like coastal citrus and spruce tips, or why After Eighth delivers a floral lavender calm.
Use this table as your guide. Think of terpenes as the mood-setters: pick citrusy limonene for a social afternoon, lavender-rich linalool for winding down, or earthy myrcene when you want to sink into the couch.
When you buy craft cannabis, you’re buying more than THC. You’re buying the plant’s full aromatic story. Terpenes are part of that story, but not the whole book.
Ryan’s advice is both pragmatic and freeing:
“Choose your own adventure.”
At Victoria Cannabis Company, we believe that’s the best way to shop and the best way to enjoy. So next time you’re at Farmgate, take a deep breath, follow your senses, and let the plant tell you where it wants to take you.
👉 Curious? Visit our Farmgate store or sign up for our newsletter to explore more terpene education.
