Linalool

What is linalool?

Linalool is a terpene alcohol, which means it's a terpene with an oxygen-containing group attached. It's a monoterpenoid, built from ten carbon atoms, and on its own it's a clear, colourless oil.

It comes in two mirror-image forms that smell slightly different, which is part of why linalool from coriander doesn't smell quite like linalool from lavender. In cannabis it usually turns up in lower amounts than terpenes like myrcene, limonene and caryophyllene.

What does linalool smell like?

Linalool smells light, sweet and floral, with a soft woody side. One of its two forms leans toward lavender and wood, while the other is sweeter and more like orange blossom. Some cannabis writers also pick up a hint of blueberry. It's a gentle smell, but people can detect it at very low levels, so a little goes a long way in a strain's overall aroma.

Where is linalool found besides cannabis?

More than 200 plant species make linalool, especially in the mint, laurel and citrus families. Coriander, bay laurel and sweet orange flowers are all known sources.

Outside of plants, it's everywhere in everyday products. Perfumers use it in soaps, shampoos, lotions and detergents, and food makers use it as a flavouring with a light, citrusy taste.

• Lavender: the classic linalool plant, and the reason the two are so often linked.
• Sweet basil: part of what gives basil its soft floral note.

Does linalool change how a strain feels?

A lot of what's written online borrows lavender's reputation and pins it on linalool in cannabis. The honest answer is that research on terpenes changing how cannabis feels is early and mixed. The "entourage effect", the idea that terpenes and cannabinoids work together to shape the experience, is still being tested, and reviews so far haven't settled it.

Plenty of people say floral, linalool-rich strains feel different to them, but those reports aren't proof. THC and CBD levels, how much you have and your own tolerance make a much bigger, better-understood difference.

Linalool vs Bisabolol

Both are floral terpene alcohols, but they come from different plants and sit at different sizes. Linalool is a smaller monoterpenoid tied to lavender, with a clear sweet and woody floral smell. Bisabolol is a larger sesquiterpene alcohol tied to German chamomile, and its aroma is weaker and softer, often described as sweet, fruity and a little like honey or coconut. Both are used widely in perfumes and cosmetics. In cannabis, linalool is the more familiar name, while bisabolol shows up at high levels in only some cultivars.

Finding linalool on a label

Some producers list a product's top terpenes on the package or in a certificate of analysis (COA), so look there first. Linalool is often listed lower down, below the main terpenes, since it's usually found in smaller amounts.

Terpene levels change from batch to batch, so a strain known for linalool, like Zkittlez or Ice Cream Cake, won't always have the same amount. If you like a floral smell, your nose and the batch's own test results are better guides than the strain name.