Ocimene

What is ocimene?

Ocimene is a monoterpene, a ten-carbon terpene with the same formula as limonene and pinene. It's not a single compound but a small family of closely related forms, mainly alpha-ocimene and two versions of beta-ocimene, and plants often make a mix of them.

Like myrcene, it's fairly unstable in air. Plants are thought to make it partly as a defence. In cannabis, researchers have found the enzymes that produce it, and different strains can lean toward different forms.

What does ocimene smell like?

Ocimene smells sweet and herbal, with citrus and woody undertones and sometimes a floral edge. The name traces back to the Greek word for basil, but its smell is sweeter and less savoury than a basil leaf. In cannabis it tends to round out a profile rather than define it.

Where is ocimene found besides cannabis?

Ocimene is found in a wide range of plants and fruits. It has also been reported in mangoes, kumquats, bergamot, lavender and black pepper. Perfumers use it for its sweet, floral, herbal smell.

• Basil: the plant ocimene is named after.
• Hops: one of several plants where it adds a green, herbal note.

Does ocimene change how a strain feels?

Not much is known here, and that's the honest answer. Research on terpenes changing how cannabis feels is early and mixed, and ocimene has had less attention than most. The "entourage effect", the idea that terpenes and cannabinoids work together, is still being tested.

People's descriptions of how a strain feels are worth hearing, but they aren't proof. THC and CBD levels, how much you have and your own tolerance are what we know make a real difference.

Ocimene vs Limonene

Both are monoterpenes with a citrus side, but they play different roles. Limonene is the bright citrus-peel smell of lemons and oranges, and it's one of the most common lead terpenes in cannabis. Ocimene is sweeter and more herbal, with citrus as an undertone rather than the main note, and it rarely leads. Limonene is known from citrus fruit, ocimene from basil and hops. If a strain smells like fresh lemon zest, think limonene. If it smells sweet, green and a little woody, ocimene may be in the mix.

Finding ocimene on a label

Some producers list a product's top terpenes on the package or in a certificate of analysis (COA), so check there. Because ocimene rarely leads, look further down the list, where it often sits second or third.

Strains like Green Crack and Dutch Treat have been named as containing ocimene, but amounts vary a lot between growers and batches. The test results for your product are more useful than the strain name.