Boiling Points

Boiling points refer to the temperature at which volatile aromatic compounds—primarily terpenes and other secondary metabolites—vaporize from cannabis plant material. Different compounds within the plant matrix have distinct boiling points, ranging from approximately 60°C (limonene) to over 200°C (myrcene, caryophyllene). Understanding boiling-point profiles is foundational to extraction and consumption methods, as lower-temperature vaporization captures more delicate monoterpenes while higher temperatures release heavier sesquiterpenes and non-volatile compounds. Breeders and cultivators track these thermal properties to predict how cannabinoid and terpene ratios will behave under various processing or consumption techniques.

Breeders working on extraction-focused or specific consumption-method lineages consider terpene boiling-point distribution when selecting parent plants. Cultivars developed for solventless extraction or low-temperature vape profiles are often selected for monoterpene-rich chemotypes, while those targeted at traditional combustion routes may carry more thermally stable sesquiterpene profiles.