Boiling Point Stability

Boiling point stability refers to a terpene's resistance to degradation when exposed to heat during extraction, processing, or consumption. Terpenes have individual vaporization temperatures—myrcene around 168°C, limonene around 176°C, and pinene around 155°C—meaning some volatilize before others. Stability matters because terpene loss during drying, curing, or extraction directly affects the final aromatic and flavor profile. Understanding which terpenes remain stable under specific temperature ranges helps breeders and processors preserve desired chemotypes throughout the supply chain.

Breeders working with terpene preservation often select for lineages that accumulate more heat-stable terpenes when targeting specific post-harvest methods. Processors use boiling point data to design extraction and curing protocols that maximize retention of target terpenes in finished products.