Monoterpenes Sesquiterpenes

Monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes are the two primary volatile hydrocarbon classes found in cannabis resin. Monoterpenes (C₁₀H₁₆) include limonene, myrcene, and pinene—lighter molecules that evaporate readily and often dominate fresh-plant aroma profiles. Sesquiterpenes (C₁₅H₂₄) such as caryophyllene, humulene, and beta-myrcene are heavier, more stable compounds that persist longer during storage and drying. Together, these terpenes constitute the bulk of cannabis essential oil and are central to breeding programs focused on aroma and plant chemotype characterization. Lineage records frequently report terpene ratios as a marker of strain family expression.

Breeders select parent plants based on monoterpene and sesquiterpene profiles to stabilize flavor signatures and establish chemotype consistency across generations. Understanding the volatility and stability of these terpene classes helps inform cultivation and preservation strategies.