Skunk
Skunk is a volatile sulfur-containing compound commonly found in cannabis alongside thiols and other organosulfur molecules. It is frequently associated with pungent, onion-like, or burnt-rubber aromatic profiles in certain cultivars. Lineage records suggest skunk-type aromatics became prominent in cannabis breeding during the 1970s–1980s, particularly within North American and Dutch breeding programs. The compound itself—often identified as methylmercaptan or related sulfur volatiles—contributes to what breeders term "funk" or "savory" notes. Skunk presence is highly variable across cultivars and phenotypes, influenced by genetics, growing conditions, and harvest timing.
Shop Skunk genetics
Skunk strains
No strains tagged into Skunk yet — they'll appear here as breeders submit lineage records under this terpene.
Skunk is a volatile sulfur-containing compound commonly found in cannabis alongside thiols and other organosulfur molecules. It is frequently associated with pungent, onion-like, or burnt-rubber aromatic profiles in certain cultivars. Lineage records suggest skunk-type aromatics became prominent in cannabis breeding during the 1970s–1980s, particularly within North American and Dutch breeding programs. The compound itself—often identified as methylmercaptan or related sulfur volatiles—contributes to what breeders term "funk" or "savory" notes. Skunk presence is highly variable across cultivars and phenotypes, influenced by genetics, growing conditions, and harvest timing.
Breeders working with skunk aromatics often select for sulfur-compound accumulation as a distinctive phenotype marker and stability indicator across generations. Many cultivars in the OG, Diesel, and Haze families show heritable skunk-type volatiles, making terpene profiling useful for lineage verification and trait isolation.
Educational reference · Cultivar metadata only · No medical claims