Vapor Point

Vapor Point refers to the temperature at which a terpene or volatile compound transitions from liquid to gas phase, a critical parameter in cannabis chemistry and extraction science. This property varies significantly across individual terpenes—for example, myrcene vaporizes around 167°C while limonene reaches approximately 176°C. Understanding vapor points is essential for breeders and processors evaluating extraction efficiency, product stability, and cannabinoid/terpene preservation during handling. Lineage records and breeding documentation increasingly note vapor point profiles alongside terpene composition data. This metric directly influences how cultivars perform under different processing methods, from fresh-frozen extraction to traditional dry curing.

Breeders working with specific extraction targets (live resin, rosin, distillate) increasingly select for lineages with known vapor point profiles to optimize compound preservation. Growers and processors monitor vapor point data to establish appropriate storage conditions and processing temperatures that protect volatile chemistry.