Ocimene
Definition: Ocimene is a group of closely related monoterpenes with a sweet, herbal and woody aroma, often with tropical or floral hints. It occurs in basil, mint, parsley, mango, kumquat and orchids, and plants release it to attract pollinators and signal defense. In cannabis, ocimene is usually a secondary terpene in fresh, sativa-leaning profiles.
How Ocimene works
The name comes from Ocimum, the botanical genus of basil. Chemically, ocimene comes in several isomers, mainly cis- and trans-beta-ocimene, which differ in the arrangement around one double bond. Labs often report them together or list the beta forms separately.
Ocimene essentials
- Aroma: sweet herbs, light wood, tropical fruit, faint citrus and flowers.
- Also found in: basil, mint, parsley, mango, kumquat, orchids and lavender.
- Role in plants: many plants emit ocimene when insects chew their leaves, which can attract predatory insects that eat the pests.
- What users mention: bright, uplifting moods, often in sativa-leaning strains.
Ocimene in cannabis
Ocimene rarely leads a cannabis terpene profile. It more often appears alongside terpinolene and myrcene in fresh, sweet, high-pitched aromas, adding a tropical lift to the blend. When it does show up strongly, it gives buds a distinctive sweet-herbal smell that stands apart from the usual earthy or gassy notes.
Keeping it
Ocimene is one of the more fragile terpenes, prone to evaporating and oxidizing. Gentle handling at harvest, a slow dry near 60°F (16°C) and a careful cure help hold on to it.