Terpene explorer

What labs actually measure in flower. Lab data: Smith et al. 2022 (CC0) and 2014–2026 state testing records. Most effect claims about terpenes are untested in people at the doses in smoked flower. We grade each one.

Reference

Linalool

Dominant terpene in 3 strains · typical level when dominant 0.13% of flower weight

Aroma: floral, lavender, rose, lemon, coriander (FEMA flavor profile), flowery-fresh, lily-of-the-valley; like bergamot and French lavender (HSDB), floral, spicy, woody (HSDB)

Also found in: lavender (≈37% of one analysed lavender oil), coriander seed (60–70%), rosewood, bergamot, ylang-ylang, neroli, basil, apples, citrus and grapes, hops, cannabis (Cannabis sativa)

Boiling point: 198 °C (760 mmHg)

Reported effects and how strong the evidence is

  • preclinicalInhaled linalool was anxiolytic in mice (light/dark box, EPM) without motor impairment; effect absent in anosmic mice and blocked by flumazenil, i.e., smell-mediated via GABAA-BZD (animal)
  • preclinicalInhaled linalool: anxiolytic, increased social interaction, reduced aggression in mice; memory impaired at the higher dose (animal)
  • preclinicalAnti-inflammatory in rat carrageenan oedema after systemic dosing (animal)
  • moderateOral lavender-oil capsules (Silexan, 80 mg/day, 10 weeks) beat placebo for subsyndromal anxiety in a 221-patient RCT — this is a whole lavender-oil preparation, not isolated linalool and not inhaled cannabis (human RCT)
  • contestedProduced cannabinoid-tetrad behaviours in mice and activated CB1 in vitro (LaVigne 2021); Santiago 2019 found no CB1/CB2 activity (animal)
  • preclinicalNo effect on TRPA1/TRPV1 or on THC/endocannabinoid responses at those channels (in vitro)

Not supported: Linalool-rich strains are calming/sleep-inducing in people — extrapolated from mouse inhalation work and whole-lavender-oil trials; Linalool is anticonvulsant in cannabis users — no human evidence found

Highest-testing strains (≥10 lab tests)

  1. 1Bubblegum Gelato0.57%n=23
  2. 2Rainbow Belt0.51%n=13
  3. 3Black Cherry Gelato0.51%n=79
  4. 4Rainbow Beltz0.47%n=12
  5. 5Z Cube0.47%n=35
  6. 6Candy Runtz0.45%n=33
  7. 7Zummy Bearz0.41%n=22
  8. 8Spritzer0.41%n=23
  9. 9Wedding Pie #60.40%n=21
  10. 10Rainbow Belts0.40%n=57
  11. 11Nilla Wafer0.38%n=15
  12. 12Designer Og0.38%n=15
All Linalool-forward strains