Terpinolene is a monoterpene, one of the aroma compounds of plants, found in many herbs, in tea tree oil and in some cannabis. Its smell is described as woody and citrus-like, and cannabis sellers often call it floral or herbal. It is widely used as a flavouring and fragrance, while its biological effects have hardly been studied in people.
Key facts
- Type
- Monoterpene, formula C10H16 (PubChem)
- Smell
- Woody and citrus-like; often marketed as fresh, floral or herbal
- In cannabis
- Leads one of three common terpene profiles ("high terpinolene–myrcene") in a 2022 study of US commercial cannabis
- Made by
- The enzyme terpinolene synthase, whose structure was described in 2025
- In tea tree oil
- 1.5–5% under the international standard ISO 4730
- Human research
- As of October 2026, poorly evaluated; most studies are in cells, insects and animals
What is terpinolene?
Terpinolene is a monoterpene, a terpene built from 10 carbon atoms, with the formula C10H16 and the chemical name 1-methyl-4-propan-2-ylidenecyclohexene (PubChem). It occurs naturally in a variety of herbs and is widely used as a flavouring agent (Menezes 2021). Our guide what are terpenes? explains how this group of compounds works. Other monoterpenes found in cannabis include ocimene.
What does terpinolene smell like?
Researchers studying the cannabis enzyme that makes it describe terpinolene's aroma as woody and citrus-like (Wiles 2025). In cannabis shops and strain descriptions, it is often called floral, herbal or piney. Those descriptions come from smell tests and marketing, not from a fixed definition, and the overall smell of a plant always comes from a mix of terpenes.
Where is terpinolene found?
Terpinolene is found in a variety of herbs and their essential oils (Menezes 2021). A well-documented example is tea tree oil: the international standard ISO 4730 sets its terpinolene content at 1.5–5% (Carson 2006). It is also used as a flavouring and in fragrances.
How much terpinolene is in cannabis?
It depends on the plant. In a 2022 analysis of commercial cannabis samples from six US states, the researchers found three common terpene profiles: high caryophyllene–limonene, high myrcene–pinene and high terpinolene–myrcene. The terpinolene group had slightly more CBG on average and more products labelled "Sativa", but the authors found that commercial labels such as "Indica" and "Sativa" do not consistently match the chemistry (Smith 2022).
The cannabis plant makes terpinolene with an enzyme called terpinolene synthase. In a 2025 study, researchers described its structure and found that changing a single amino acid made the enzyme produce limonene instead (Wiles 2025). That is one reason why plants can differ so much in their terpene mix. Only a certificate of analysis that lists terpenes shows what a product actually contains.
| Profile | Leading terpenes | Typical smell of the leading terpenes |
|---|---|---|
| Cluster I | Caryophyllene and limonene | Peppery and citrus |
| Cluster II | Myrcene and pinene | Earthy and pine |
| Cluster III | Terpinolene and myrcene | Woody, citrus-like and earthy |
What are the effects of terpinolene?
Very little is known about its effects in people. A 2021 systematic review screened 2,449 articles and included 57 studies on terpinolene. The activities that stood out were antioxidant, larvicidal and insecticidal effects. The authors concluded that the mechanisms are not well understood and that efficacy and safety in living organisms have been poorly evaluated in preclinical and clinical trials (Menezes 2021).
Claims that terpinolene makes a cannabis strain "uplifting" or "energising" come from user reports and strain marketing, not from controlled studies. Whether terpenes change the effects of cannabinoids at all is the subject of the debated entourage effect.
From our production
We keep the hemp's natural terpenes in our oils; many people underestimate terpenes and assume only the cannabinoids matter. We test every batch in Switzerland.
— Robin Roy Krigslund-Hansen, co-founder and CEO
Frequently asked questions
What is terpinolene?
Terpinolene is a monoterpene with the formula C10H16. It occurs in many herbs, in tea tree oil and in some cannabis, and it is used as a flavouring and fragrance.
What does terpinolene smell like?
Researchers describe it as woody and citrus-like. Cannabis sellers often call it fresh, floral or herbal, but the smell of a plant always comes from a mix of terpenes.
Which cannabis has a lot of terpinolene?
A 2022 study of US commercial cannabis found a "high terpinolene–myrcene" profile, more often in products labelled Sativa. Strain names are unreliable, so check a certificate of analysis that lists terpenes.
What are the effects of terpinolene?
Laboratory studies mainly report antioxidant and insecticidal activity. A 2021 review found that its effects and safety in living organisms have been poorly evaluated, so there is no reliable evidence on effects in people.
Is terpinolene in tea tree oil?
Yes. The international standard for tea tree oil, ISO 4730, sets its terpinolene content at 1.5–5%.
Related guides
This article summarises published research on a plant compound. It is not medical advice. Formula Swiss CBD oils are cosmetic products for use on the skin. See our legal and health disclaimer.
Last reviewed:
Sources
- National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem compound summary for CID 11463, terpinolene
- Menezes IO et al. Biological properties of terpinolene evidenced by in silico, in vitro and in vivo studies: a systematic review. Phytomedicine 2021;93:153768. PMID 34634744
- Wiles D, Roest J, Vivian JP, Beddoe T. The product specificities of terpinolene synthase, from Cannabis sativa, reveals the plasticity of the terpene synthase active site. J Struct Biol 2025;217(3):108227. PMID 40553903
- Carson CF, Hammer KA, Riley TV. Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil: a review of antimicrobial and other medicinal properties. Clin Microbiol Rev 2006;19(1):50–62. PMC1360273
- Smith CJ, Vergara D, Keegan B, Jikomes N. The phytochemical diversity of commercial Cannabis in the United States. PLoS One 2022;17(5):e0267498. PMID 35588111
