Terpene Series: Linalool

Linalool, like many terpenes, is not specific to cannabis; its characteristic lavender scent with a hint of spiciness can be found in over 200 types of plants. In fact, it’s so common that even those who don’t use cannabis consume over two grams of linalool each year through their food, including numerous fruits and spices. That may seem like a lot, but there’s very little risk of adverse effects. Linalool doesn’t stick around in your body for long and doesn’t accumulate like the cannabinoids that get stored in your fatty tissues in the body and brain.

It also offers aromatic benefits. Your sense of smell is intricately linked to emotion and memory centres in the brain, establishing a potential cause and effect between the terpene’s pleasant lavender floral scent (cause), with a relaxed and improved mood (effect). While olfactory sensation may still contribute to the terpene’s effect, research now suggests that terpenes directly affect brain processing by modulating the behaviour of the brain cells.

Along with food and beverages, linalool is regularly added to perfumes, cosmetics and soaps. As if that wasn’t enough, this hard-working terpene is used as a natural insect-repellent; studies have shown that it effectively wards off fruit flies, houseflies and even mosquitoes