What is myrcene? Myrcene (more precisely beta-myrcene) is a terpene, one of the aromatic compounds that give plants their smell. It is found in hops, mango, lemongrass, thyme and bay leaf, and it is frequently among the most abundant terpenes in cannabis. Its aroma is earthy and musky, with ripe-fruit and slightly clove-like notes. It is also the terpene with the most popular claims attached to it, and most of those claims go further than the research does.
What myrcene smells like
On its own, myrcene has a heavy, earthy scent with a hint of ripe fruit. In cannabis, it tends to contribute the “dank”, herbal base note beneath brighter aromas such as citrus or pine. If you have ever noticed the similarity between the smell of some cannabis and that of fresh hops, myrcene is a large part of the reason: the two plants are botanical relatives, and both produce it generously. Learning to pick it out is one of the exercises in how to taste cannabis like a professional.
Where else it appears
- Hops, where it is one of the main aromatic compounds and part of the character of many beers.
- Mango, especially when very ripe.
- Lemongrass, thyme, bay leaf and basil, among other culinary herbs.
How much of it is in cannabis
Terpene content varies widely from one plant to another and depends on genetics, growing conditions, harvest timing, drying and curing. In analyses of many cannabis varieties, myrcene often appears as one of the dominant terpenes, but not always, and some profiles contain very little. That variability is exactly why terpene profiles are a more informative description of a variety than broad labels. We look at the limits of those labels in sativa, indica and hybrid.
What the research says, and what it doesn’t
Myrcene has been studied mainly in laboratory and animal settings, where it has shown sedative, muscle-relaxing and anti-inflammatory properties at the doses used in those experiments. Those findings are real, but they do not translate automatically to humans consuming cannabis, where myrcene is present in much smaller amounts and alongside hundreds of other compounds.
Two popular claims deserve a direct answer:
- “Myrcene causes couch-lock.” The idea that high-myrcene cannabis is the cause of heavy, sedated effects is widely repeated, but it has not been demonstrated in human studies. It remains a hypothesis.
- “Eating mango first makes you feel more.” This is one of the best-known pieces of cannabis folklore. There is no good evidence that a portion of mango changes the effect in any meaningful way.
Myrcene and heat
Like other terpenes, myrcene is volatile and degrades with heat. It evaporates at a relatively low temperature compared with cannabinoids, which is one reason vaporising at moderate temperatures preserves more aroma than combustion. The trade-off is discussed in vaping versus smoking for terpene flavour. For the full family of terpenes, our terpene guide puts myrcene alongside limonene and caryophyllene.
Frequently asked questions
1. What does myrcene smell like?
Earthy and musky, with notes of ripe fruit and a slight clove character.
2. Is myrcene the most common terpene in cannabis?
It is often among the most abundant, but not in every variety.
3. Does myrcene make cannabis more sedating?
It is a popular hypothesis supported by animal research, not by solid human evidence.
4. Does eating mango change the effect?
There is no good evidence that it does.
In short, myrcene is the earthy, fruity terpene cannabis shares with hops and mango; it is well characterised as an aroma and interesting in the laboratory, but the bold claims about its effects in people are still unproven. Kush Weed Coffeeshop is a private association of adults on Carrer de Freixures, in the Santa Caterina area, with access restricted to registered members on prior application and identification. If you would like to know how the membership application works, get in touch and we will explain it.