Key Takeaways
- Ocimene is a terpene, one of the natural compounds that give cannabis its smell. It smells sweet, herbal and slightly floral, and it’s named after basil.
- Outside cannabis, it shows up in basil, mango, kumquat, lavender, hops, bergamot, orchids and pepper.
- Leafly notes ocimene is rarely the main terpene in a strain. On our menu it usually shows up second to fifth on the list.
- It often shows up next to terpinolene. In the Claybourne Co. Durban Poison and Good Green Durban Z we carry now, ocimene is the second terpene listed.
- On a product page or lab report, it may be listed as ocimene, beta-ocimene or trans-beta-ocimene.
Ocimene shows up on more than 20 products on our menu, but it’s almost never at the top of the terpene list. It usually sits second or third, adding a sweet, herby note behind a louder smell.
Leafly credits ocimene with the sweet, herbal side of certain strains, so it’s often the reason a jar smells fresh, green and a little floral instead of just citrusy or fuel-like. We went through our own menu to see where it actually shows up, and the results are below.
The ocimene terpene at a glance
Ocimene is a terpene with a sweet, herbal, slightly floral smell. It’s named after basil and shows up in cannabis, mango, kumquat and lavender.
Terpenes are the natural compounds that give every strain its smell, and cannabis makes dozens of them. You’ll find them in fruits, herbs and flowers too. If you want the bigger picture first, start with our guide to what terpenes are.
Ocimene is named after basil. According to Wikipedia, the name comes from the Ancient Greek word for basil, and perfume makers use ocimene for its sweet, herbal scent. So if a strain ever reminded you of a basil plant on a summer windowsill, ocimene may be part of the reason.
Alpha-ocimene and beta-ocimene
Ocimene comes in a few slightly different versions, with names like alpha-ocimene, beta-ocimene and trans-beta-ocimene. They’re built from the same pieces, just arranged a little differently.
You don’t need the chemistry to shop. It just explains why one label says ocimene and another says trans-beta-ocimene. They’re all ocimene.
What ocimene smells like and where else it grows
Ocimene smells sweet, herbal and a little floral. It also shows up in basil, mango, kumquat, lavender, hops, bergamot, orchids and pepper.
Leafly describes ocimene’s scent as sweet, floral and herbal. Think fresh-cut herbs with something sweet underneath, more garden than gas station.
It’s all over the plant world too. Leafly lists hops, kumquats, mangoes, basil, bergamot, lavender, orchids and pepper. Ocimene sits somewhere between the herb garden and the fruit stand.
Ocimene vs myrcene, limonene and terpinolene
Ocimene smells sweeter and more herbal than citrusy limonene or earthy myrcene, and it often rides alongside terpinolene in the same strain.
Ocimene usually shows up alongside better-known terpenes, so here’s how it compares.
| Terpene | How it smells | Also found in |
|---|---|---|
| Ocimene | Sweet, herbal, slightly floral | Basil, mango, kumquat, lavender, hops |
| Myrcene | Earthy, musky, herbal | Hops, lemongrass, thyme, mango |
| Limonene | Bright citrus | Citrus peels, juniper, rosemary |
| Terpinolene | A blend of pine, citrus, herbs and flowers | Nutmeg, tea tree, citrus, conifers |
Want to learn more about the other three? Check out our myrcene, limonene and terpinolene breakdowns.
Why ocimene is rarely the lead terpene
Leafly says ocimene is rarely a strain’s main terpene. On our menu it usually lands second to fifth, often just behind terpinolene in Durban strains.
Lots of products on our menu list their terpenes right on the product page, from most to least. When we went through them, more than 20 products listed ocimene. Almost none had it first.
We noticed a pattern, too. In Durban strains like Claybourne Co. Durban Poison and Good Green Durban Z, terpinolene comes first and ocimene comes right after it. Rythm’s Jack’s Delight, which is bred from the classic Jack Herer strain, has ocimene third. If you like that bright, piney, herbal Durban smell, ocimene is part of the reason.
Ocimene strains, from the classics to our menu
Leafly and Weedmaps name strains like Clementine, Green Crack, Strawberry Cough and Space Queen. On our menu, Durban strains lead the way.
Famous ocimene strains are a good starting point, but every harvest is a little different. Two jars with the same strain name can smell different, so the terpene list on the product page is what to trust.
Well-known ocimene strains
Leafly, the cannabis strain website, names Clementine, Dream Queen, Dutch Treat, Golden Pineapple, Green Crack and J1, and says Clementine carries relatively high levels. Weedmaps adds Strawberry Cough, Golden Goat, Space Queen and Sour Diesel as strains that may run higher than average.
Green Crack is a good example. It’s on Leafly’s list, and the Rolling Green Green Crack pre-roll on our menu does have ocimene. In the batch we have now, though, it’s eighth on the list, behind limonene and several others. Same strain name, different harvest.
Ocimene products on our menu now
These are the products where ocimene sits highest on the terpene list right now. The smell notes come from each product page.
| Product | Type | Where ocimene ranks | Top terpene | How it smells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claybourne Co. Classic Cuts Durban Poison | 3.5g flower | 2nd | Terpinolene | Fresh pine, earthy herbs, warm spice |
| Good Green Durban Z | 28g flower | 2nd | Terpinolene | Sweet citrus, floral, herbal spice |
| Dank OG Kush | 3.5g flower | 2nd | Myrcene | Earthy pine, fresh herbs, woody hops |
| Rythm Jack’s Delight | 28g flower | 3rd | Terpinolene | Zesty citrus, tropical fruit, sweet pine |
| Jaunty Jokerz Candy 5 | 0.5g vape cartridge | 6th | Limonene | Candy, grape, diesel |
| Rolling Green Green Crack | 1g pre-roll | 8th | Limonene | Mango, citrus zest, fresh herbs |
Our picks? The Claybourne Co. Durban Poison if you want the classic pine-and-herb version, and Good Green Durban Z if you like it sweeter and more floral. For something earthier, the Dank OG Kush is a nice surprise, since ocimene shows up right behind myrcene there.
Ocimene effects and what the research covers
In plants, ocimene is believed to help fend off pests. Studies in people used essential oils, not cannabis, and New York doesn’t allow health claims.
In the plant itself, ocimene seems to have a job. Wikipedia says it’s believed to help protect plants, and Leafly says pests like aphids are thought to steer clear of strains that have it.
In people, there’s a lot less to go on. The studies you’ll see quoted online mostly tested essential oils from other plants that happen to contain ocimene. They didn’t test ocimene on its own, and they didn’t test cannabis.
New York doesn’t let dispensaries make health claims, and we’d want better evidence anyway. How a product feels comes down to the whole product, and everyone’s different. We pay attention to ocimene for what it does to the smell and taste, and that’s plenty.
How to find ocimene on a product’s lab report
A COA is a product’s lab report. Check its terpene section for ocimene or beta-ocimene. Not every COA covers terpenes, but many product pages do.
COA stands for certificate of analysis. It’s the lab report behind every licensed product in New York. When a brand tests for terpenes, you’ll see a list with an amount next to each one, and ocimene may show up as ocimene, beta-ocimene or trans-beta-ocimene.
On our menu, a lot of product pages show the terpene list right on the page, so you can compare before you buy. If the full COA is new to you, our guide to reading a cannabis COA walks through it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ocimene?
Ocimene is a terpene, one of the natural compounds that give cannabis and many other plants their smell. It smells sweet, herbal and slightly floral, and it’s named after basil.
What does ocimene smell like?
Sweet, herbal and a little floral. Leafly describes it as sweet and herbal, and perfume makers use it for its sweet herbal scent.
What strains are high in ocimene?
Leafly names Clementine, Dutch Treat, Golden Pineapple and Green Crack. Weedmaps adds Strawberry Cough and Space Queen. On our menu, Durban Poison and Durban Z rank it second.
Where else is ocimene found?
Ocimene shows up in basil, mango, kumquat, lavender, hops, bergamot, orchids and pepper, according to Leafly.
What does ocimene do?
In plants, it’s believed to help keep pests away. In people, the research mostly covers essential oils from other plants, not ocimene alone, and New York doesn’t allow health claims.
How does ocimene make you feel?
There’s no solid research on ocimene alone in people. How a product feels comes down to the whole product, so we focus on ocimene’s smell and taste.
Is ocimene found in sativa or indica strains?
Both. On our menu it shows up in sativas like Durban Poison, in OG Kush, which Dank labels an indica-hybrid, and in hybrids like Jaunty Jokerz Candy 5.
How do I find ocimene on a lab report?
A COA is a product’s lab report. Check its terpene section for ocimene, beta-ocimene or trans-beta-ocimene. Many NugHub product pages also list terpenes.
Ocimene won’t usually top the list, but it’s a big reason a Durban jar smells green and sweet instead of flat. Check the terpene list on your next jar and look at the second or third name. There’s a good chance you’ll spot it.
