Terpenes are highly aromatic compounds that determine the smell of many plants and herbs, such as rosemary and lavender, as well as some animals. Manufacturers use isolated terpenes to create the flavors and scents of many everyday products, such as perfumes, body products, and even foods.

Why are terpenes so important?

They act as a natural defense system that guards the plant against pests, bacteria and pretty much all other invaders that try to cause it some harm. They're also a primordial sunblock, so to speak, offering protection to the buds from the harmful UV rays of our benevolent sun.

Why do terpenes matter?

They are the primary building blocks of many plants' aromatic profiles, and they also constitute the main component of most resins. ... Plants produce these terpenes in order to do things like attract pollinators, repel pests or herbivores, or attract carnivorous predators of herbivores.