What Does CBD Smell Like?

by Martin B. · May 5, 2021

Right after THC, one of the most powerful compounds in the cannabis plant is cannabidiol (CBD). This compound has several uses that many people often consider beneficial. In fact, it’s widely known that the compound could help with fatigue, soreness, and minor discomfort.

So, by all means, it is beneficial to you, and it only makes sense that you use it. However, if you’re going to be using it, the last thing you’ll want is to smell funny afterward. This could be particularly discomfiting if you’re going out to see a friend or for a business function, among other things.

For this reason, it’s important to know the smell of CBD before going ahead to use it. Thankfully, in this article, we’ll be answering the question, “what does CBD smell like?”

But, before we get to that point, we’ll have to make a few stops for you to fully understand the topic. So, firstly,

What are Terpenes?

Terpenes are special oils that occur naturally and are secreted by the cannabis plant. It’s worth knowing, however, that these oils aren’t peculiar to the cannabis plant alone and could be found in many others across the world. If you’re wondering what their relevance to the question, “what does CD smell like” is, you should know that they produce a strong odor.

The reason behind the odor is simple. The plants need a way to “turn off” their predators. The strong odors created by the terpenes help to achieve this. However, while they ward off predators in the wild, they simply help humans to differentiate between multiple strains of cannabis.

Because there are so many variations of terpenes, and they all have their different smells, what your cannabis smells like will depend strongly on the type of terpenes existing within.

What does CBD smell like?

The shortest possible answer to this question is that it depends.

At this point, you should already understand the importance of terpenes in your cannabis plant. In summary, they affect the smell of the plant strongly, depending on the specific strain of cannabis on your hands. However, apart from terpenes, several other factors determine the smell of your CBD.

One such factor is the ingredients found in a CBD product. When your CBD is of low-quality, having been mixed with various other impurities, it could come off with a weird, unnatural smell.

If the producers intentionally mixed it with unnecessary chemicals for CBD advertising and marketing, they could alter it and make it smell nicer and more like a perfume of some sort. If, on the other hand, they were simply careless with their production, the CBD could come off smelling unpleasant.

Another factor that some consider more influential on the smell than the quality is the type of CBD you have on your hands. In this regard, there are two major types of CBD – full spectrum and CBD isolate. There are a few differences and similarities between the two. However, we’ll be looking at them separately with regards to how they smell.

1. Full Spectrum CBD

Full-spectrum CBD contains a lot of plant material with little else in the mix. For this reason, they usually have a very strong smell. This smell can be likened to that of weed or wheatgrass. When you open the bottle and leave it like so for some time, the smell will likely get even stronger.

Some people have a problem with this smell. But, the benefits often outweigh this minor discomfort. Besides, you can simply choose to use your CBD oil for whatever reasons you want in your home. That way, you wouldn’t have to worry about anyone sniffing you out.

2. CBD Isolate

These aren’t quite as intricately created to preserve the plant material as full-spectrum CBD. On their own, they usually have much softer smells, if any at all. However, they’re usually combined with a base oil of sorts. If your CBD is combined with a base oil, then you’ll likely have a smell, depending on the oil itself. To help set things in perspective, there are three common types of base oil:

Hemp oil: These usually produce a very strong weedy smell.
Olive oil: These have a very heavy and strong-smelling scent. Since the base oil is olive oil, you can expect your CBD to smell a little like olives.
MCT oil: This is gotten from coconut oil. It usually has very little smell, if any at all.

Conclusion

If you’ve ever wondered, “what does CBD smell like,” you should have a pretty fair idea by now. It depends on several factors, including the terpenes within, type of CBD, quality, and base oil. So, before you buy, it’s important to check these factors to be sure they meet your preferences.

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Martin B.

Ex-smoker, passionate vaper who loves to tell the world about the life-changing potential of vaping. Co-creator of Ecigclopedia with a background in Business & Finance. Prefers a dessert flavored vape and loves to innovate.