Does CBD Smell Like Weed? What You Should Know

Thinking of joining the millions of people using CBD, but worried you might end up smelling like a stoner? 

While pure CBD has no smell, certain CBD products may have a slight aroma. Keep reading, and we’ll explain what causes weed's distinct aroma and which CBD products could have a weed-like scent.

Key Takeaways

• Weed's distinctive aroma is caused by terpenes, aromatic compounds that are naturally produced by the Cannabis sativa plant.
• Terpenes are also produced by hemp plants, which means some CBD products can smell like weed.
• Hemp flower will likely smell the most similar to weed, as the only real difference is the THC content.
• CBD oil, especially full-spectrum CBD oil, may have a weed-like smell, though carrier oils might distract from that.
• Pure CBD has no smell.
• CBD edibles almost certainly won't smell like weed, as they usually contain a range of other ingredients, each with its own aroma.

See Related: Can CBD Make You Feel Anxious? Facts Vs. Fiction

What Makes Cannabis Plants Smell

Few aromas are quite as recognizable as that of marijuana. But what, exactly, causes this "weed smell?" 

If you thought it was THC, you'd be wrong. In fact, weed smells the way it does because of a group of aromatic compounds called terpenes. 

The cannabis plant is absolutely packed with hundreds of different terpenes. It's the combination of these compounds that creates marijuana's distinct smell.

Hemp Plants vs Cannabis Plants

However, you've likely noticed a discrepancy. Under U.S. federal law, CBD must be produced from hemp plants, not cannabis plants. A hemp plant is defined as one with less than 0.3% THC concentration.

So, shouldn't hemp flower smell different from marijuana flower?

Not necessarily. Remember, it's the terpenes, not the THC, that cause weed's distinctive smell. And hemp plants contain essentially the same terpenes as cannabis plants. 

Common Terpenes

Terpenes are responsible for all kinds of iconic scents. Limonene, for example, is responsible for the sharp smell we associate with citrus fruits, such as lemons and oranges. Pinene, meanwhile, is what creates the signature smell of pine trees. 

These terpenes are also the building blocks for essential oils, which have their own distinct smell.

Both of these terpenes are present in cannabis plants (and hemp plants). You might notice your hemp flower smells a little sharp or citrusy. Certain cannabis strains might have notes of pine to them.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Let's quickly cover a few of the most important terpenes that make CBD smell the way it does.

Myrcene

In some cannabis strains, up to two-thirds of the total terpenes are myrcene. This terpene usually has a distinctively earthy, musky scent. It's also present in mangoes, lemongrass, hops, and bay leaves.

Myrcene is thought to help reduce inflammation and lessen chronic pain. It also often makes people feel relaxed and sleepy.

Beta-Caryophyllene

This terpene is responsible for black pepper's, well, peppery smell. It's also present in cloves, oregano, and cinnamon. 

Interestingly, beta-caryophyllene is also a cannabinoid. Like CBD, it's not a psychoactive compound and has no psychoactive effects, but is often used for its anti-inflammatory effects.

Linalool

Can you guess what this terpene smells like? It's responsible for the floral smell of lavender, and is also present in eucalyptus and bergamot. 

Linalool is believed to be responsible for the relaxing effects of lavender, and research suggests it can help people with trouble sleeping.

Bonus: 10 Supplements for Focus and Concentration

CBD Products That Might Smell Like Weed

As you can imagine, combining all of these distinctive terpenes together results in a complex but easily recognizable smell. Each terpene has its own distinct aroma, and together they create the familiar scent of marijuana. And because hemp plants contain the same terpenes, CBD can smell like weed.

Not always, though. There are actually only a few specific cases where CBD smells like weed.

Smoking CBD Flower

This might seem obvious to you, but smoking CBD flower will often generate a similar smell to weed. Remember, hemp plants are effectively the same as cannabis plants, just with very little THC. 

All the aromatic compounds found in cannabis are also found in hemp plants. With the same terpenes present, you naturally get a very similar smell.

The specific smell of your hemp flower will depend on the blend of natural terpenes in that strain. The same is true for cannabis strains. 

For this reason, your hemp flower might not smell exactly like weed. But it will probably have a weed-like smell.

Broad-Spectrum Hemp Extract

Broad-spectrum hemp extract goes through a specific extraction process that involves the complete removal of THC. It's popular among people who want absolutely no THC in their CBD products, like our Broad-Spectrum CBD Oil.

Remember, though, both full-spectrum CBD and broad-spectrum CBD still contain terpenes. The extraction process can result in the degradation of other cannabinoids and organic compounds, including terpenes, so these products might not smell quite as strongly of weed as, say, hemp flower.

But they still can smell like weed! 

Why We Keep Terpenes in CBD Products

At this point, you might be wondering why manufacturers keep terpenes in their CBD products. 

First, they don't. Sometimes, all the terpenes are removed. We'll get to that below.

In fact, terpenes play a very important role in CBD. As we discussed above, many terpenes have potential health benefits, like reducing anxiety, boosting sleep, and aiding with chronic pain.

Removing these natural compounds would mean losing out on all of these potential therapeutic benefits.

That's not even considering the entourage effect. This phenomenon describes how the other natural compounds in hemp plants — cannabinoids and terpenes — cause CBD to become more effective than it is in isolation.

In other words, taking CBD with all of the other plant compounds naturally present in hemp gives you a more powerful effect. That's a pretty great benefit for the small price of having your product smell like weed!

Of course, many wouldn't consider weed's smell a price at all. Plenty of people enjoy the floral scents and earthy smells common to marijuana and hemp. So you could really consider the inclusion of terpenes in CBD products as a bonus in and of itself.

CBD Products That Won't Smell Like Weed

Nevertheless, there are still plenty of folks who simply can't stand the smell of weed. Perhaps your nose just disagrees with it. Maybe you don't want to get stinky in a state that still discriminates against marijuana consumption.

Whatever your reason, don't stress. There are plenty of options available.

CBD Isolate

As we alluded to before, manufacturers can and do remove all other compounds from hemp. The result of this extraction is called CBD isolate. 

CBD isolate contains CBD and nothing else. So what does it smell like?

Nothing. No, really. Pure CBD doesn't really have a scent.

So if you want to use CBD without a noticeable scent of marijuana, CBD isolate might be your best bet. We offer 99%+ pure CBD Isolate Powder, derived from U.S.-grown hemp and tested in a third-party lab.

CBD Oil

Another option for CBD users who want to avoid smelling like weed is CBD oil. As we discussed above, CBD oil can smell like weed, especially if it's full-spectrum and contains all the terpenes present in cannabis sativa plants. 

However, CBD oil is usually taken orally or mixed with food or liquid. In the latter case, the potential smell from a single drop of oil will likely be overcome by the smell of whatever you mixed it into. 

If you're taking it straight, a single drop will also likely not produce too strong a scent.

Furthermore, CBD oil also contains a carrier oil. High-quality CBD oil uses organic MCT oil from coconuts. MCT oil, and most common carrier oils, will have their own scent, which could overcome the potential smell of the terpenes in the hemp extract.

Finally, some manufacturers include flavorings and scents in their CBD oil, which will naturally overpower any potential weed-like smell.

Other CBD Products

Of course, flower and oil are far from the only options when it comes to CBD products. Take edibles, for example. These will likely have other ingredients, each with their own smells.

Our Sleep & Soothe CBD Gummies, for example, contain natural raspberry flavor, lemon juice, organic beeswax, and other natural ingredients, each with its own scent. Similarly, our CBD Roll-On for Pain is packed with aromatic compounds, including coconut oil, Roman chamomile flower oil, cinnamon leaf oil, and more. 

As you can imagine, with all these aromatic oils and ingredients, you end up with a product that often doesn't smell like weed at all!

Does Your CBD Oil Smell Bad? Possible Causes

You might be wondering if your CBD smells like weed because you think something is off about it. Perhaps you're unsure whether your CBD oil is still good, and want to check that your nose isn't leading you astray.

Full-spectrum hemp extract usually has an earthy or herbal smell. Remember, it shouldn't smell too dissimilar to weed.

Broad-spectrum CBD smells similar, but weaker. That's because some of the terpenes degrade during extraction, and there's no THC.

Your oil might also have a smell from the carrier oils. If your CBD oil uses MCT oil, it might have a coconut smell. Hemp seed oil, meanwhile, usually has a nutty, earthy aroma.

In general, high-quality CBD oil should smell pleasant. It should smell natural and clean. Any sharply unpleasant, harsh, rancid, or pungent odors are a sign of poor ingredients, low-quality manufacturing, or expired oil.

Conclusion

Hemp-derived CBD products might be very different from those derived from cannabis, but they might have a very similar smell. That's because the distinct smell of weed isn't due to THC, but is actually caused by the hundreds of terpenes that naturally occur in both cannabis and hemp plants.

As such, your CBD products might smell like weed. That's especially true for hemp flower and full-spectrum CBD oil. 

CBD oil in general should have a less powerful aroma, especially if it's broad-spectrum. That smell might also be mixed with other scents from carrier oils or flavorings.

Pure CBD doesn't smell like weed. In fact, it doesn't smell at all. Similarly, CBD edibles likely won't smell like weed.

By understanding what will smell like weed and what won't, you can choose the right products for you — and your nose. 

Keep Reading: How Many CBD Gummies Should I Take to Relax?

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