Terpinolene

Terpinolene (δ-terpinene) is a monoterpene (C₁₀H₁₆) and one of four terpinene isomers. It is among the least common dominant terpenes in cannabis—only about one in ten strains feature terpinolene as its primary terpene—making terpinolene-dominant strains relatively rare and sought after. Beyond cannabis, it occurs in tea tree oil, nutmeg, cumin, marjoram, and lilacs.

Despite being classified as a sativa-associated terpene (it appears frequently in strains like Jack Herer and Dutch Treat), research suggests terpinolene may have mildly sedative properties alongside antioxidant activity. This apparent contradiction—uplifting in character yet chemically sedating—illustrates why the entourage effect of multiple terpenes and cannabinoids working together matters more than any single compound in isolation.