Myrcene strains are cannabis cultivars whose lab tests show myrcene as the dominant terpene, typically at 0.3% to over 1% of the flower's weight. Myrcene is a monoterpene with an earthy, musky, slightly fruity aroma, and it is the single most common dominant terpene in legal-market cannabis. Familiar examples include Granddaddy Purple, Blue Dream, OG Kush, Northern Lights, and Grape Ape, all commonly described as calming and body-heavy.
what are the highest terpene strains
What Is Myrcene?
Myrcene is a 10-carbon monoterpene, the smallest and most abundant terpene class in cannabis resin. It also occurs in hops, lemongrass, thyme, bay leaf, and mango, which is why hoppy beer and ripe mango share a similar musky-sweet note. Its boiling point is roughly 330 to 335 degrees Fahrenheit (165 to 168 Celsius).
Terpene Profiles: Guide to Cannabis Aromatics and Testing
What Do Myrcene Strains Smell and Taste Like?
Myrcene reads as earthy, herbal, and musky with a soft ripe-fruit edge. Descriptors you will see on dispensary menus include:
what are the highest terpene strains
- Wet earth and forest floor
- Musky, skunky, or dank
- Ripe mango, peach, or citrus peel
- Herbal tea, thyme, and hop
Aroma intensity tracks total terpene percentage, so a flower testing near 2% total terpenes will smell louder than one at 0.8%.
Which Strains Are High in Myrcene?
Terpene profiles vary by grow, batch, and harvest date, so always check the COA for the jar in front of you. Cultivars that frequently test myrcene-dominant include:
- Granddaddy Purple and Grape Ape: grape-and-berry myrcene bombs
- Blue Dream: myrcene and pinene with a sweet berry nose
- OG Kush and SFV OG: myrcene plus caryophyllene and limonene, heavy on fuel and pine
- Northern Lights and 9 Pound Hammer: classic resinous, sedating profiles
- Harlequin and Cannatonic: myrcene-dominant CBD types
- Tangie and Jack Herer: myrcene present, though terpinolene or limonene often leads
Are Myrcene Strains Always Indica?
No. Myrcene is common in both indica and sativa labels, and those labels describe plant structure, not chemistry. A sativa-labeled cut like Blue Dream can be myrcene-dominant, while some indicas lead with caryophyllene or limonene instead. Judge a strain by its terpene report, not its label.
What Effects Do Myrcene Strains Produce?
Users most often report relaxation, physical heaviness, and a slowed mental pace, especially at higher doses. That reputation likely reflects the combination of myrcene with other sedating compounds rather than myrcene acting alone. If you want energy, a myrcene-dominant flower is usually not the pick.
Does Myrcene Make THC Stronger?
That claim comes from a 1997 rodent study suggesting myrcene altered the blood-brain barrier, and it has not been confirmed in humans. Modern reviews of the entourage effect describe it as plausible but under-researched. Treat myrcene as a major contributor to aroma and subjective character, not as a THC multiplier.
Does eating mango boost a high?
There is no clinical evidence that mango does this. The theory rests on mango containing myrcene, but the amount and its absorption are far too low to matter.
How to Choose a Myrcene Strain
- Ask for the terpene COA. Look for myrcene listed first, above limonene, caryophyllene, and pinene.
- Compare percentages. Above 0.5% myrcene is a solid marker; above 1% is a standout.
- Check the harvest and package date. Terpenes fade over months on the shelf.
- Smell the jar if the shop allows it. You are confirming what the COA claims.
- Start low and go slow, since effects build with dose and tolerance.
What temperature should you vape myrcene strains at?
Myrcene vaporizes around 330 to 335 degrees Fahrenheit. Low-temperature vaping between 330 and 365 Fahrenheit preserves the musky, fruity top notes; combustion above 450 Fahrenheit burns most terpenes off.
How much myrcene counts as high?
Total cannabis terpenes usually land between 1% and 3% of flower weight, with myrcene often 20% to 40% of that total. A jar with 1.5% total terpenes and 0.6% myrcene is a reasonable "high myrcene" benchmark.
Do myrcene strains show on a standard potency test?
No. THC and CBD potency panels do not include terpenes. You need a terpene analysis, sometimes sold as a separate test, to see myrcene numbers.