The short answer

A printable terpene chart for strains is a one or two page PDF that lists cannabis cultivars in rows and terpene percentages in columns, so you can compare profiles side by side instead of opening lab reports one at a time. A working chart needs four things per strain: the strain name, the total terpene percentage, the top three terpenes with their percentages, and the batch or harvest date. Pull the numbers from the certificate of analysis (COA) that ships with the product, build the table in a spreadsheet, set the print area to one page wide, and export to PDF.

Terpene Profile Chart for Top Strains

Prerequisites

  • Certificates of analysis for each strain you plan to list
  • A spreadsheet app such as Excel, Google Sheets, or LibreOffice Calc
  • A PDF reader with a print dialog
  • Letter or A4 paper, and black ink if you want the cheapest legible copy

How to build the printable chart

  1. Open a blank spreadsheet and name the first sheet "Terpenes".
  2. Type these headers in row 1: Strain, Type, Batch Date, Total Terpenes %, then Myrcene, Limonene, Linalool, Caryophyllene, Pinene, Humulene, Terpinolene, and Ocimene.
  3. Add one strain per row under the header line.
  4. Copy each terpene percentage from the COA into the matching column, entering values as numbers rather than text. Use 0 for terpenes the lab did not detect.
  5. Enter the total terpene percentage the lab reported in its own column. Do not sum the terpene columns to create that total, because most labs report between 10 and 20 compounds and the stated total is larger than the sum of the listed rows.
  6. Add a Dominant column and use a formula to pull the largest terpene name for each row, for example =INDEX(B1:J1,MATCH(MAX(B2:J2),B2:J2,0)).
  7. Sort the rows by the Dominant column so similar profiles sit together on the page.
  8. Freeze the header row and the Strain column.
  9. Highlight the full table and set it as the print area.
  10. Open Page Setup, choose Portrait orientation, and set scaling to "Fit all columns on one page".
  11. Insert page breaks so each profile group starts at the top of a sheet when the table runs past one page.
  12. Turn on gridlines for printing, or apply thin borders to every cell.
  13. Export as PDF and name the file in the format terpene-chart-YYYY-MM.pdf.
  14. Print one test copy and check that no column is clipped at the right margin.

How to read the chart

  1. Find the strain row you want.
  2. Read Total Terpenes % first. A flower sample under 0.5 percent total terpenes carries little aroma, while 1 to 3 percent is common for quality flower.
  3. Check the Dominant cell to see which terpene sets the smell.
  4. Scan the three highest values. Ratios between terpenes tell you more than any single number.
  5. Compare the Batch Date against the product you hold. A chart built from an older batch describes that batch, not the jar in front of you.
  6. Match the strain against others with the same dominant terpene to find a substitute when your first pick is out of stock.

Print settings that keep the PDF usable

  1. Choose letter size for US printers and A4 for printers outside the US.
  2. Set scale to 100 percent and turn off "fit to page" if you already sized the columns to fit.
  3. Select black and white to avoid grey text on grey fills from cheap inkjets.
  4. Use 10 to 11 point type for data cells and 12 point bold for headers.
  5. Print double sided to cut paper use in half.

Limits to keep in mind

Terpene percentages shift with genetics, grow conditions, harvest timing, drying, and storage, so two batches of the same named cultivar can produce two different charts. Labs also differ in test method and reporting thresholds, which means a 0.3 percent limonene reading from one lab does not match the same number from another lab. Treat the chart as a shopping and comparison tool. It is not a medical document and not a dosing guide.

sativa vs indica terpene chart differences