Limonene: The Citrus Terpene, Where It Occurs and Lab Tested Profiles
Marcos Gabriel MoralesLimonene is the citrus terpene. Its common form, d limonene, smells sweet, fresh and orange like, and it makes up more than 90% of citrus peel oils. In our February 2026 SC Labs tests, all 10 of our profiles contained 4.0% to 11.3% limonene, led by Sour Brulee 2025 (Live).
What does limonene smell like?
The Good Scents Company, a flavor and fragrance database, describes d limonene as "citrus orange fresh sweet" and as sweet, citrus and peely. In taste tests at 30 parts per million it reads as sweet, orange, citrus and terpy. The Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA) lists its flavor profile as citrus and mint.
Chemically it is C10H16 with a molecular weight of 136.23, and it boils at about 175 to 178 °C (sources: PubChem, The Good Scents Company). Limonene has two mirror image forms; SC Labs reports it as one value and does not separate them.
Where does limonene occur outside cannabis?
Mostly in citrus. According to PubChem, d limonene makes up more than 90% of citrus peel oils, and it can be obtained by steam distilling citrus peels and pulp left over from juice production. The Good Scents Company lists bergamot oil at 26.0%. FEMA lists d limonene as flavor ingredient number 2633. How that compares with aroma captured from cannabis: Cannabis derived vs botanical terpenes.
How common is limonene in cannabis?
Common. A 2022 study in PLOS ONE grouped more than 41,000 THC dominant flower samples from six US states by terpene profile, and one of the two largest groups was high in caryophyllene and limonene. Together with a group high in myrcene and pinene, they held 87.4% of samples (source: Smith et al., PLOS ONE, 2022).
In our own results limonene is a steady supporting terpene. It ranked second, third or fourth in every one of our 10 profiles, while myrcene led 9 of them.
Which strains are high in limonene?
These are the five highest limonene profiles we have tested. SC Labs (ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited) measured 39 terpene compounds by gas chromatography in our February 2026 batches.
| Profile | Limonene (rank) | Other leading terpenes | Total terpenes | SC Labs batch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sour Brulee 2025 (Live) | 11.3% (third) | terpinolene 32.9%, myrcene 19.9% | 76.9% | 260217P025 |
| Starburst 2025 (Live) | 9.1% (third) | myrcene 29.0%, terpinolene 22.0% | 73.9% | 260217P024 |
| Juicy Fruit 2025 (Live) | 6.9% (third) | myrcene 48.5%, ocimene 11.5% | 75.9% | 260217P020 |
| Durban Poison 2025 (Live) | 6.8% (third) | myrcene 46.8%, ocimene 9.6% | 76.7% | 260217P021 |
| Chem Berry 2025 (Live) | 6.7% (third) | myrcene 43.4%, terpinolene 10.0% | 76.6% | 260217P017 |
The top two, Sour Brulee and Starburst, are also rich in terpinolene.
- Sour Brulee 2025 (Live): sweet and creamy with citrus and a touch of fuel. From $57 for 3 mL.
- Starburst 2025 (Live): sweet and sour creamy candy with tropical notes. From $57 for 3 mL.
- Juicy Fruit 2025 (Live): sweet, fruity gum with pineapple, citrus and a hint of spice. From $57 for 3 mL.
All of these are Live profiles, captured with cryogenic aroma capture, 100% solventless, from fresh flower grown in the terpene belt of Sonoma County, California, straight from the field and never frozen. Each is 100% cannabis derived and tests at 0.0% cannabinoids on a full panel certificate of analysis. Full reports are on our lab results page.
Want to compare? The Discovery Trio lets you pick any three 3 mL profiles for $139, and US orders of $150 and up ship free.
Myrcene vs limonene
Both have the formula C10H16, but they smell different: myrcene is herbal, woody and balsamic, limonene is sweet citrus. In our 10 tested profiles myrcene averages 41.5% and limonene 6.9%, so in most of our profiles limonene is a smaller citrus note under myrcene.
How to use a limonene rich profile
How much to add depends on the product. Our guide on how much terpene to add to distillate lists starting ratios by product type and by hardware; start low and adjust by aroma. These are industry starting points, not guarantees. The terpene calculator does the math for your batch size. Shop terpenes for cannabis beverages or terpenes for vape carts.
Frequently asked questions
What does limonene smell like?
Sweet, fresh citrus, like orange peel. FEMA lists the flavor profile of d limonene as citrus and mint.
What is limonene in cannabis?
One of the main cannabis terpenes. In a 2022 study of more than 41,000 flower samples, one of the two largest groups was high in caryophyllene and limonene. Our 10 tested profiles hold 4.0% to 11.3% limonene.
Which strain has the most limonene?
Of the profiles we have lab tested, Sour Brulee 2025 (Live), at 11.3% limonene in SC Labs batch 260217P025. Starburst 2025 (Live) has 9.1% and Juicy Fruit 2025 (Live) has 6.9%.
What is the difference between myrcene and limonene?
Both have the formula C10H16, but they smell different: myrcene is herbal, woody and balsamic, limonene is sweet citrus. In our 10 tested profiles myrcene averages 41.5% and limonene 6.9%.
Other terpene guides: terpinolene, myrcene, ocimene, pinene, and the terpene chart comparing all of our tested profiles. Keep reading: Live vs cured terpenes and Cannabis derived vs botanical terpenes.