Myrcene: Aroma, Where It Occurs and High Myrcene Strains
Marcos Gabriel MoralesMyrcene, or beta myrcene, is a terpene with an herbal, woody aroma and fruity, citrus notes in flavor tests. It occurs in hops, bay leaf, lemongrass and thyme. In our February 2026 SC Labs tests it was the leading terpene in 9 of our 10 profiles, up to 56.9% in Strawberry Guava 2025 (Live).
What does myrcene smell like?
The Good Scents Company, a flavor and fragrance database, describes myrcene at 10% as "terpy, herbaceous, woody with a rosy celery and carrot nuance." In taste tests at 5 to 100 parts per million it reads as woody, vegetative, citrus and fruity, with a tropical mango and slight leafy, minty nuance. The Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA) lists its flavor profile as balsamic, fruit, geranium, herb and must.
Chemically it is C10H16 with a molecular weight of 136.23, and it boils at about 166 to 167 °C (sources: PubChem, The Good Scents Company). It shares that formula with limonene, ocimene and pinene; only the arrangement of the atoms differs.
Where does myrcene occur outside cannabis?
Myrcene is common in plants. Published analyses compiled by The Good Scents Company list it in wild thyme oil from Finland (39.1%), celery leaf oil (33.6%), parsley leaf oil (23.8%), bay leaf oil (up to 16.2%), lemongrass oil (10.3 to 14.6%) and juniper berry oil (11.0%), and in hops. FEMA lists it as flavor ingredient number 2762.
How common is myrcene in cannabis?
Very common. A 2022 study in PLOS ONE grouped more than 41,000 THC dominant flower samples from six US states by terpene profile. 87.4% fell into two groups, one high in caryophyllene and limonene and one high in myrcene and pinene. The third group, about one in eight samples, was high in terpinolene and myrcene (source: Smith et al., PLOS ONE, 2022). Myrcene helps define two of the three groups.
Our own numbers agree. Myrcene led 9 of the 10 profiles we sent to SC Labs, and every profile contained 19.9% to 56.9%. The tenth, Sour Brulee, leads with terpinolene.
Which strains are high in myrcene?
Go by lab numbers rather than strain names: the PLOS ONE study above found that strain names are not reliably tied to one chemical profile. These are the six highest myrcene profiles we have tested. SC Labs (ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited) measured 39 terpene compounds by gas chromatography in our February 2026 batches.
| Profile | Myrcene (rank) | Share of all terpenes | Next terpenes | Total terpenes | SC Labs batch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strawberry Guava 2025 (Live) | 56.9% (first) | 75% | alpha pinene 8.9%, beta pinene 4.1% | 76.4% | 260217P023 |
| Bubblegum 2025 (Live) | 53.1% (first) | 72% | limonene 6.2%, alpha pinene 6.2% | 73.7% | 260217P026 |
| Juicy Fruit 2025 (Live) | 48.5% (first) | 64% | ocimene 11.5%, limonene 6.9% | 75.9% | 260217P020 |
| Gummiez 2025 (Live) | 47.1% (first) | 61% | terpinolene 9.6%, alpha pinene 6.2% | 77.8% | 260217P022 |
| Durban Poison 2025 (Live) | 46.8% (first) | 61% | ocimene 9.6%, limonene 6.8% | 76.7% | 260217P021 |
| Guava Runtz 2026 (Live) | 43.7% (first) | 60% | alpha pinene 8.1%, terpinolene 6.4% | 72.7% | 260217P019 |
In Strawberry Guava, myrcene is about 75% of all the terpenes measured.
- Strawberry Guava 2025 (Live): tropical fruit, ripe strawberry and exotic guava. From $57 for 3 mL.
- Bubblegum 2025 (Live): sweet and candied, with hints of berries and floral cream. 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.
Is myrcene on the Prop 65 list?
Yes. California lists beta myrcene under Proposition 65 as a chemical known to the state to cause cancer, effective March 27, 2015 (OEHHA). The listing rests on two year studies in which rats and mice were given beta myrcene by mouth (National Toxicology Program, 2010). Separately, FEMA notes that since October 9, 2020 the synthetic version may not be added to food in the United States.
Because our profiles contain beta myrcene, every product page and safety data sheet carries this warning:
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including β-Myrcene, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
How to use a myrcene 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 pre rolls or terpenes for distillate.
Frequently asked questions
What does myrcene smell like?
Herbal and woody, with fruity and citrus notes in flavor tests. FEMA lists its flavor profile as balsamic, fruit, geranium, herb and must.
Which strain has the most myrcene?
Of the profiles we have lab tested, Strawberry Guava 2025 (Live), at 56.9% myrcene in SC Labs batch 260217P023. Bubblegum 2025 (Live) has 53.1% and Juicy Fruit 2025 (Live) has 48.5%.
Where else is myrcene found?
In hops and in thyme, celery leaf, parsley leaf, bay leaf, lemongrass and juniper berry oils, among others.
Is myrcene on the Prop 65 list?
Yes. California has listed beta myrcene under Proposition 65 since March 27, 2015, based on National Toxicology Program animal studies. Our product pages carry the warning.
Other terpene guides: terpinolene, limonene, ocimene, pinene, and the terpene chart comparing all of our tested profiles. Keep reading: Live vs cured terpenes and Cannabis derived vs botanical terpenes.