Alpha-Pinene
Also known as: α-pinene, pinene, the pine terpene
What it is
Alpha-pinene is a monoterpene, one of the small, light, quick-to-evaporate terpenes. It's the main scent of pine and spruce resin, and it turns up in rosemary, basil and citrus peel too. Hemp makes it as well, which is why some cannabis and hemp products smell faintly of a forest. The FDA lists terpenes like this one as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use as flavorings, and pine and rosemary have been in kitchens and cleaning products for a very long time.
Why does it get a page? Because people ask what the smell in a hemp oil is, and pinene is a common answer. It's often discussed alongside CBD under the entourage effect idea, the theory that cannabinoids and terpenes work better together than apart. We'll be straight about that idea: it's a hypothesis, and it's not settled. Our terpenes page covers the bigger picture. Alpha-pinene is simply one of the better-known members of that group.
Now the honest research status. What's published on alpha-pinene is mostly cell work and animal studies, plus a few small human studies on breathing it in as an aroma. Nobody can tell you what the trace amount in a bottle of hemp oil does for a person, and we won't guess. Terpenes are also fragile. Light, heat and processing all cut the lighter ones down, and pinene is among the lighter ones. botanCBD does not add alpha-pinene to anything. If it's in your bottle, it came from the hemp, and how much varies by batch.
Where it's in our line
- Organic CBD Oil Oral Drops - Full Spectrum
Naturally present as part of the hemp's own terpene profile, if the batch carries it. Nothing added. Amount varies by batch, so we don't quote a number we haven't measured on that batch.
- Organic CBD Oil Oral Drops - THC Free Broad Spectrum
Some of the hemp's terpenes can survive the THC-removal step, but light terpenes like pinene are the ones most likely to thin out. Naturally occurring, not added, and batch-dependent.
- Arnica Infused Organic CBD Salve Stick
Made with a total-spectrum hemp extract, so whatever terpenes the extract holds come along. The stick is for skin only, never on broken skin, and it currently reads sold out.
FAQ
What is alpha-pinene?
Alpha-pinene is a terpene, a natural aroma compound, that gives pine trees their smell. It's also found in rosemary and in hemp, and it's one of the most widely found terpenes in the plant world.
Is alpha-pinene safe?
It's listed by the FDA as generally recognized as safe for use as a flavoring, and you meet it in pine, rosemary and herbs. That's about food-level amounts. If you're pregnant, nursing, or on medication, talk with your doctor before starting any CBD product.
Does botanCBD add pinene to its oils?
No. We don't add alpha-pinene or any other terpene. Any pinene in our oils or salve comes from the hemp itself, and the amount changes from batch to batch.
How much alpha-pinene is in your CBD oil?
It depends on the batch, so we won't give one number. Our third-party lab reports are on request and at /coas. Check what a given report lists before assuming a terpene is in the bottle.
What does the research say about alpha-pinene?
It's early. Most of it is early lab work, meaning cell and animal studies, with a few small human studies on the aroma. That's not enough to say what pinene does in a hemp oil, and we don't make claims about it.
Other ingredients
- CBG (Cannabigerol)A minor cannabinoid sometimes called "the mother cannabinoid" because the others (CBD, THC) develop …
- CBN (Cannabinol)A minor cannabinoid that forms slowly as THC oxidizes. Associated with sedation in early research an…
- CBC (Cannabichromene)A minor cannabinoid researched for its potential role in inflammation pathways. Naturally present in…
- CBDA (Cannabidiolic Acid)The acid form of CBD that the living hemp plant actually makes. Heat converts it to CBD — which is w…
- TerpenesThe aromatic compounds that give every plant its distinctive smell. In hemp, they also play a role i…
- MCT Oil (Medium-Chain Triglyceride Oil)The carrier oil in our tinctures. MCT improves CBD absorption and is gentle on the digestive system.…
- Arnica (Arnica Montana)A flowering plant with a long history of topical use for muscle soreness and bruising. Combined with…
- THC (Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol)The intoxicating cannabinoid in cannabis. Hemp makes a little of it too — federal law caps it at 0.3…
- Beta-Caryophyllene (BCP)A spicy-smelling terpene found in black pepper, cloves, hops and hemp. It's the one common terpene k…
- LimoneneLimonene is the terpene that makes citrus peel smell like citrus. It's also in hemp, so some hemp do…
- MyrceneAn earthy, musky terpene and the most common one in many hemp cultivars. It's also in mangoes, hops,…
- LinaloolLinalool is a floral, lightly spicy terpene found in lavender, coriander, basil and hemp. It's the m…
- HumuleneHumulene is a woody, earthy, slightly hoppy terpene found in hops, sage, ginseng, clove, black peppe…
- Peppermint Essential Oil (Fresh Mint flavor)Yes, mint CBD oil is flavored with real peppermint essential oil. In our Fresh Mint drops it is a sm…
- Lime Essential Oil (Peruvian Lime flavor)A citrus oil from lime fruit, made up mostly of limonene and other bright terpenes. It's what gives …
- AAFCO-Approved Bacon Flavoring (Pet Oil)The bacon flavor in our pet oil is a natural, pet-food-grade flavoring made to be used in animal pro…
- Organic Hemp Extract (Full-Spectrum and Broad-Spectrum)Organic hemp extract is the concentrated oil pulled from organically cultivated hemp flower. It carr…
- Coconut-Derived MCT Oil (Why Ours Is Coconut, Not Palm)Yes, the MCT carrier oil in our drops is coconut-derived, not palm-derived. MCT oil can be made from…
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. botanCBD products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk with your healthcare provider before starting any new wellness product, especially if you take prescription medications.