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Limonene

Also known as: d-limonene, citrus terpene

Updated How we edit these guides
Limonene appears in Full Spectrum, THC Free Broad Spectrum.

What it is

Limonene is a monoterpene, one of the lighter, brighter terpenes. It's the main reason a squeezed orange peel, a lemon zest or a lime rind smells sharp and sweet at once. It's also made in hemp's resin glands, which is why people ask which hemp has citrus notes. The answer is any hemp whose terpene profile runs high in limonene, and that changes with the cultivar and the harvest. Terpene guides such as Cannigma and JointCommerce (both checked October 2026) describe it as one of the more common terpenes in cannabis plants.

Here is the part that gets mixed up on labels. The limonene in our full-spectrum and broad-spectrum oils is whatever the hemp itself made. We don't add it, and we don't quote a number, because the amount varies by batch. The Peruvian Lime flavor is a different thing. That comes from real lime essential oil we add to the carrier oil, and lime peel oil is largely limonene. So a lime-flavored bottle carries limonene from two sources: the hemp's own, and the flavoring. The Natural and Fresh Mint flavors have no lime oil in them.

On research, we'll be plain: it's mostly preclinical. Most of what's published on limonene is lab and animal work, and the small-scale human work is early. Nobody can tell you what the trace amount in a dropper does on its own, and we won't guess. What we can say is that it's a common food flavoring, that it's part of the whole-plant profile people mean by the entourage effect, and that your batch's lab report (see /coas) is the place to check what was measured.

Where it's in our line

FAQ

Which hemp has citrus notes?

Hemp with a limonene-rich terpene profile smells of lemon, orange or lime peel. It depends on the cultivar and the harvest, so two batches of the same product can smell a little different. Our Natural flavor is unflavored, so any citrus in it comes from the hemp. Peruvian Lime gets its citrus from added lime essential oil as well.

Will limonene get me high?

No. Limonene is a fragrance molecule, the same one in citrus peel, and it isn't a cannabinoid. A high comes from THC acting on CB1 receptors. You've almost certainly eaten limonene this week if you've had an orange.

Does limonene show up on a drug test?

No. Drug screens look for THC metabolites, and limonene isn't THC or anything that turns into it. If you're tested, the thing to watch is the trace THC in a full-spectrum oil. Our broad-spectrum oil has THC removed, and its lab report reads ND or below the limit of quantitation.

Is Peruvian Lime flavor the same as limonene?

Not quite. The flavor is real lime essential oil, which is mostly limonene along with other compounds. Limonene is one molecule. The essential oil is added by us for taste. The hemp makes its own terpenes separately, and the amounts vary by batch.

Is limonene safe?

The FDA lists limonene as generally recognized as safe as a flavoring, and it's in everyday foods and drinks. That's about food-level amounts. If you're pregnant, nursing or on medication, talk with your doctor before starting any CBD product, the terpenes and flavorings in it included.

Other ingredients

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.