Cannabis flower essential oil

Cannabis flower essential oil, also known as hemp essential oil, is an essential oil obtained by steam distillation from the flowers, panicles (flower cluster), stem, and upper leaves of the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa L.).^[1] Hemp essential oil is distinct from hemp seed oil (hemp oil) and hash oil: the former is a vegetable oil that is cold-pressed from the seeds of low-THC varieties of hemp, the latter is a THC-rich extract of dried female hemp flowers (marijuana) or resin (hashish).^[2]

A pale yellow liquid, cannabis flower essential oil is a volatile oil that is a mixture of monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and other terpenoid compounds. The typical scent of hemp results from about 140 different terpenoids. Beyond terpenes, there exist a number of other minor compounds that can drastically influence the aroma, such as volatile sulfur compounds,^[3] esters, and the heterocyclic compounds indole and skatole.^[4] The essential oil is manufactured from both low-THC ("fibre-type") and high-THC ("drug-type") varieties of hemp. As most of the phytocannabinoids are nearly insoluble in water, hemp essential oil contains only traces of cannabinoids. Even in "drug-type" hemp, the THC content of the essential oil does not exceed 0.08%. Most of the material is produced in Canada, as well as small scale cultivations in Switzerland and Germany.^[5]

Hemp essential oil is used as a scent in perfumes, cosmetics, soaps, and candles. It is also used as a flavoring in foods,^[6] primarily candy and beverages.

^ Kaniewski, R; Konczewicz, W (2005). "Steam Distillation of Essential Oils from Hemp Panicles". Journal of Natural Fibers. 2 (1): 91–92. doi:10.1300/J395v02n01_08. S2CID 134940626.
^ Winstock, Adam R. (2012-01-01). "Psychoactive drug misuse". In Wright, Pádraig; Stern, Julian; Phelan, Michael (eds.). 29 - Psychoactive drug misuse. W.B. Saunders. pp. 439–462. doi:10.1016/b978-0-7020-3397-1.00029-x. ISBN 9780702033971. Retrieved 2019-08-23. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
^ Oswald, Iain W. H.; Ojeda, Marcos A.; Pobanz, Ryan J.; Koby, Kevin A.; Buchanan, Anthony J.; Del Rosso, Josh; Guzman, Mario A.; Martin, Thomas J. (2021-11-30). "Identification of a New Family of Prenylated Volatile Sulfur Compounds in Cannabis Revealed by Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography". ACS Omega. 6 (47): 31667–31676. doi:10.1021/acsomega.1c04196. ISSN 2470-1343. PMC 8638000. PMID 34869990.
^ Oswald, Iain W. H.; Paryani, Twinkle R.; Sosa, Manuel E.; Ojeda, Marcos A.; Altenbernd, Mark R.; Grandy, Jonathan J.; Shafer, Nathan S.; Ngo, Kim; Peat, Jack R.; Melshenker, Bradley G.; Skelly, Ian; Koby, Kevin A.; Page, Michael F. Z.; Martin, Thomas J. (2023-10-12). "Minor, Nonterpenoid Volatile Compounds Drive the Aroma Differences of Exotic Cannabis". ACS Omega. doi:10.1021/acsomega.3c04496. ISSN 2470-1343. PMC 10601067.
^ Mediavilla, Vito; Steinemann, Simon (1997). "Essential oil of Cannabis sativa L. strains". Journal of the International Hemp Association. 4 (2): 80–82 – via International Hemp Association.
^ Vuerich, M.; Ferfuia, C.; Zuliani, F.; Piani, B.; Sepulcri, A.; Baldini, M. (2019). "Yield and Quality of Essential Oils in Hemp Varieties in Different Environments". Agronomy. 9 (7): 356. doi:10.3390/agronomy9070356. hdl:11390/1152191.

[1] Kaniewski, R; Konczewicz, W (2005). "Steam Distillation of Essential Oils from Hemp Panicles". Journal of Natural Fibers. 2 (1): 91–92. doi:10.1300/J395v02n01_08. S2CID 134940626.

[2] Winstock, Adam R. (2012-01-01). "Psychoactive drug misuse". In Wright, Pádraig; Stern, Julian; Phelan, Michael (eds.). 29 - Psychoactive drug misuse. W.B. Saunders. pp. 439–462. doi:10.1016/b978-0-7020-3397-1.00029-x. ISBN 9780702033971. Retrieved 2019-08-23. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)

[3] Oswald, Iain W. H.; Ojeda, Marcos A.; Pobanz, Ryan J.; Koby, Kevin A.; Buchanan, Anthony J.; Del Rosso, Josh; Guzman, Mario A.; Martin, Thomas J. (2021-11-30). "Identification of a New Family of Prenylated Volatile Sulfur Compounds in Cannabis Revealed by Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography". ACS Omega. 6 (47): 31667–31676. doi:10.1021/acsomega.1c04196. ISSN 2470-1343. PMC 8638000. PMID 34869990.

[4] Oswald, Iain W. H.; Paryani, Twinkle R.; Sosa, Manuel E.; Ojeda, Marcos A.; Altenbernd, Mark R.; Grandy, Jonathan J.; Shafer, Nathan S.; Ngo, Kim; Peat, Jack R.; Melshenker, Bradley G.; Skelly, Ian; Koby, Kevin A.; Page, Michael F. Z.; Martin, Thomas J. (2023-10-12). "Minor, Nonterpenoid Volatile Compounds Drive the Aroma Differences of Exotic Cannabis". ACS Omega. doi:10.1021/acsomega.3c04496. ISSN 2470-1343. PMC 10601067.

[5] Mediavilla, Vito; Steinemann, Simon (1997). "Essential oil of Cannabis sativa L. strains". Journal of the International Hemp Association. 4 (2): 80–82 – via International Hemp Association.

[6] Vuerich, M.; Ferfuia, C.; Zuliani, F.; Piani, B.; Sepulcri, A.; Baldini, M. (2019). "Yield and Quality of Essential Oils in Hemp Varieties in Different Environments". Agronomy. 9 (7): 356. doi:10.3390/agronomy9070356. hdl:11390/1152191.

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