Making scents of cannabis: how cannabis cultivar and preparation methods influence aroma

Research presented at the Society for Experimental Biology conference in Florence, Italy, shows how cannabis aroma depends on cultivar and on drying and storage choices. The project combined high-resolution chromatography with human aroma assessments to examine how preparation and transportation affect cannabis chemistry and how people perceive those odors. The study focuses on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Cannabis sativa, which act as ecological signals in nature and also shape human aroma preferences. According to the findings, freeze-drying preserved active cannabinoids but caused significant aroma loss, while tray-drying better maintained the natural VOC profile. For storage, glass containers retained a broader VOC range than polyethylene containers or open-air conditions, but they also promoted the conversion of acidic cannabinoids into neutral forms such as CBDA into CBD. Across six commercial cultivars, researchers identified 140 VOCs and seven cannabinoids, highlighting many possible aroma combinations.