# Sesquiterpene

> A sesquiterpene is a fifteen-carbon terpene made from farnesyl pyrophosphate, such as beta-caryophyllene, humulene and bisabolol; they are heavier and less volatile than monoterpenes.

- Canonical: https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/sesquiterpene.html
- Also written: sesquiterpenes, C15 terpene, sesquiterpenoid, sesquiterpenoids
- Glossary category: Cannabinoids and terpenes · Evidence: Established
- Status: Draft: awaiting expert review · Updated: 2026-10-31
- Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), attribute "GenetixBay cannabis glossary"

A sesquiterpene contains fifteen carbons, three isoprene units, built from farnesyl pyrophosphate. The common ones in cannabis are [beta-caryophyllene](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/beta-caryophyllene.md) (spicy, peppery), alpha-humulene (woody, hoppy), [alpha-bisabolol](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/bisabolol.md) (floral, chamomile-like), nerolidol (woody, floral), guaiol (piney, woody) and valencene (citrus). The oxygenated forms are sesquiterpenoids.

## In practice

Sesquiterpenes are less volatile than [monoterpenes](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/monoterpene.md), so in stored or dried flower their share of the [terpene](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/terpene.md) total tends to rise even if the absolute amount is steady. A profile that reads "caryophyllene and humulene [dominant](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/dominant.md)" in old material may have been "[myrcene](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/myrcene.md) and [limonene](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/limonene.md) dominant" when fresh. When comparing COAs, check how old the sample was and how it was stored. Beta-caryophyllene is also unusual because it binds the CB2 receptor in lab studies; no health claims follow from that.

## Don't confuse with

- **Monoterpene**: C10, lighter, more volatile.
- **Caryophyllene oxide**: an oxidation product of beta-caryophyllene.
- **Diterpene**: C20 compounds, minor in cannabis aroma.

## Related terms

[Terpene](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/terpene.md), [Monoterpene](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/monoterpene.md), [Beta-caryophyllene](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/beta-caryophyllene.md), [Humulene](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/humulene.md), [Bisabolol](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/bisabolol.md), [Nerolidol](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/nerolidol.md)

## Read more

- [Drying cannabis: the 60/60 method and water activity](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/harvest-cure/drying.md)

## Sources

1. Booth JK, Bohlmann J. 2019. Terpenes in Cannabis sativa: from plant genome to humans. Plant Science 284:67-72.
2. Ross SA, ElSohly MA. 1996. The volatile oil composition of fresh and air-dried buds of Cannabis sativa. Journal of Natural Products 59(1):49-51.