# Valencene

> Valencene is a sweet, citrus, orange-peel sesquiterpene named after Valencia oranges and found as a minor terpene in some cannabis cultivars.

- Canonical: https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/valencene.html
- Also written: (+)-valencene, valencine, valancene
- 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"

Valencene is a bicyclic [sesquiterpene](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/sesquiterpene.md) first isolated from Valencia orange oil. It smells sweet, citrus and woody, a softer, longer-lasting orange note than [limonene](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/limonene.md). Because it is a C15 compound, it is far less volatile than the C10 citrus [terpenes](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/terpene.md), which is why the flavour industry values it as a lasting orange note.

## In practice

In cannabis, valencene is usually minor, from [not detected](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/non-detect.md) to around 0.1% w/w. Cultivars described as "orange" or "tangerine" may carry it, but citrus aroma in cannabis often comes from limonene, [terpinolene](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/terpinolene.md) or non-terpene compounds as well. Only a [terpene test](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/terpene-test.md) that includes valencene will show it; many basic panels don't.

## Don't confuse with

- **Limonene**: the main citrus [monoterpene](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/monoterpene.md), more volatile.
- **Nootkatone**: grapefruit ketone made by oxidising valencene; rarely reported in cannabis.
- **Valerian**: a plant, not a terpene.

## Related terms

[Sesquiterpene](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/sesquiterpene.md), [Limonene](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/limonene.md), [Terpene profile](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/terpene-profile.md), [Terpene](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/terpene.md)

## Sources

1. Booth JK, Bohlmann J. 2019. Terpenes in Cannabis sativa: from plant genome to humans. Plant Science 284:67-72.