What Are Terpenes? Introduction
Whether you're wanting to brush up on terpene knowledge, or if you're brand new to the industry - welcome! We're honoured and glad to be a part of your information journey.
Terpenes are a broad subject: flavour chemistry, perfumery, and medicinal effects (for humans and animals) are three primary areas of study.
Every human has encountered terpenes; they are natural organic compounds in near all living things and are major components in smells and flavours. Apples, roses, and lemons alike contain terpenes like nerolidol and limonene; these terpenes are then isolated and mixed into specific quantities to create flavour packets that can be used commercially for long-lasting apple juice or lemonade, or even a spring-fresh scent in air deodorizers.
The Basics of Terpenes: In Our World
Terpenes are chemical compounds mostly found in plant life - they are most often identified and used for their aroma and taste. People often understand terpenes when described as the key player of essential oils, or alternatively, that every essential oil on the market is a specific blend of naturally-occurring terpenes. These same compounds are used in food and flavour industries to enhance and preserve many foods we commonly enjoy like orange juice.
In that vein, you have undoubtedly come across many terpenes in life: the atmosphere of a forest is fresh with pinene and lesser amounts of camphene and limonene; the scent of a rose has a peculiar body that you can find isolated as nerolidol. Alone, these terpene isolates may seem incomplete, but when paired, blended and applied to perfection, terpenes are the most powerful and life-like compounds in sense-based industry.
Getting More In-Depth
While much of the science has been explored to the degree where commercial companies can readily access terpenes, it is still important for mixers and handlers to understand that they are specialized compounds requiring care and procedure. Terpenes cannot be left unsealed due to atmospheric decomposition, and none can be handled without equipment.
If you're curious, or needing to know the basics to get your product started, we invite you to investigate further: the world of terpenes is very broad and interesting. While we aim to broaden our knowledge base to our customers, you will likely learn both here and through other channels. There are main components to understand when it comes to terpenes, and our goal is to impart you with the ability to enrich you and your team's knowledge. As with all chemicals, safety is a primary concern. Do not proceed with any handling of terpenes until proper procedure is understood and applied.
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