Cannabis Fragrances and Perfumes

In the past, telling a person that he or she smelled of cannabis smoke may have been insulting. However, with the recent advent of cannabis fragrances and perfumes, it might now be considered a compliment. Creating any perfume is a truly complicated balancing act, however, it seems recently that high-end indie beauty brands are increasingly experimenting with the possibilities. Today, you can find cannabis in everything from perfumes and portable roll-ons to scented spritzers and oils.

Cannabis is perhaps one of the most underused (and underrated) aromatics in the industry of natural fragrances. Contrary to its name, you will not smell like some Head shop or that burnt, skunky herb smell sometimes associated with the flower. Instead, these kinds of perfumes were crafted to take on more subtle tones than your average perfume. Think notes of patchouli, cedar, moss, and sandalwood, layered with hints of violet, lemon zest, grapefruit, and airy white florals. In a nutshell, there are two types of cannabis-based perfumes: one is made from real cannabis, and the other doesn’t contain cannabis at all. Where it’s legal under the law of certain states, perfumes containing cannabis are being sold commercially, though, the latter relies on using ingredients to engineer something unique and elusive for mimicking the bud’s scent. Luckily, these places are becoming few and far between, thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill signed into law by the President which eliminated many of the restrictions on hemp -- although some remain. Though, it seems the remaining restrictions haven’t stopped companies from jumping into this exciting and equally innovative business. The main ingredient? Cannabis’ CBD.

CBD (short for cannabidiol) is considered a non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis (mainly hemp plants) that when consumed, is not reported to cause the same “high feeling” normally associated with the recreational consumption of its botanical cousin THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). If it feels like CBD is found in practically everything these days, you’re not imagining it: you can find the cannabinoid in bath bombs, body lotions, shampoos, lip glosses, and you guessed it, perfumes and fragrances. Though we’re still in the infancy stages of research, CBD has been alleged to produce a therapeutic effect that may be able to address anxiety, inflammation, chronic pain, and many others.

Just by spritzing some cannabis perfume or rolling it on to your wrist, important bioactive chemicals called terpenes also found in the cannabis plant (aside from other essential and lesser-known cannabinoids next to CBD) is believed to produce the kind of reaction in the body that affects our neurochemistry, scientifically referred to as the “entourage effect”. Terpenes are responsible for cannabis’ distinct scent, and depending on their concentrations in different strains, they also produce subtle fragrance notes. These oils influence the scent and flavor of the plant, but they’re not just present in cannabis -- terpenes are found in all botanicals and are abundant in lavender, spices like cloves, citrus fruits, herbs like lemongrass, and more.

While terpenes are not psychoactive, they are believed to possess great therapeutic value. For instance, lavender essential oil is an aromatherapy favorite amongst the health and wellness community for its touted soothing properties. Linalool, one of the terpenes found in lavender, produces this anti-anxiety effect, and it can also be sourced from cannabis. The only reason these cannabis-sourced terpenes weren’t being used in fragrances before was because of their legal status, but with the change in regulations, a whole new world of ingredients has opened up. As mentioned, terpenes and CBD oil are considered non-psychoactive, so you’re not going to get a THC type high (nor smell like cannabis) if you catch a whiff of your perfume, and neither will anyone who gets close to you. But depending on the terpenes incorporated into the fragrance, you might experience some beneficial effects that may provide a calming and stress-relieving effect.

Fragrant, herby, and evocative, it was only a matter of time before the cannabinoid made its way into the world of scents. Since the day the status of hemp was altered, CBD-infused products technically have existed in a legal gray area, however, the loose regulations have given retailers the comfort to tap into this niche market. And, as it continues to grow, with more and more brands getting in on the action, there will be an even bigger variety available for those who enjoy scents inspired by the natural world.