If your palate prefers fruity or sweet aromas, pungent strains might not be your cup of tea. Pungent varieties typically feature strong, skunky smells. Furthermore, these varieties tend to provide powerful experiences.
Here are a few examples of pungent weed varieties characterized by high VSC content.
1. Skunky Smell
Cannabis strains that feature an intense, pungent aroma tend to be among the strongest and most potency strains available. Giving them an unmistakably potency-driven effect.
Recent research indicates that the pungent smell produced by marijuana plants isn’t caused by its terpenes; rather, it comes from volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs).
VSCs (Volatile Sulfur Compounds) are organic molecules with an affinity for sulfur that evaporate rapidly. Making them easily detectable by our olfactory systems. Oswald’s team conducted several experiments diluting VSCs and asked four panelists to rank each scent intensity from zero to 10, discovering that VSC 321MBT was most responsible for creating its characteristic “skunky smell,” being particularly prominent during late flowering stages of cannabis plants.
2. Strong Taste
As its name implies, this strain has an intense and distinctive taste resembling wasabi, chili peppers or garlic. This strong taste is due to the presence of terpenes which give cannabis its distinct aroma.
Consumers shopping for marijuana want more than just its smell – they want to know its potency too, which can easily be assessed through sniffing.
Researchers conducted a study where participants rated thirteen cannabis samples by their pungency. Finding that most participants agreed on which strains are the most pungent. When comparing ratings with volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) concentrations found in each sample, it became evident that VSC concentration correlates directly to how pungently each strain smells; most pungent strains included Lemon Diesel and GG4.
Pungent
3. Intense Heat
This strain offers dry and intense heat that is stimulating to both throat and nose due to terpenes such as caryophyllene and humulene – similar to when eating chili peppers, mustard or cloves.
Pungent weed cultivars typically feature dense resinous buds encrusted with trichomes for a frosty appearance. Their colors range from light green to deep purple with orange or red hairs for texture.
Gas-like cannabis strains offer robust flavors and unique effects when taken in flower. Concentrate or edible form. These effects may include stimulating and euphoric qualities perfect for social gatherings and daytime use as well as relaxing qualities to provide stress relief and relaxing sensations. Different strains have unique characteristics; common ones include pain relief, muscle relaxation and mental clarity.
4. Psychoactive
THC, the main psychoactive compound found in cannabis, stimulates parts of the brain that respond to pleasure from food and sexual experiences by unleashing serotonin and dopamine that lead to mood enhancement and pain relief. THC can also act as a muscle relaxant and anxiety reliever by relaxing muscles while soothing tension and anxiety.
VSCs, or volatile sulfur compounds, are responsible for the pungent “weed” aroma produced by certain strains. Closely related to terpenes but usually present in lower quantities than their terpene counterparts. VSC levels have been found to correlate strongly with terpene profiles as evidenced by research conducted jointly between Leafly and University of Colorado that correlated VSC content against rating scores on over 10,000 samples.
Beta-caryophyllene, one of the more notable VSCs, is responsible for giving some strains their distinctive piney scent and has anti-inflammatory. Bronchodilating, stress relieving and antioxidant properties – not to mention being present in lavender which has been proven to reduce nausea while improving sleep experiences while providing antibacterial and antifungal protection as well.