Top 7 Cannabis Strains with the Strongest Weed Smell

For some, nothing more than a snitch, for others a dream to have in the house. Fragrant plants. And not just any cannabis plants with a strong smell. Let me introduce you to some weed varieties with a penetrating, pungent, smelly, with a hefty Pepé le Pew content stink smell. Think old blue cheese in a broken refrigerator mixed with popping Catholic incense. 

What does weed smell like?

Weed smells like a combination of different, powerful-smelling plant extracts. Spicy, floral and hints of citrus and pine are common. However, some weed varieties smell so strong that they smell like incense or fuel. The substances that give weed this characteristic smell are terpenes. Terpenes are volatile aromatic substances that not only provide weed with a smell and taste, but together with the cannabinoids, give each strain of weed its own effect.

Terpenes are by no means found only in marijuana. There are other "plants with weed smell" as well. Virtually every plant on earth gives off terpenes. Some plants give off so much of a particular terpene that we say "that smells like lavender" or "strong pine smell." Different cannabis strains contain these terpenes in different proportions. The more terpenes, the stronger your weed smells. But there are also terpenes that combine to make an overwhelming skunk bomb of a cannabis plant. Here are the primary terpenes in a row:

  • Myrcene - Hop-like or lemongrass-like scent. Spicy, earthy and tangy in smell, mildly sweet in taste. Mangoes contain high levels of myrcene. Anti-inflammatory properties [1,2]. Strongly relaxing when combined with THC. Supposedly responsible for the "couch-lock" effect when you get stoned.
  • Caryophyllene - Peppery or spicy. Black pepper, basil, oregano and cloves contain a lot of caryophyllene. Weed varieties rich in this substance have a pungent, fuel-like smell. It is the only terpene that, like CBD, adheres well to the CB2 receptor. Pain relieving, can reduce alcohol consumption and acts as an antioxidant [3,4,5].
  • Limonene - You can tell a bit from the name that limonene smells like fresh cut citrus fruit. Ginger and lemon peels contain a lot of limonene. It gives cannabis a fresh smell. A lot of limonene in weed smells like detergent, because all-purpose cleaners often contain limonene or the next substance in this list. Limonene has an uplifting, happy-making effect and relieves stress. It also has some interesting medicinal effects that need further investigation [6].
  • Pineene - You may derive from the name that pineene is commonly found in pine trees. Think of the fresh resin of a pine. Also terpentine can be made from it and therefore paints for outdoor use smell of highly concentrated pineene. Pineene increases alertness and counteracts the impaired short-term memory of THC. That's why you get more high than stoned from weed high in pineene (and low in myrcene). Anti-inflammatory, pain reducing and anxiety reducing [7,8,9].
  • Linalol - Common in lavender and gives cannabis a powerful floral scent that is reminiscent of it. Strong relaxing effects and along with myrcene and humulene can contribute to a more stoned than high feeling. Possibly effective in Alzheimer's disease [10,11]. 

We also know of these relatively common terpenes in various weed strains: humulene (woody), borneol (mint), phytol (floral), eucalyptol (menthol/eucalyptus), bisabolol (chamomile), trans-nerolidol (tea-tree oil, wood), delta-3-careen (rosemary, cedarwood, paprika), camphene (musk, earl grey tea, valerian), terpineol (floral, citrusy), valencene (oranges) and geraniol (tobacco, lemons, peaches).

 

7 Strong Smelling Weed Strains

Cheese weed, skunk weed and diesel weed are known to have extremely powerful smells. If you bring in a strain with the genetics of these families, you can bet it will be smelly in your home within a few weeks.

GH Cheese

This smell is truly impossible to miss! GH Cheese from Green House Seed Company smells a bit like old cheese, but mixed with that typical spicy cannabis smell. Some people find it a nice, strong smell, while others may find it a bit smelly. But one thing is for sure: when you smell that smell, you immediately know it's cheese weed. Long-lasting and intense stoned effect, due in part to the 18.5% THC.

Myrcene (spicy) | Pineene (pine) | Caryophyllene (pepper) 

Green Crack

Smell is not only in the strength of terpenes, but also in volume. Green Crack can grow 3 meters tall in a strong summer sun and yield a kilo and a half of fresh weed per plant. Because it grows so tall and is so much, a weed tree like this can be quite nice in letting people know it's there with its overwhelming aroma. Far from stealthy growing!

Myrcene (spicy) | Caryophyllene (pepper) | Pineene (pine)

Auto Zkittlez

Auto Zkittlez on the other hand, will stay under the average fence if you grow her outdoors, but beware of the strong smell of sweet fruit, berries and candy. That ant-sweet smell comes particularly from the main bud (cola) which, with eyes squinted, looks pretty much like a muddy rugby ball or more appropriately, an American football.

Caryophyllene (pepper) | Linalol (floral) | Humulene (hop-like)

Auto Chemdawg

With Auto Chemdawg it's like being on the runway of an airport. The aroma resembles an unusual combination of jet fuel and pine. Yet the taste is anything but kerosene. In fact, it tends more toward sweet gum and spices from the Far East. With a THC percentage that easily exceeds 20%, you can bet that every muscle in your body relaxes. 

Caryophyllene (pepper) | Myrcene (spicy) | Limonene (fresh citrus)

Auto CBD NYC Diesel

Diesel weed is known to be quite fragrant. Whether she is rich in THC or like this one in CBD. Make sure you have good ventilation and/or carbon filters when growing indoors with Auto CBD NYC Diesel. The aroma is slightly sharp and pleasantly fresh from fuel and citrus and even tastes a tad spicy. Especially if you give her some time during flowering.

Myrcene (spicy) | Caryophyllene (pepper) | Pineene (pine)

Auto Sour Diesel

Diesel weed has one of the most authentic flavors in the cannabis universe. Where many flavors resemble each other, the diesel aroma stands out sky-high in Auto Sour Diesel. While smoking, vaping or eating, that aroma is joined by hints of citrus and spicy wood. Yes, not to mention the effects of this Sour Diesel weed. Every user reports the same thing: a very powerful effect that keeps you in its grasp for a long time. The cannabis sativa will leave you nice and relaxed and provide some extra motivation. Great for evenings on the couch during a - not too complicated – movie.

Caryophyllene (pepper) | Myrcene (spicy) | Limonene (fresh citrus)

Spicebomb

Spicebomb was specifically bred by Amsterdam Genetics to ensure a unique taste experience. They succeeded, as the high percentage of caryophyllene in this premium weed ensures a spicy and herbal taste. But that's not all. She inherited the intense smell that reminds of fuel from her grandmother Chemdawg. Then again, the fresh-sour notes are unusual for a kush such as Spicebomb. Spicebomb excels in spicy, sharp and crisp acidity. Delicious with a culinary delight and/or a good glass of wine.

Caryophyllene (pepper) | Myrcene (spicy) | Limonene (fresh citrus)

What to do about weed smell?

Weed plants in your home? Then you need to do something against the weed smell of typical strains we described above. You can do two things. Hide the weed smell or neutralize the weed smell.

Hide the weed smell 

On TV you sometimes see a teenager secretly smoking weed in the bedroom. Mother then comes up the stairs loudly and in a panic, son opens the window, lights an incense and waves the blanket. But incense really works. At least, if incense is a common scent in the house. As long as the smell is stronger than that of weed and preferably even somewhat similar to the smell of weed, then you can indeed mask the weed smell.

Neutralize the weed smell

Better is to fight the weed smell at the source. Since you cannot eliminate the source, you will have to take measures to stop the smell from spreading. This is why professional growers choose carbon filters and HEPA filters to prevent the odor from being spread over a wide area through the exhaust. A cannabis smell is the number one snitch for a cannabis plantation. Increased power consumption, darkened windows and remarkable lighting are also high on that list, by the way. Carbon filters can neutralize marijuana odor as the particles come into contact with activated carbon, literally disintegrating the odor molecules. HEPA filters can capture the larger, odorous pollen, which also prevents flowering cannabis plants from spreading odor outside the grow room. In addition, make sure there are no seams or gaps in your grow space.

 

Can you get stoned from the smell of weed?

No, you can't. It's a question we hear more often at Dutch Headshop customer service. THC may be psychoactive when you inhale it, but THCA, the substance actually found in a cannabis plant, must be heated before it can get you high as THC. Also, THCA does not simply evaporate from a cannabis plant. THCA is not a volatile substance. That would be crazy! Then the THC percentage would decrease as the plant matures. Quite the opposite is true.

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