Linalool

Over 200 recognized terpenes come together to form cannabis' unique aroma, and Linalool is often the one responsible for bringing a little spice to the table as you'll find in the bold aroma of popular Haze strains.

Linalool is often found only in trace amounts and is nowhere near the most common terpene (that award goes to myrcene), but it does offer some therapeutic potential.

Research is limited mostly to preliminary or animal studies, but research has shown interest in linalool's potential anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, and sedative potential.

Linalool, like other terpenes, may play an important role in cannabis' entourage effect, or the synergistic relationship between cannabis compounds, including THC and CBD. The entourage effect theory is widely accepted as the reason behind full spectrum CBD's increased efficacy compared to CBD isolate. Reports concerning this are mostly anecdotal, but Linalool's impact on the cannabis and CBD experience shouldn't be underestimated.

Table of Contents
Linalool Aroma
Where Can You Find Linalool Besides Cannabis?
Linalool Effects and Benefits
Resources

Key Takeaways

Linalool is only one of the terpenes found in cannabis, usually in trace amounts, but it has exciting health potential. The "bold, spicy" terpene can also be found in various spices and floral plants, like jasmine, lavender, and cinnamon.

Linalool's benefits have only been confirmed through preliminary research, mostly in animal trials. Still, researchers believe that this terpene has potential as an analgesic, anxiolytic, and antidepressant. Some studies even point to various possible neurological or antimicrobial benefits.

According to limited research, linalool is an important part of the entourage effect found in many whole-plant cannabis formulations, like full spectrum CBD.

Linalool Aroma

Linalool has a deep, earthy, spicy aroma and is responsible for the boldness of Lavender and Haze cannabis strains.

Where Can You Find Linalool Besides Cannabis?

Linalool is found in many highly aromatic plants that may have been traditionally used as medicine, like cinnamon, thyme, jasmine, lavender, rosewood, and basil.

Linalool Effects and Benefits

Terpene research is limited, but there are a few preliminary studies that help us understand limonene's health potential.

Here’s what we know:

• One study on mice suggests that linalool may have anxiolytic benefits when used as an aromatic.
• Another animal study also found that Linalool, among other terpenes, may have significant anti-depressant benefits.
• A comprehensive review of linalool's pharmacological benefits suggests that the terpene may have "analgesic, anxiolytic, sedative, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-bacterial effects."
• One study found Linalool to potentially have antimicrobial properties against common bacteria.
• Research points to linalool's ability to possibly help repair neurological pathway damage, making it a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease.
• Several studies have indicated that linalool has potential as an analgesic, potentially by reducing the excitability of cells that send pain signals to the brain.

Resources

1. “Linalool Odor-Induced Anxiolytic Effects in Mice” https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00241/full
2. “Antidepressant activity of Litsea glaucescens essential oil: Identification of β-pinene and linalool as active principles” https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874112004953#f0020
3. “[Advances in research of pharmacological effects and formulation studies of linalool]”https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26983194/
4. “Bacteria colonising Penstemon digitalis show volatile and tissue-specific responses to a natural concentration range of the floral volatile linalool” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29540962/
5. “Linalool reverses neuropathological and behavioral impairments in old triple transgenic Alzheimer's mice” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26549854/
6. “Treatment with lavender aromatherapy in the post-anesthesia care unit reduces opioid requirements of morbidly obese patients undergoing laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17894152/