From Skunk to Citrus: How Cannabis Changed the Way I Smell the World

There’s a universal truth that unites grandmothers, Axe body spray enthusiasts, and people who work at candle shops:

They have no idea how strong they smell.

That’s because of olfactory fatigue—also known as nose blindness—which happens when your brain decides to tune out a constant smell to avoid sensory overload. It’s why someone douses themselves in perfume, thinking it’s just a "light spritz," while everyone around them is gasping for air.

And guess what? This exact same phenomenon happens with cannabis.

I know because I’ve lived it.

But Why Does Cannabis Even Smell Like That?

That skunky smell isn’t just random stink. It comes from terpenes, the aromatic compounds that give cannabis (and other plants) their unique scents. The main culprit? Myrcene.

Myrcene is the most abundant terpene in cannabis and is known for its musky, earthy aroma. It is also found in hops, mangoes, and lemongrass. While Myrcene is commonly present in strains with strong gas or skunk-like aromas, newer research suggests that the true source of the skunky note comes from volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) rather than terpenes alone.

However, Myrcene still significantly affects these strains' overall terpene profile and effects. Beyond its scent, Myrcene is believed to have sedative, pain-relieving, and anti-inflammatory properties, though more research is needed to confirm its specific effects and dosage in humans.

But here’s the thing: When you’re new to cannabis, myrcene is all you smell. It’s the loudest thing in the room. It’s why beginners flinch while experienced users lean in and say, “Oh, that smells amazing.”

And that’s where my story begins…

Step One: The Skunk Phase

Before I became familiar with cannabis, it all just smelled like skunk to me. No nuance, no complexity—just pure, nose-wrinkling funk.

What I didn’t realize was that I was smelling myrcene, the dominant terpene in many cannabis strains. For new users, myrcene is the overpowering note.

But here’s where it gets interesting.

The more you’re around a smell, the less your brain pays attention to it. So over time, my nose stopped registering myrcene as something new. And when did that happen?

I started smelling what was underneath it.

Step Two: The Dispensary Effect

Once I started working at a dispensary, I was surrounded by cannabis every single day. The smell was always in the air, embedded in my clothes, woven into my daily life.

At first, I still smelled the skunkiness, but after a while? It completely disappeared. I didn’t even notice it anymore.

Customers would walk in and say, "Oh my god, it smells amazing in here!"

Meanwhile, the athletic clothing store next door begged us to close our doors because its racks of sweaters were starting to smell like the dispensary!

The smell was clearly very present, but my nose had tapped out.

How You Can Tell Who’s New to Cannabis by the Way They Talk About the Smell

Working at a dispensary, I started noticing something funny. I could tell exactly who was new to cannabis based on how they reacted to the smell.

New customers? They’d walk in, flinch, and say, “Whoa. That is… pungent.”

Experienced users? They’d take a deep breath, close their eyes, and say something like, “Mmm. Spicy. That’s gotta have some limonene in it.”

It’s the same reason why the athletic store owner next to the dispensary hated it—they weren’t cannabis users, so their noses never adapted. To them, it was just skunk stink on their merchandise.

But to a regular? It was aromatic, complex, and nostalgic.

Step Three: The Watermelon Burst Revelation

One day, we had some flower that was nearing its expiration date, so employees were allowed to buy it at a massive discount. I picked up two ounces of Watermelon Burst for $16 and happily took it home to make some butter.

The moment I started heating it up, something wild happened.

For the first time ever, my house didn’t smell like weed.

It smelled like watermelon.

To me, it was fruity, sweet, and completely different from anything I’d ever smelled in cannabis before.

But when someone else walked in?

"Damn, it smells like straight skunk in here."

That’s when it hit me:

I wasn’t just becoming "nose blind" to cannabis—I was learning to separate the terpenes.

Whereas new users only smell the overpowering skunkiness, my nose had adopted a different approach. It no longer focused on myrcene but instead picked up on the limonene, linalool, and terpinolene that had been there all along.

I Should Have Known This Would Happen. It’s Not My First Olfactory Rodeo.

The funny thing is, I’ve experienced this before—just with different smells.

My first job in high school was as a farmhand on a pig farm.

Apparently, I smelled like pigs that summer.

People told me. I just couldn’t smell it.

Later, I worked at Pizza Hut, meaning I was a perpetual walking pizza.

I’d leave work and have no idea that I smelled like melted cheese and pepperoni.

But other people? They could smell me from across the room.

So, really, I should have seen it coming.

The more you’re around something, the less you notice it. Cannabis is no different.

Step Four: My House Smells Like a Berry-Pine Wonderland (But You Might Smell a Skunk Attack)

Fast-forward to today. As I write this, I’m making a fresh batch of cannabutter with a mix of Wedding Cake, Northern Lights, and Forbidden Runtz.

To me? My house smells like the best candle I’ve never bought. It’s giving me blackberry, pine, and a hint of citrus.

But if you walked in right now?

You’d probably clutch your nose and say, "Did your dog get skunked again!?"

This is the ultimate proof of olfactory fatigue.

My brain has filtered out the “weed smell” the same way perfume wearers stop smelling their own perfume.

Knowing about terpenes isn’t just a fun fact—it’s a useful tool for understanding scent, flavor, and even potential effects in cannabis and everyday life.

Why Understanding Terpenes Matters:

• They Shape Your Experience – Terpenes influence how cannabis affects you, beyond just THC and CBD. Myrcene promotes relaxation, while limonene boosts energy—helping you choose the right strain for your needs.

  
  

• They Help You Find What You Love – If some strains hit just right while others don’t, terpenes are likely why. Recognizing favorites like piney pinene or peppery caryophyllene takes the guesswork out of choosing cannabis.

  
  

• They’re Everywhere—Terpenes exist in citrus, pine trees, lavender, and even cleaning products. Learning to recognize them in cannabis deepens one's connection to scents and flavors in everyday life.

  
  

• They Can Enhance Well-Being – Some terpenes, like linalool (found in lavender) and limonene (in citrus), are linked to relaxation and mood elevation—whether in cannabis or aromatherapy.

  
  

• They Make Cannabis an Experience – Once you identify terpenes, cannabis becomes more than just “weed”—it’s like wine tasting, where you appreciate the unique notes that make each strain special.

The next time you take a deep inhale of cannabis, pine trees, or a fresh orange peel, pay attention—you might just be discovering your favorite terpene.

• Limonene (citrusy, uplifting) – Found in lemons, oranges, and some cleaning products.

• Linalool (floral, calming) – Found in lavender and many perfumes.

• Pinene (piney, fresh) – Found in pine trees, rosemary, and basil.

• Caryophyllene (spicy, peppery) – Found in black pepper and cloves.

Let’s Talk Terpenes!

I’d love to hear from you. Have you ever noticed your sense of smell evolving with cannabis or anything else? Can you pick up on different terpenes, or does it all still just smell like skunk? Drop a comment and share your experience—I’d love to geek out over this with you!

Sources:

1. Volatile Sulfur Compounds and Skunky Aroma in Cannabis

   • Padrón, M. E., et al. (2021). ACS Omega, 6(41), 27279–27286.

   • https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.1c04196

2. Myrcene's Therapeutic Effects

   • Bielefeld, M., et al. (2023). PubMed Central.

   • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35887239/

3. The Entourage Effect

   • Russo, E. B., & Guy, G. W. (2020). Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 164, 74-88.

   • https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8326332/

4. Cannabis Aroma and Terpenes

   • Berteau, S. B., et al. (2021). ScienceDaily.

   • https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/12/211201085147.htm

5. Olfactory Fatigue and Cannabis

   • O’Connor, T. & Smith, A. (2022). Omega Store Blog.

   • https://blog.omegastore.com/avoiding-nose-blindness-when-smelling-cannabis

   
   
   
   

TL;DR:

Olfactory fatigue happens when your brain tunes out familiar smells.

New cannabis users only smell skunk, but experienced ones start picking up fruity, citrusy, or piney notes.

Dispensary workers go "nose blind" to weed, but outsiders still smell it.

Cannabis terpenes are like wine aromas—you just have to train your nose.