A chemovar (short for chemical variety) is a more science-forward way to talk about cannabis—based on what’s in the plant (and product), not just what it’s called. Instead of relying on old-school categories, chemovars focus on the combination of:

• Cannabinoids (THC, CBD, and more)

• Terpenes (aroma compounds like limonene, myrcene, pinene, linalool, etc.)

• Sometimes minor compounds (like minor cannabinoids and flavonoids)

This shift matters because research has long suggested that popular naming and broad “indica vs. sativa” sorting doesn’t consistently map to chemical composition—especially in today’s world of extensive crossbreeding and branding.

What is pinene, exactly?

Pinene is a common terpene in nature, and it typically shows up as alpha-pinene (α-pinene) and beta-pinene (β-pinene). α-pinene is especially well-studied across plant science and essential oil research, and it’s also a known component of cannabis aroma chemistry.

If you’ve ever smelled a jar of flower and thought, “yep… that’s the one that’s gonna melt my shoulders,” you’ve probably met myrcene.

Myrcene (often listed as β-myrcene on lab reports) is one of the most common cannabis terpenes—and it’s strongly associated with that classic earthy, musky, herbal aroma and a deep, body-forward, wind-down vibe. It also shows up outside of cannabis in plants like hops, lemongrass, and mango (yes, the mango thing is real—at least aromatically).