What Does Weed Smell Like? The Skunky Truth, Explained

Weed smells skunky: strong, pungent and herbal, often with earthy, piney, citrusy or sweet notes depending on the strain. That smell comes from terpenes, the aromatic compounds in the plant, so no two strains smell exactly alike. Here's what a joint smells and tastes like, and why.

Why does weed smell like skunk?

"Skunky" is the go-to word for the smell of cannabis. The exact aroma changes from strain to strain, but it's usually strong, pungent and herbal. Some people love it and it brings back good memories; others find it overpowering or just plain unpleasant.

What changes the way weed smells?

Cannabis is a diverse plant, and its aroma shifts depending on several factors:

1. Terpenes: Terpenes are aromatic compounds found in cannabis and many other plants. Every strain has its own terpene mix, and that's what gives it its signature smell. Common ones include myrcene, which brings earthy, musky, almost clove-like notes, and limonene, which smells like citrus.
2. Growth stage: A cannabis plant's smell changes over its life. During flowering, when the buds are forming, the smell gets much stronger and more distinctive.
3. Cure: How cannabis is cured after harvest also affects its aroma. A good cure brings out and smooths the smell, while a sloppy one can leave it smelling like hay or worse.
4. How you consume it: The way you use cannabis changes how you perceive its smell. Smoking, vaping or cooking edibles all bring out different notes.

The smell of cannabis is unique and changes with the strain and how it was grown. It's usually described as skunky, but it can also lean herbal, citrusy or earthy, depending on the terpenes. How a joint smells to you is pretty subjective, too: what one person loves, another can't stand.

Can smelling weed smoke get you high?

Taking a hit of a joint is not the same as catching a whiff of it in the air. When you just smell weed smoke without inhaling it directly, you usually won't feel any of the psychoactive effects, that "high" or "stoned" feeling. To feel cannabis, the psychoactive compounds like THC have to be inhaled and make it into your bloodstream through your lungs.

What smelling the smoke does let you pick up is that classic cannabis aroma, usually described as skunky or herbal. People react to it differently: some enjoy it, others really don't.

It's worth pointing out that just smelling cannabis smoke in the air generally won't make you fail a drug test, since the amount of psychoactive compounds you take in that way is tiny, nowhere near enough for a noticeable effect.

But if you inhale the smoke directly, meaning you smoke it, vape it or otherwise breathe it in on purpose, then yes, you can feel the effects of cannabis, which can include euphoria, relaxation, changes in perception and the other usual effects of the plant.

How to get rid of the weed smell

Weed smell can be stubborn and easy to recognize, and sometimes you really need to keep it under control. Here are some ways to cut it down or get rid of it:

1. Ventilation: Open windows and doors to get fresh air moving through the room. An exhaust fan or a regular fan clears the smell out faster.
2. Air filters: Look into air purifiers with activated carbon filters, which can pull odors out of the air.
3. Natural scents: Use scented candles, incense or essential oils. They help mask the smell of cannabis.
4. Cooking smells: Cooking something with a strong smell, like cookies or popcorn, can help cover the smell of weed.
5. Airtight containers: Keep your stash in airtight containers so the smell doesn't spread.
6. Lower-smoke methods: If you're consuming cannabis, go for methods that put out less smoke and smell, like a vaporizer.
7. Water pipes: If you smoke, consider a water pipe or a bong, since they can cut down the smell compared to joints.
8. Air filtration systems: If your place has central HVAC, you may be able to add an activated carbon filter to it to knock out odors.
9. Smoke eliminators: Use a smoke eliminator after you smoke, like an odor-eliminating spray made for tobacco smoke.
10. Outdoors: When you can, smoke outside so the smoke disperses fast and doesn't get trapped indoors.

What does a joint taste like?

The taste of a joint depends on the strain, how it was grown and processed, and how you smoke it. These are some of the flavor notes people most often associate with smoking weed:

1. Terpenes: Terpenes are aromatic compounds found in cannabis and lots of other plants. Each strain has its own terpene combo, which gives it its signature flavor and aroma. Strains can taste citrusy, fruity, earthy, woody, piney, spicy or floral, among others.
2. Sweetness: Some strains taste sweet, like ripe fruit or candy.
3. Herbal or earthy notes: A lot of strains taste earthy or herbal, often compared to soil or fresh herbs.
4. Spicy or peppery notes: Some strains have a spicy kick, like pepper or cinnamon.
5. Bitter notes: Some strains taste bitter, a bit like bitter herbs.
6. Floral notes: Some strains have a floral taste, often compared to flowers like lavender.
7. Woody, forest-floor notes: Some strains taste like earth or wood, a lot like the smell of a forest floor.
8. Citrus notes: Some strains taste citrusy, like lemons, oranges or grapefruit.