A New Era of Cannabis Classification
Move beyond Indica and Sativa—Explore cannabis like you explore wine.
Discover a terpene-based classification system that reveals how aroma, flavor, and effects are connected—making it easier than ever to choose the right strain for your needs.
Why Cannabis Classification Matters
For years, consumers and retailers have relied on outdated terms like Indica, Sativa, and Hybrid to make decisions. But those labels tell you very little about what really matters—how the cannabis will smell, taste, and make you feel.
We created a terpene-based cannabis classification system—built from thousands of lab-tested samples and powered by chemometric profiling—to help you choose cannabis with confidence.
Who Is This For?
Consumers & Patients
Make smarter decisions about what you inhale, eat, or apply—based on expected effects, not just strain names.
Budtenders & Retailers
Educate customers with confidence. Help them find strains they’ll actually enjoy and return for.
Cultivators & Brands
Position products by aroma and effect, not guesswork. Classify new cultivars with precision.
How It Works
Using our PhytoFacts® chemometric reporting system, cannabis strains are analyzed for their terpene composition. This data allows us to classify products into one of seven distinct terpene categories, each with its own typical flavor, aroma, and effect profile.
We partnered with industry experts and data scientists—alongside competitions like the Emerald Cup—to ensure this system reflects what consumers and professionals actually experience.
The 7 Cannabis Categories
Desserts
“Hybrid”
Flavor/Aroma: Doughy, citrus, spicy
Effects: Stimulating, racy, comforting
Cultivars: Classic Bubba Kush, GSC, Gelatos, Cakes
OGs & Gas
“Hybrid”
Flavor/Aroma: Fuel, citrus, pepper
Effects: Uplifting, analgesic, relaxing
Cultivars: OG Kush, Chemdawg, Sour Diesel, Gorilla Glue
Sweets & Dreams
“Indica”
Flavor/Aroma: Fruity, woody, herbaceous
Effects: Relaxing, couch-lock, pain relief
Cultivars: Classic Blueberry, Cherry AK, Purps, Blue Dream
Jacks & Haze
Mostly “Hybrid”
Flavor/Aroma: Fruity, pine, haze
Effects: Energizing, cerebral, creative
Cultivars: Classic Trainwreck, Jack Herer, Durban Poison, Super Lemon Haze
Tropical & Floral
“Indica”
Flavor/Aroma: Sweet, floral, tropical fruit
Effects: Calming, soothing, relaxing
Cultivars: Super Skunk, Hawaiian, In the Pines, Dream Queen
Exotics
Flavor/Aroma: Doughy, citrus, spicy
Effects: Stimulating, racy, comforting
Cultivars: GSC, Gelatos, Cakes, Bubba Kush
Citrus (Special Category)
Flavor/Aroma: Stimulating, racy, comforting
Effects: Stimulating, racy, comforting
Cultivars: Agent Orange, Tangie, Orange Creamsicle, Forbidden Fruit, Mimosa, Tropicanna
The Citrus cultivars are grouped separately for their dominant aromatic experience, despite diverse chemotypes.
Some strains emit a powerful citrus aroma due to a unique sulfur-based compound called tropicana sulfur, rather than their terpene profile alone.
The Science Behind Cannabis Classification
Our classification system is powered by chemometric profiling, a data-driven method for visualizing terpene patterns. It includes:
Dominant Terpenes
These appear consistently in the highest quantities across samples in a category. That said, some cultivars might be much more dominant in one terpene than others in its profile.
We represent a class’s dominant terpenes in the large circle, with common archetypes of that category arrayed above to show the variety of underlying profiles.
Color Logic
Warm colors represent energizing effects, while cool colors represent more calming effects.
Terpene Class Indicator
This code is given to each sample, providing insight into terpene makeup. The three letters denote the most prominent terpenes, in order of highest percentage.
M
Myrcene
O
beta Ocimene
L
Limonene
P
alpha Pinene
C
beta Caryophyllene
U
Linalool
T
Terpinolene
X
Terpene value is less than half of the primary terpene(s) present
Are you looking for a trusted, knowledgeable testing partner for your cannabis or hemp products?
Our experts are here to help, and always happy to answer your questions.
