by Nebula Haze
I visited my dad in Florida a few years ago. As we were walking around a local market, the smell of weed permeated the air. My dad noted, “This weed smells like a skunk with bad body odor.”
I took another whiff. It was definitely weed, but the smell had a sharp, sour edge that really did smell a bit like a skunk gone loose in a locker room.
I didn’t know what to say. I personally like the smell of almost any cannabis. The smell of super skunky weed in particular brings me back to fond memories of when I first smoked weed in the 2000s.
My first weed was super skunky smelling.
But my dad said something I’d never really thought about before.
He said, “The weed I smoked in the ’70s didn’t smell like this at all. It was closer to the smell of cloves. This whole skunky smell is a newer thing.” He said he remembered when the skunky smell first appeared in his part of Maine in the late 1990s. The new skunky weed was much stronger, and had good effects too. But he still missed when weed smelled more pleasant.
“Dad, you need to get out to California and try some of my weed.” I said.
The next year he did come to visit me in Southern California. After trying the weed I grow, followed by his first visit to a dispensary, he said, “You know, none of this weed smells like how I remember from the 70s, but I love how all this California weed smells so sweet and mild.”
“Do you like the smell of California weed better than what you smoked in the 70s?” I asked, both of us red-eyed from the weed we’d been smoking all afternoon.
“I’m not sure. That smell came with a lot of great memories… but smoking this strong-ass California weed with you ain’t bad either.” I smiled. For my dad, that’s a huge compliment.
What Makes Weed Smell How It Does?
My dad’s comments left me wondering what causes cannabis to smell the way it does.
Cannabis smells don’t change at random. They change as growers select and breed for different effects or customer preferences.
I discovered there’s been quite a bit of research on what gives each cannabis strain its signature scent.[1][2][3]
- Terpenes – These aromatic organic compounds “evaporate” in the air and leave a smell. Pine, lemon, floral, sweet… these common smells are heavily influenced by terpenes.
- Volatile Sulfur Compounds – “Skunk” and strong diesel smells typically come from sulfur compounds, not terpenes.
There are also rare or lesser known compounds. But besides terpenes and sulfur compounds, there hasn’t been much research into what causes “other” smells of weed.
Terpenes – Most “good” smells
Of all the things that affect cannabis smell, terpenes have been the most studied by far.
Terpenes make smells like:
- Pine
- Floral
- Citrus
- Spicy
- Earthy
- …and more
The first “good” smelling weed I ever encountered was weed I grew myself. It was a strain called “Mountain Berry” and I got the seeds from a dispensary in San Diego. But these days, almost all the weed at California dispensaries smells sweet, fruity, piney, or other mild floral or earthy odors.
This “Mountain Berry” I grew around 2010 smelled sweet and delicious. Thank you terpenes!
Research shows that terpenes don’t just change smell, but also affect the “high”. For example, the citrus-smelling terpene limonene in weed has been linked to an increase in relaxation.[4]
This combination of terpenes and weed, sometimes called the entourage effect, likely contributed to the popularity of high-terpene strains.
Mandarin Cookies buds are high in terpenes, giving a “loud” smell without skunkiness.
But terpenes aren’t the whole story when it comes to cannabis smells. The most potent smells come from an entirely different source.
Volatile Sulfur Compounds – Most “pungent” smells
For example, the “skunk” smell of cannabis comes from volatile sulfur compounds, not terpenes. Specifically, 3-methyl-2-butene-1-thiol is the guilty party. It is similar to the spray of a striped skunk at the molecular level, creating that signature scent.
The “skunk” smell of cannabis comes from volatile sulfur compounds, just like a skunk’s spray.
If the smell of your weed literally makes your nose wrinkle, it’s often coming from this category of smells.
The first good cannabis I ever bought smelled like it was sprayed by a skunk (circa 2005ish)
And there are other even lesser known substances that affect the smell of cannabis.
Rare or Lesser Known Smelly Compounds
When a cannabis strain smells particularly “exotic” or not like other weed, it’s often some of these unknown compounds causing the smell.
Why did “Skunky” weed get so popular?
The skunk strains that got introduced into weed in the 1980s through the 2000s weren’t necessarily bred for the smell at first.
This line of genetics had significantly higher THC, and this was most likely the main motivation. Skunky weed was potent.
As breeders selected plants to increase the perceived potency, the volatile sulfur compounds came along for the ride.
Over time, the smell became associated with good weed, and some growers began to select for it directly.
Stanky strong weed became an experience all its own.
Regardless, this new line of skunky weed genetics had much higher THC than what was growing in towns all over America.
The skunky strain genetics spread like wildfire, and much of the smell diversity was lost, at least initially.
Sweet Smelling Strains Rose in the 2010s
In response to legalization in the US and Canada, a wave of new people started buying weed at dispensaries. For the first time, customers actually had choices. Weed was competing on flavor now, not just strength.
And this new market of discerning cannabis enthusiasts loved tasty strains with dessert names (Girl Scout Cookies, Dos Si Dos, Wedding Cake, Candy Games, etc.)
Purple Ghost Candy is a potent, high yielding, and sweet smelling strain.
As a result, throughout the 2010s and into the 2020s, many of the new strains were selected for 3 main things: high THC, pleasant smells, and high bag appeal (looks beautiful).
This led to popular strains with completely different smell profiles.
Sources
- Oswald et al. (2021).
Identification of a New Family of Prenylated Volatile Sulfur Compounds in Cannabis. ACS Omega.
View study - Oswald et al. (2023).
Minor, Nonterpenoid Volatile Compounds Drive the Aroma Diversity of Cannabis. ACS Omega.
View study - Isaacson et al. (2025).
A proposed lexicon for sensory differentiation of Cannabis sativa aroma. PLOS One.
View study - Limonene and its effects on mood and relaxation. ScienceDirect.
View study
The Smells of Today
By 2026, cannabis smells have completely changed.
Between dispensaries and home growers, breeding has gone in many directions.
You can still find strains with some of the old smells, but especially in the US the “skunkiness” is a lot more mild. If you’ve watched cartoons, new weed strains are missing the stink lines.
You can’t get the exact weed back from the past, but you can find weed that captures part of it.
Here are a few seeds worth trying…
3 Cannabis Seeds with Notable Smells
For growers looking for classic effects and smells, a resurgence of breeders are working with older genetics to bring back some of the best aspects of the classics.
- Purple Haze – There’s anecdotal evidence that the Seed Supreme captured some of “Purple haze all in my brain” magic. As a plant, these Purple Haze seeds are easy to grow with delicious smelling, purple-tinted buds. Purple Haze seeds store surprisingly well, and maintain high germination rates for years as long as seeds are stored properly.
- Maui Wowie – Signature tropical scent and long lasting effects that won’t put you to sleep. These seeds thrive indoors and out, sprouting tough plants that are mold resistant and can handle some stress.
- Acapulco Gold – This version of Acapulco Gold by Barney’s Farm is a Cannabis Cup Winner. Golden-green buds, unique smell reminiscent of classic central American genetics make these seeds stand out against other versions of Acapulco Gold.
Purple Haze outdoor bud about to get trimmed.
Two Maui Wowie plants (one turned purple!) and two Acapulco Gold plants.
Bonus strain: Jack Herer is legendary for both a unique smell and uplifting effects.
3 Cannabis Seeds That Smell Like a Skunk
- Skunk #1 by Barney’s Farm – Genetics Barney’s Farm has maintained for over 20 years, and one of their pungent strains available in seed form.
- Durban Poison – They Barney’s Farm seed version of this strain has remained one of their top sellers since I started growing in 2008. I remember drooling over it online. Although the THC percentage has increased, they focus on maintaining that unique smell.
- La Pew clone (US Only) – If you want REALLY odoriferous weed, get a cannabis clone through the mail. Clones are more stable than seeds as far as bud smell and this clone cut reeks.
Skunk #1 buds look and smell dank (grown by Keri)
When Picnix grew Durban Poison it was a huge yielder with a thick smell.
The Durban Poison buds smelled “loud” according to picnix.
La Pew clones (US Only) stink to high heaven.
GrowWeedEasy.com’s Growing Cannabis Strain Library
What other strains have you grown, that you feel like have captured the essence of a strain that you smoked in the past? Let us know!
We’d love to incorporate your experiences into our cannabis strain library.
We share details of each strain including pictures of plants grown from those seeds. Our goal is to help share the experience of home growers in one complete convenient place
The recent Candy Games #38 I grew had a very unique aroma. Check out the grow journal. The name was a misnomer. It did not smell like candy at all to me (for candy smell get Purple Ghost Candy). But the smell did remind me of the the Maui Wowie and Mazar buds I grew in the early 2010s.
Candy Games #38 brings non-traditional smells to modern bud structure and potency.
