Beta-pinene

Beta-pinene is a pine- and rosemary-scented terpene that occurs with its isomer alpha-pinene in conifers, herbs, and hemp.

Alpha- and beta-pinene are isomers, meaning they share the same formula but differ slightly in structure, and they usually appear together in a plant's terpene profile. Beta-pinene is generally the less abundant of the two in hemp. Laboratories that run terpene panels report it separately, so readers may see both names on a single certificate of analysis.

Like other terpenes, beta-pinene contributes aroma and flavor to whole-plant extracts but is not itself a cannabinoid. Research on what it does in the body is largely preclinical, and there is no established clinical role for it in cannabinoid products. It is also common in many household plants and foods, which is worth remembering when a pet product's label lists it.