How to Read a Terpene Panel on a Lab Report

A terpene panel lists the aromatic compounds a laboratory looked for in a sample and how much of each it found. Not every report includes one, and a number on its own does not tell you how a product smells.

This is part two of our terpene series. It shows how to read the panel when there is one, and builds on our general guide to reading a COA. If you are new to the topic, start with part one: terpenes explained.

1. Check that a terpene panel is included

A COA can contain one panel or several. A report that covers only cannabinoids contains no terpene data. That does not make its cannabinoid results wrong; it means the document answers a narrower question.

2. Read the units before the numbers

Terpene results are usually given in milligrams per gram (mg/g), as a percentage by weight, or both. The conversion is simple: 10 mg/g is 1%. So 5 mg/g is 0.5% and 25 mg/g is 2.5%. Check the column heading before comparing one report with another.

3. Learn the compound names

Reports use chemical names. The Greek letters, such as α and β, show which version of a molecule was measured, and each version is listed separately. These are the names you will see most often:

Name on the report	Typical aroma
Limonene	Citrus peel, lemon, orange
β-Myrcene	Earthy, herbal, hop-like
α-Pinene	Fresh pine needles
β-Caryophyllene	Black pepper, clove-like spice
Linalool	Floral, lavender

4. Understand ND and LOQ

ND usually means a compound was not detected under the method used. A result below the limit of quantification (LOQ) means the laboratory could not report a reliable figure at that level, although a trace may be present. Our COA guide covers these abbreviations in more detail.

5. Read the total with care

The total adds up the compounds the laboratory looked for. Panels differ in how many compounds they screen, so a total from one laboratory is not directly comparable with another's. A higher total means more of the screened compounds were measured. It does not tell you how a product will smell.

6. Remember it is a snapshot

A panel records one sample on the day it was tested. From then on, oxygen, heat, light and time gradually change aromatic compounds. A lab figure tells you what was measured at that point, not how a pack will smell when you open it later. Our guide to storing hemp tea and CBD solid extract covers practical storage.

What a terpene table cannot tell you

Aroma is a blend, and people perceive it differently. Terpene data also varies with cultivation, harvest timing, curing and the testing method used. Use a panel as a record of what was measured, and rely on the tasting notes and photographs on the product page to judge how a batch is likely to smell.

How Calm Leaf approaches this

Our aroma and flavour notes are tasting notes, not laboratory measurements, as set out in our hemp tea flavour guide. The panels a batch report covers can vary, so if you want the report for a particular batch, contact the team and we will help you find it. For why the laboratory's independence matters, see third-party testing vs in-house testing.

Questions to ask before relying on a panel

• Is a terpene panel included at all?
• Which units are used: mg/g, percentage or both?
• How many compounds did the laboratory screen for?
• Does the batch reference match the product?
• When was the sample tested?

Frequently asked questions

What is a terpene panel?

It is the section of a lab report that lists the aromatic compounds measured in a sample, usually with a result for each compound and a total.

How do I convert mg/g to a percentage?

Divide by 10. A result of 20 mg/g is 2%.

Does every COA include terpenes?

No. Check which panels are listed. A cannabinoid-only report has no terpene data.

Can I predict how hemp tea smells from its terpene profile?

Not reliably. Aroma is a blend, results vary between samples and laboratories, and a pack changes over time. The tasting notes on a product page are a more practical guide.