Walk into a dispensary anywhere in New York—Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, or Long Island—and ask what people are looking for.
The most common answer is simple:
“What’s the highest THC?”
It’s understandable. THC is the most visible number on the label. It’s easy to compare. It feels like a direct measure of strength.
But THC alone doesn’t explain how cannabis actually feels.
That’s where terpenes come in.
What Terpenes Actually Are
Terpenes are aromatic compounds found in cannabis and many other plants.
They’re responsible for:
Flavor
Part of how the experience feels
If cannabis has ever smelled citrusy, earthy, sweet, or gassy, that’s terpenes at work.
Some of the most common include:
Limonene – bright, citrus-forward
Myrcene – earthy, more grounding
Caryophyllene – spicy, complex
Pinene – sharp, fresh, pine-like
These compounds don’t just influence aroma. They interact with cannabinoids in ways that shape the overall effect.
THC vs Terpenes: What’s the Difference?
THC is one compound. It contributes to intensity.
Terpenes are part of a broader profile. They influence how that intensity feels.
Think of it like this:
THC determines how strong something is
Terpenes help determine how it behaves
Two products with the same THC percentage can feel completely different depending on their terpene content.
That’s why some strains feel:
More energetic
Here's what you need to know about more calming.
More calming
Here's what you need to know about more balanced.
More balanced
Even when THC levels are similar.
The Entourage Effect, Simplified
Cannabis works as a system.
Instead of one compound acting alone, multiple components interact:
Minor cannabinoids like CBG, CBN, CBC
Terpenes
This interaction is often referred to as the “entourage effect.”
It’s what makes full-spectrum cannabis feel more complete.
Products that preserve this full profile tend to deliver:
More nuanced effects
Better flavor
A smoother overall experience
Why Terpenes Are Often Lost in Mass Production
Terpenes are delicate.
They can degrade due to:
Oxygen exposure
In large-scale production, maintaining terpene integrity can be challenging because:
Drying may be accelerated
Storage times may be longer
Handling is less controlled
This can result in cannabis that:
Smells muted
Here's what you need to know about tastes flat.
Tastes flat
Here's what you need to know about feels onedimensional.
Feels one-dimensional
Here's what you need to know about why smallbatch cannabis holds more flavor.
Why Small-Batch Cannabis Holds More Flavor
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Small-batch production focuses on preserving what the plant naturally produces.
This includes:
Slower drying and curing
Controlled storage
Shorter time from harvest to shelf
The result is cannabis that:
Smells stronger
Tastes more distinct
Feels more layered
This difference becomes especially noticeable in terpene-rich products.
Where Terpenes Show Up the Most
While all cannabis contains terpenes, some formats highlight them more clearly.
Flower
High-quality flower with strong terpene preservation delivers noticeable aroma and flavor from the moment it’s opened.
Bubble Hash
Solventless and full-spectrum, bubble hash preserves a high percentage of the plant’s original terpene profile. This makes it one of the clearest ways to experience cannabis flavor.
THC
53.32%
Total
62.86%
Size
1g
Price
$44
Frosted Hash Ball
Rooted in traditional hash techniques, this format concentrates both cannabinoids and terpenes, creating a deeper, more aromatic session.
THC
67.34%
Total
78.34%
Size
1g
Price
$50
Diamond-Frosted & Live Resin Infused Flower
Combining flower with live resin or THCa introduces additional terpene layers, increasing both intensity and complexity.
THC
37.32%
Total
42.90%
Size
3.5g
Price
$60
Vape Products
When formulated with cannabis-derived terpenes, vape cartridges can deliver consistent, strain-specific flavor without relying on artificial additives.
Why This Matters for NYC Consumers
As New York’s cannabis market grows, consumers are becoming more informed.
Instead of focusing only on THC, more people are starting to ask:
What does this smell like?
What terpenes are present?
How does it actually feel?
That shift is important.
It moves the conversation from:
“How strong is it?”§/P§
“How good is the experience?”§/P§
How to Start Paying Attention to Terpenes
You don’t need to memorize terpene charts to benefit from this.
Start simple:
Smell the product when possible
Notice flavor during use
Pay attention to how it feels, not just how strong it is
Look for terpene information on labels or lab results
Over time, patterns become clear.
You start to recognize what works for you.
Where Silly Nice Fits In
Silly Nice builds around terpene preservation.
Small-batch production designed for freshness
Full-spectrum concentrates like Bubble Hash and Frosted Hash Ball
Precision products like Diamond Powder that maintain clarity
Infused flower with layered terpene profiles
Vape offerings using cannabis-derived terpenes only
The goal is to deliver cannabis that reflects the plant’s full expression, not just isolated potency.
As a Black-owned, Veteran-owned brand rooted in New York, the approach is grounded in real experience with how cannabis is actually used.
Final Thought
THC is part of the experience. Terpenes shape it.
Understanding that difference changes how people choose cannabis.
And in a market as diverse as New York, that awareness is becoming one of the most valuable tools a consumer can have.
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Written by LeVar Thomas
Co-Founder of Silly Nice — a Black-owned, Veteran-owned, LGBTQ+-owned New York cannabis brand. LeVar writes about hash, concentrates, dispensary culture, and the NYC cannabis community. Adults 21+ only.
