terpene

An aromatic organic compound produced by plants — the molecular basis of the scents released by pine needles, sage leaves, citrus peel, lavender, and cannabis. Terpenes are the chemistry behind the smell of a forest after rain, the sharp bite of juniper, the resinous sweetness of a sun-warmed pine. Plants produce them as defense against herbivores and as attractants for pollinators, but the compounds also play ecological roles barely understood. They influence cloud formation, communicate between trees, and may suppress competing vegetation.