Identification of Sensory-Active Compounds in Cannabis

This technical report details the identification of key sensory-active compounds in cannabis using aroma dilution analysis (ADA) and gas chromatography-olfactometry/mass spectrometry (GC-O/MS). The study highlights the growing cannabis market and the importance of understanding the volatile secondary metabolites that contribute to the unique aromas of different strains. It describes the methodology employed, including the use of dynamic headspace (DHS) for solventless extraction and the application of sensory directed analysis (SDA) to link sensory and chemical data. The report outlines the experimental setup, including the instrumentation and analysis conditions, and presents the results of the aroma dilution analysis, which identifies the flavor dilution factors (FD) of various compounds. The findings indicate a linear relationship between compound peak area and dilution factor, essential for reliable GC-O results. Additionally, the report discusses the use of olfactory data interpretation software to visualize and organize the data, facilitating the identification of the most potent odorants in cannabis.