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A New Era of Cannabis Classification

Move beyond Indica and Sativa—Explore cannabis like you explore wine.

Discover a terpene-based classification system that reveals how aroma, flavor, and effects are connected—making it easier than ever to choose the right strain for your needs.

Stacked jars of cannabis flower

Why Cannabis Classification Matters

For years, consumers and retailers have relied on outdated terms like Indica, Sativa, and Hybrid to make decisions. But those labels tell you very little about what really matters—how the cannabis will smell, taste, and make you feel.

We created a terpene-based cannabis classification system—built from thousands of lab-tested samples and powered by chemometric profiling—to help you choose cannabis with confidence.

Who Is This For?

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Consumers & Patients
Make smarter decisions about what you inhale, eat, or apply—based on expected effects, not just strain names.

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Budtenders & Retailers
Educate customers with confidence. Help them find strains they’ll actually enjoy and return for.

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Cultivators & Brands
Position products by aroma and effect, not guesswork. Classify new cultivars with precision.

How It Works

Using our PhytoFacts® chemometric reporting system, cannabis strains are analyzed for their terpene composition. This data allows us to classify products into one of seven distinct terpene categories, each with its own typical flavor, aroma, and effect profile.

We partnered with industry experts and data scientists—alongside competitions like the Emerald Cup—to ensure this system reflects what consumers and professionals actually experience.

The 7 Cannabis Categories

Desserts Cannabis Class | SC Labs

Desserts

“Hybrid”

Flavor/Aroma: Doughy, citrus, spicy

Effects: Stimulating, racy, comforting

Cultivars: Classic Bubba Kush, GSC, Gelatos, Cakes

OGs & Gas Cannabis Class | SC Labs

OGs & Gas

“Hybrid”

Flavor/Aroma: Fuel, citrus, pepper

Effects: Uplifting, analgesic, relaxing

Cultivars: OG Kush, Chemdawg, Sour Diesel, Gorilla Glue

Sweets & Dreams Cannabis Class | SC Labs

Sweets & Dreams

“Indica”

Flavor/Aroma: Fruity, woody, herbaceous

Effects: Relaxing, couch-lock, pain relief

Cultivars: Classic Blueberry, Cherry AK, Purps, Blue Dream

Jacks & Haze Cannabis Class | SC Labs

Jacks & Haze

Mostly “Hybrid”

Flavor/Aroma: Fruity, pine, haze

Effects: Energizing, cerebral, creative

Cultivars: Classic Trainwreck, Jack Herer, Durban Poison, Super Lemon Haze

Tropical & Floral Cannabis Class | SC Labs

Tropical & Floral

“Indica”

Flavor/Aroma: Sweet, floral, tropical fruit

Effects: Calming, soothing, relaxing

Cultivars: Super Skunk, Hawaiian, In the Pines, Dream Queen

Exotics Cannabis Class | SC Labs

Exotics

Flavor/Aroma: Doughy, citrus, spicy

Effects: Stimulating, racy, comforting

Cultivars: GSC, Gelatos, Cakes, Bubba Kush

Citrus Cannabis Class | SC Labs

Citrus (Special Category)

Flavor/Aroma: Stimulating, racy, comforting

Effects: Stimulating, racy, comforting

Cultivars: Agent Orange, Tangie, Orange Creamsicle, Forbidden Fruit, Mimosa, Tropicanna

The Citrus cultivars are grouped separately for their dominant aromatic experience, despite diverse chemotypes.

Some strains emit a powerful citrus aroma due to a unique sulfur-based compound called tropicana sulfur, rather than their terpene profile alone.

The Science Behind Cannabis Classification

Our classification system is powered by chemometric profiling, a data-driven method for visualizing terpene patterns. It includes:

Dominant Terpenes

These appear consistently in the highest quantities across samples in a category. That said, some cultivars might be much more dominant in one terpene than others in its profile.

We represent a class’s dominant terpenes in the large circle, with common archetypes of that category arrayed above to show the variety of underlying profiles.

SC Labs Cannabis Classification System - Dominant Terpenes
SC Labs Cannabis Classification System - Color Logic Key

Color Logic

Warm colors represent energizing effects, while cool colors represent more calming effects.

SC Labs Cannabis Classification System - Color Logic Effects

Terpene Class Indicator

This code is given to each sample, providing insight into terpene makeup. The three letters denote the most prominent terpenes, in order of highest percentage.

SC Labs Cannabis Classification System - Terpene Class Indicator
M
Myrcene
O
beta Ocimene
L
Limonene
P
alpha Pinene
C
beta Caryophyllene
U
Linalool
T
Terpinolene
X
Terpene value is less than half of the primary terpene(s) present

Are you looking for a trusted, knowledgeable testing partner for your cannabis or hemp products?

Our experts are here to help, and always happy to answer your questions.

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