Many don’t know that cannabis has moved beyond its recreational and medicinal use case, and now it’s more of a lifestyle product category. The market has CBD gummies for mood, sleep, weight loss, and every possible use case you think of. Heck, there are now cannabis-infused pillows, clothes, and even beverages. But one industry where this plant-based wellness trend is making the biggest strides is cosmetics.

From creams and bath bombs to exotic cannabis-infused fragrances, you can buy any wild product possible these days. However, as compared to general gummies, oils, and cannabis-infused perfumes, they sell at a much higher premium. 

Does it make sense to buy them over any regular perfume? Or is it just a new marketing gimmick by brands? Let’s find out!!

How has Cannabis become a Prominent Part of Wellness Culture? 

As discussed in the intro, cannabis is now synonymous with the modern wellness industry. The days when it was frowned upon and viewed as just a means to get high are over. People are now extensively using some of its compounds, like CBD, CBG, & CBN, to manage their pain, anxiety, and stress. 

Its use case in the cosmetic industry is hard to ignore, with more and more brands launching CBD-infused creams, oils, scrubs, lotions, and aroma-centric products. The topical application does not provide an internal full-body calming experience, but it’s effective for localized effects. 

Cannabis is now viewed as a tool for wellness, not just recreation. But at the same time, you’ll find many critiques arguing that brands are manipulating consumers by launching more and more varieties when the actual evidence of effectiveness is not that great. Let’s try to understand the view when it comes to cannabis-infused perfumes. 

Does Cannabis Perfume make sense?

This is quite a debatable topic, and you’ll find arguments on both sides. Purely from an aromatic point of view, it may not appeal to many. Why? Because cannabis has a very woody, earthy, and herbal scent. To make proper perfumes, brands often mix the cannabis extract with artificial sandalwood, yuzu, and citrusy flavors.

If you are a fan of such an herbal aroma profile, you can try out cannabis-infused perfumes a try. However, for most people, it simply makes no sense. Brands claim that the presence of terpenes like limonene and linalool in cannabis perfumes can help you feel relaxed and improve your mood. However, there’s not enough evidence of their efficacy.

Even when you orally consume cannabis, lots of it gets wasted during metabolism, so the chances of the relaxing effects just from perfume seem like a far-fetched idea. Technically, it should work, as you are inhaling at least some cannabinoids & terpenes. 

Cannabis perfume may have a relaxing effect on your mind in theory, but the bioavailability and how much reaches endocannabinoid receptors remains a huge question mark. So if you buy one and it doesn’t prove to be as effective as promised, don’t be surprised.

What’s the Public opinion on Cannabis Perfumes? 

To this date, cannabis perfumes remain a very niche category. You won’t find many brands operating in this space, and many have already gone out of business. This shows that public demand is not that high. 

Though you’ll find enough chatter on fragrance and cologne forums on Reddit. Carolina Herrera, Baxter, and Mancera are some of the top brands in this space. The raw smell of cannabis is something that will raise eyebrows wherever you go. 

So, it’s best to stick with only tried and tested brands with a good amount of woody, spicy, musky, floral, and fruity notes in their offerings.

The global cannabis industry was valued at around 58 billion dollars in 2023, and perfumes were only a very small fraction of it. They are generally clubbed under the cosmetic cannabis space, and even their market share is negligible. But who knows, maybe the demand will pick up in the coming years; stranger things have happened.

What’s the alternative then? 

Most people aren’t intrigued by cannabis perfume for its fragrance but for its potential calming effects. However, as discussed above, it simply won’t work effectively in that sense. Even the aroma part is a bit overblown because cannabinoid extracts don’t have a very strong aroma as such. 

Ok, coming back to the topic, what should one use from aromatherapy then? Well, you can simply heat up any essential oils. They have significant amounts of terpenes in them, so not only do they make your room smell nice, but they will also help you to wind down.

Here’s the list of calming essential oils with their aroma notes : 

• Lavender

Aroma Type: Floral, herbaceous, slightly sweet.

Effects: Reduces anxiety, improves sleep, and balances the mood.

• Chamomile (Roman or German)

Aroma Type: Roman: Sweet, apple-like. German: Earthy, herbaceous.

Effects: Nerve calming and relaxing 

• Bergamot

Aroma Type: Citrusy, bright, with a subtle floral note.

Effects:  Brings down stress hormone levels

• Ylang-Ylang

Aroma Type: Sweet, floral, slightly exotic.

Effects: Calms fast beating heart and improves focus

• Clary Sage

Aroma Type: Herbal, earthy, nutty.

Effects: Brings down tension and improves mental clarity

• Frankincense

Aroma Type: Woody, resinous, warm.

Effects:  Helps with breathing and meditation activities

• Vetiver

Aroma Type: Earthy, smoky, grounding.

Effects: Curbs hyperactivity and increases focus.

• Sandalwood

Aroma Type: Creamy, woody, slightly sweet.

Effects: Eases restlessness and improves sleep

• Marjoram

Aroma Type: Warm, herbal, slightly spicy.

Effects: Brings down muscle tension and anxiety

Bringing It All Together

To sum it up, cannabis perfumes might excite some people, but their effectiveness remains doubtful. The fact that you’ll feel relaxed by applying CBD perfume remains a far-fetched and beyond-reality idea in the cannabis community. Still, if you like hemp or marijuana’s earthy odd aroma, then purely from an aromatic point of view, they may make sense for you.

However, they sell at a very high premium, and you can find much better-smelling alternatives on the market. If relaxation and aromatherapy are your goals, then you should stick with the above-mentioned essential oils only. You can also try adding a few drops of Colorado Botanical’s CBD oil in a diffuser during your wind-down routine for a different experience.