// Definition
Prenylated sulfide compounds (thiols) identified as the primary source of 'skunky' and 'gassy' aromas in cannabis, distinct from terpenes. Researchers at Abstrax Tech used a volatile sulfur chemoluminescence detector to identify prenyl sulfide and its disulfide as key odorants, developing a quantitative 'gassiness scale' for strains based on their volatile sulfur compound (VSC) concentrations.
// From the Episode
Nick Ziegler discovered approximately 1,400 different thiols in hops using the same sulfur detector technology about 20 years before the Abstrax cannabis paper. Only about 5 thiols have been identified in cannabis so far, with one suspected of being the dominant skunk odorant. Skunkman Sam possesses pure thiol samples and plans to test whether thiols contribute to THC potentiation or effect modulation, similar to his earlier experiments showing that specific terpenes spiked into pure THC altered subjective effects. Mark Scialdone emphasized that thiols, esters, and other non-terpene VOCs are routinely overlooked in cannabis testing.
// Source
Ep. 175 HC 4.0 Ep 6 →