“Is that skunk or just some super dank weed?”

You’ve likely heard this question tossed around when a strikingly familiar stench fills the air, leaving noses twitching and eyebrows raised.

Often, it’s the seasoned cannabis users who step in to determine if it’s a roadside critter or a top-shelf strain making its presence known.

If it is some stinky bud, exactly how far can you smell weed from its original source?

Let’s dive in.

If you’re smoking weed outside, the smell of weed can travel up to 300-400 feet, especially on a windy day.

Indoors, the cannabis smoke tends to linger until it’s aired out. The travel distance can also depend on the strain’s potency; the stronger the strain, the farther the smell will spread.

Heat can also amplify the scent. If you’re in a hot and humid environment, the smell of weed can become even danker.

So next time you light up, remember, your smoke might just be making the rounds.

Unlike smoke, which disperses relatively quickly, the raw scent of cannabis, especially when it’s being stored or handled, has its own range.

When stored or handled, its aroma can leak from containers and fill a room, lingering until aired out. The smell’s reach depends on how potent the strain is and how well it’s sealed. Even without smoke, the smell of cannabis can be pretty strong, making discreet storage important to keep it contained.

How Far Does Weed Smell Travel Outside?

If you’re opening a jar of weed outside, the released aromas might catch the attention of passerby’s or a neighbor, especially if they’re within close proximity.

Windy days aren’t your friend here, and can send the scent of a freshly cracked jar soaring a few yards away.

Cannabis has a skunky, earthy, musky smell thanks to aromatic compounds called terpenes. These are naturally present in natural plants, fruits, and vegetables.

In the cannabis plant alone, there are over 200 terpenes responsible for providing each strain’s unique scent and flavor.

The most popular terpenes in cannabis are:

• Myrcene
• Pinene
• Limonene
• Caryophyllene
• Linalool
• Ocimene
• Humulene
• Terpinolene

The intensity of the “weedy” smell varies across strains, largely influenced by the concentration of myrcene. Fresh cannabis, which is rich in terpenes, tends to have a more potent aroma that can travel further. Conversely, older cannabis, with diminished terpene content, will have a weaker scent and less reach.