June 5, 2023

Jen Hight

Cannabis, Delta 8

Does Delta-8 Smell Like Weed?

While cannabis products can be incredibly appealing, a lot of people get hesitant about their usage if they smell too pungent. If you’re in a place where you’re not supposed to be burning — or you just don’t want people to know that’s what you’re doing — then you want to turn to the most discreet products possible.

So, all of this brings up the question: Does Delta-8 smell like weed?

With delta-8’s popularity exploding recently, many users want to try the product but are concerned about its potential smell. Today, we’re covering what delta-8 smells like depending on the product you use and what you can expect in terms of discretion.

Table of contents:

• Key Takeaways
• Does Delta-8 Smell? 
• Does Delta-8 Smell Like Weed?
• Do Delta-8 Carts Smell Like Weed?
• What Does Delta-8 Flower Smell Like?
• Delta-8 THC Products With a Discreet Smell 
• Delta-8 THC Products That Are Less Discreet 
• Where to Buy Discreet Delta-8 THC
• Where to Find Delta-8 THC 
• Wrapping Up: Does Delta-8 Smell Like D9?

Key Takeaways

• Delta-8 THC products vary in aroma: Depending on the form (flower, concentrates, distillates), Delta-8 can range from having a faint smell to very pungent notes, similar to traditional Delta-9 THC products.

• Discretion varies by product type: While products like Delta-8 tinctures and some distillates offer more discretion due to minimal scent, forms such as Delta-8 flower and moon rocks are less discreet and more recognizable due to their strong, pungent aromas.

• Product choice affects user experience: The choice of Delta-8 product should be influenced by the user’s need for discretion and personal preference for specific scents, as these products can emit everything from skunky to sweet floral aromas.

• Availability and legality: Delta-8 THC products are accessible both online and in stores in states where they are legal, offering a variety of products to suit different preferences for potency and scent discretion.

Does Delta-8 Smell? 

Yes, it will have a smell if it is in the form of flower. On its own, in its pure cannabinoid form, delta-8 THC isn’t going to have much of a distinct smell. However, delta-8 extract or other products are going to be pungent because they’re more likely to contain other compounds and terpenes.

Cannabis plants are known for their stinky aromas, which can be attributed to delta-8 THC, one of their many cannabinoids. Because of this, your typical cannabis-derived product is going to have a slight plant-like smell. However, how pungent this smell is will depend on various factors such as product type, extract type, and the curation process as a whole.

So, yes, a delta-8 product is going to smell, and this smell is going to be unique depending on the product itself. Some products will have more discreet aromas than others, while products like delta-8 flower or delta 8 moon rocks are going to be as stinky as they come. 

Does Delta-8 Smell Like Weed?

The smell of weed is a distinct one, and it’s an aroma that can sometimes get you in trouble depending on the circumstance. Thus, being discreet about usage tends to be best, leaving many people wanting to find products that don’t give off the distinct smell of weed.

Unfortunately, as a cannabis-derived cannabinoid, delta-8 THC does smell like weed.

When you come across delta-8 flower, moon rocks, or even certain tinctures, you’re going to find that the products smell very similar to the ones you’d find at your local dispensary. In other words, they’re going to smell pretty dank. Of course, the actual aroma of your product will depend heavily on the strain and how it was crafted, but in general, most delta-8 THC products are going to smell just like your average delta 9 product would.

It’s important to stress that not all delta-8 products are going to smell the same, either. While some give off distinct skunk-like or gassy notes, others are much more floral and sweet. Some products may smell sour, while others may remind you of cheese. The overall notes of cannabis terpenes vary significantly, and you can find products with unique flavor profiles of all types. If you’re in search of a specific note — whether it’s blueberries, frosting, pineapple, pine, or pepper — there’s a Delta-8 product that gives off those wonderful aromas.  

Do Delta-8 Carts Smell Like Weed?

When talking about specific delta-8 products, a lot of people want to know how these products smell and whether or not they’re discreet. If you want to puff on some delta-8 but want to be a bit more discreet than a flower, delta-8 carts are a good way to go.

Delta-8 carts do smell vaguely like weed, but you do have to be a bit of a cannabis fan to pick up the notes of a cartridge and know it’s cannabis. To a non-smoker, they likely won’t be able to tell that you’re puffing on a cannabis-derived substance. There is no doubt, however, that delta-8 cartridges produce strong aromas.

Some delta-8 vape cartridges are going to be much smellier than others, producing more distinct plant-like notes. However, others may give off super fruity or sweet notes that completely disguise the aroma of hemp inside. To find out how your cart is going to smell, pay attention to the strain used. Every strain has distinct aromas and tasting notes that are important to note before buying. This also vastly influences your usage experience, as you don’t want to burn a vanilla-smelling cartridge if you’re not a fan of sweet, vanilla-like notes!

Compared to flower, delta-8 carts aren’t going to smell as strongly as weed, but they are still going to smell. You may be able to come across unflavored carts, but these will still have a slight smell of hemp when puffed on.

If you want to vape and have it put out the least amount of smell possible, turning to desktop vaporizers is a good choice. These use flower, but they vaporize the bud into such thin vapor that it hardly smells at all. But, of course, you’ll smell the flower itself when you go to add it to the machine.  

What Does Delta-8 Flower Smell Like? 

You know what a delta-8 concentrate like a cartridge might smell like, but what about flower? What can a user expect from the aromas of delta-8 bud? Well, that depends on the strain! 

Delta-8 flower are going to smell distinctly depending on the strain’s genetics. Some delta-8 strains are going to have spicy, more pepper-based notes, while others can be much sweeter and more dessert-like. There are other strains that smell distinctly like skunks and others that remind you so much of lemon that you’ll think they’re covered in citrus juice.

Once delta-8 flower is lit, you can pick up on these notes even better. However, you will also smell the pungent notes of the hemp plant that this cannabinoid comes from, and that’s the “weed” smell that most people are referring to. So, if you think you can get away with your delta-8 flower not smelling like weed, think again: delta-8 flower is one of the stinkiest products out there.

When you buy delta 8 flower online, you won’t be able to tell what the flower smells like until it shows up at your door. That’s why paying attention to the strain used is so important. This will tell you everything you need to know about how the weed will smell and even act, as the genetics of strains tend to act uniformly across growers.

Delta-8 THC Products With a Discreet Smell 

A lot of cannabis users are in search of products that are super discreet and won’t draw attention to them. Thankfully, while delta-8 THC smells as a whole, there are a few different products you can rely on that won’t give off that super-pungent weed smell.

If you’re concerned with discretion, a delta-8 tincture will quickly become your best friend. Tinctures are products that you use either orally or sublingually, and they come flavored or unflavored depending on your preference.

Unless you spill the oil somewhere or it leaks from the bottle, no one is going to be able to pick up on the smell of your tincture. These products are incredibly discreet, so much so that you can use them practically anywhere. Even when you add a few drops to your everyday products, the smell of the oil won’t be pungent enough to be noticeable.

Another discreet form of delta-8 are edibles like delta 8 gummies. Delta-8 gummies are very discreet because the D8 extract is already hidden inside. It’s also disguised by the other ingredients in the product, making it difficult to pick up the aroma when using it.

Some edible packages may smell a bit more like hemp than others, depending on the manufacturer, so be prepared for that when opening. However, for the most part, products like delta-8 gummies are going to be quite discreet, and the average person won’t be able to tell the difference between them and a non-infused gummy.

If you’d like to use your D8 through inhalation but are concerned with smell, you could always try delta-8 distillates. Distillates tend to be incredibly pure—so pure that they don’t have any flavor, color, or smell. Then, you add some of this to your vape or even an edible to create your own infused product, but with a more discreet layer. Although it is worth noting that some distillates may be smellier than others, keep an eye out for clear, 90%+ pure delta-8 distillates for the least amount of smell possible. 

Delta-8 THC Products That Are Less Discreet 

On the other side of the spectrum, there are also many delta-8 products that simply aren’t discreet at all. If you don’t mind less discreet products, you can choose from options like delta-8 flower, delta-8 moon rocks, and even certain delta-8 concentrates.

Essentially, any product you vape or smoke (minus distillates) is likely going to have a very distinct smell. So, it makes sense that delta-8 flower is one of the smellier options on the market. Flower contains high terpene levels and also has pungent aromas of hemp, making it very obvious when smoking. Products like delta-8 flower are impossible to use discreetly unless you have special tools.

Along with flower, delta-8 moon rocks, specifically, are even less discreet. Moon rocks are hemp flower that’ve been rolled in delta-8 distillate and then covered in layers of kief. You’ll pick up on the notes of the flower, concentrate, and kief all at once. If you’re trying to be discreet, delta-8 moon rocks are not the product for you. But if you don’t mind being a little stinky and you have plenty of wide open space — like if you’re enjoying the great outdoors — then moon rocks can be perfect.

Finally, certain Delta 8 concentrates like crumble, budder, or live resin can be incredibly stinky. These types of concentrates tend to have a high terpene percentage, giving them distinct smells that become even more distinct when dabbed. These products aren’t going to be discreet in terms of smell or smoke, and they’re likely to make you cough quite consistently — and that’s not necessarily very discreet, either. 

Where to Buy Discreet Delta-8 THC

If you want to buy discreet delta-8 THC and you live in a state where the cannabinoid is legal, you can buy tinctures, topicals, and even delta 8 distillate online or in person. In-person stores may be a bit harder to come by, so many people turn to online retailers like ATLRx instead.

We offer a large selection of delta 8 THC products, specifically discreet product options if that’s what most appeals to you. Along with D8, we also offer various other discreet cannabinoid products for those interested in branching out. Regardless, ATLRx’s online store is stocked with the discreet cannabinoid products you need.  

Where to Find Delta-8 THC 

For those who live in legal states, delta-8 THC may be available at your local smoke shops, health and wellness stores, or even dispensaries. Or, you can save yourself some extra time (and money) and shop from ATLRx instead.

ATLRx has a large selection of high-quality delta-8 products ranging from edibles to distillates and absolutely everything in between. We ship our products all across the country, so as long as your area allows it, we can get you your Delta-8 product in just a few business days. Shopping for Delta-8 products has never been easier.

Whether you’re looking for something discreet like a delta 8 tincture or something a bit more pungent like delta 8 flower, ATLRx is here to help. 

Wrapping Up: Does Delta-8 Smell Like D9?

While it does depend heavily on the product, yes, delta-8 THC does smell a lot like delta-9 THC, and most people would not be able to tell the difference. Delta-9 products may be a bit more pungent overall, but the earthy, skunky, and hemp notes are all the same. 

So, as long as you don’t mind the pungent smells of cannabis, delta-8 flower, moon rocks, and pre-rolls are the products for you.  

Related Articles:

• What is the Delta 8 THC, and Where Does It Come From?
• Can Delta 8 Make You Fail a Drug Test?
• How Much Should Delta-8 Cost?
• Buying Delta-8 THC Online vs. Locally