Terpenes are volatile unsaturated hydrocarbons comprising more than 30,000 of aromatic compounds predominantly produced by plants, particularly conifers and citrus trees and create the characteristic scent of plants and herbs, such as rosemary and lavender.

Terpenes are colorless, although impure samples are often yellow. Being highly non-polar, terpenes are insoluble in water and rather float on water because of their low specific gravity, as hydrocarbons, they are also highly flammable. Terpenes are irritants and can cause gastrointestinal disturbances if ingested.

The porous structure, the chemical properties, and the adsorption principle of the activated carbon results in high efficiency removal of terpenes.