Do Carts Smell? Getting the Facts on Vaping Odors

Vaping has grown in popularity as an alternative to traditional smoking methods. However, one question still lingers for many vaping newbies - do carts smell? Knowing the science behind the smell of cannabis can prepare you for what to expect when you vaporize it.

What Causes the Smell of Weed?

The signature strong odor of cannabis comes from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) called terpenes. Marijuana contains over 100 terpenes. Each strain of marijuana has its own unique terpene profile. This profile is responsible for the distinct smells and tastes of each strain. 

When you smoke weed, the process of combustion heats dried cannabis flowers to temperatures above 400°F. The intense heat burns the terpenes and other substances, creating smoke that smells strong and skunky when smoking marijuana.

Vaping Reduces Smell Through Lower Temps 

Vaping weed is not the same as smoking. It involves heating cannabis extracts and dry herbs at a lower temperature, below 400°F. This is done using conduction heating or convection methods. This creates a cannabinoid-rich vapor without burning plant material and terpenes.

The result is that vaping weed vaporizers and vape pens produce significantly less odor than smoking. The smell is diminished further in oil carts and distillates that contain pure THC or CBD concentrates with terpenes removed during extraction.

Oil Carts and Dab Pens Release Very Little Scent

Vape carts and dab pens that vaporize cannabis oil concentrates release almost no discernible scent of weed while in use. That’s because these oils have been purified through extraction processes that remove terpenes along with other compounds like chlorophyll. 

Without terpenes acting as aromatic carriers, the vapor produced has very low volatile organic compound (VOC) levels and little odor. This allows vaping concentrates to be extremely discreet.

However, there are caveats. Although minimal, concentrate extracts can retain some terpenes and smell stronger if heated to higher temperatures. Additionally, the hardware and materials used in cartridges and batteries can impart metallic or plastic smells.

Finally, the storage methods and conditions that oil carts are kept in greatly impact retained odors. So while pure distillate vapes themselves produce little smell, various external factors can still lend old cartridges that iconic stale, weedy scent over time.

Dry Herb Vapes Smell Less Than Smoke

Dry herb vaporizers heat ground cannabis flowers rather than extracts. This means more terpenes and other aromatic compounds remain intact. 

However, because vaporizers use precision heating element methods that don’t combust plant material, terpenes aren’t destroyed, just evaporated. This means more moderate, cleaner smells compared to smoke.

Convection heating vaporizers that blow hot air through flowers avoid direct contact and create lighter, cooler vapor that retains more flavor. This results in less lingering scent compared to conduction models that use hot surfaces making direct contact with dry herbs.

In general though, dry herb vapes will never be as low-odor as oil cartridges. Expect signature strains like Sour Diesel to smell sour and citrusy while vaping, albeit less sharply than if smoking the same bud.

Proper post-vape storage is key as well. As with carts, residual heat on vaped buds in devices or containers causes terpenes and vapor to condense. This concentrates smells into sticky residues which can make devices and storage smell strongly until cleaned.

What Are Dab Pens and Do They Smell?

A dab pen is a type of vaporizer designed specifically for cannabis concentrates, usually oils, waxes, or distillates. The heating element in dab pens gently heats to the ideal temperature to turn extracts into inhalable vapor.

Because these concentrates have terpenes and other aroma molecules removed during extraction, very little smell is produced when vaping a dab pen. However, some concentrate residues may be left behind after use, producing faint weed odors.

If your dab pen smells, the atomizers in dab pens should be cleaned regularly or replaced over time. With proper maintenance, dab pens allow for nearly odor-free vaping.

Tips to Reduce Vaping Odors Further 

While vaping inherently produces less potent smells than smoking, there are still ways to be discrete and reduce odors further:

* Choose low-odor vaping methods like oil pens or distillates over pungent dry herb strains.

* Vape at lower temperature settings where possible to limit terpene evaporation.  

* Use consolidants like smoke sprays or dryer sheets to neutralize vapor.

* Store gear properly in sealed bags or airtight cases to prevent lingering odors.

* Clean gear regularly including replacing cart atomizers when flavor and vapor production drop.

Here are two paragraphs discussing regional laws and regulations restricting vaping smells:

State and City Laws Restrict Vaping in Public and Shared Spaces

Although vape cartridges and devices allow for more discreet use than traditional smoking, some states and cities/towns have put restrictions in place designed to reduce odors in public and shared spaces. These laws aim to limit the nuisance smells of public vaping.

In recent years, California, New York State, and others have enacted strict laws restricting vaping in shared indoor areas like apartments, hotel rooms, and presentation halls based on potential odor disturbances to nearby occupants. Enforcement depends on whether building managers or property owners have no vaping policies. Residents must follow these policies or face penalties according to their lease agreements. Some apartment buildings now ban smoking indoors, so tenants must use vapes or e-cigarettes outside in designated outdoor areas.

Areas like New York City have proposed fines up to $1,000 for those violating restrictions. So while vapes may produce fewer odors, some spaces are cracking down on indoor and shared area vaping - impacting residents’ abilities to discretely vaporize in their own homes or temporary lodgings. Before assuming vaping is allowed outside designated areas, those going to places with strict vaping rules should learn about local laws.

The bottom line is that while no vaping method eliminates smells completely, choosing options like cartridges combined with proactive odor control measures allow for very discreet use compared to traditional smoking.

With a basic understanding of what causes weed’s distinctive smell along with techniques to mitigate it, vaping can be an excellent alternative for those needing to keep their usage on the down low.