Terpenes are volatile organic compounds that are responsible for, among other things, the typical scents of plants, resins or citrus fruits. These compounds occur naturally in the environment and influence chemical processes in the atmosphere. At high concentrations, they can irritate the respiratory tract and contribute to the formation of harmful derivatives. Many terpenes exist in two mirror-image forms, known as enantiomers, which can differ significantly in terms of their effects and how they are perceived—but which are difficult to distinguish between using technical means.
