While the fruity, citrusy strains are popular among all walks of cannabis enthusiasts, there’s something about diesel marijuana strains that harkens back to the early days of the cannabis movement. Skunky clouds of diesel-scented smoke remind us of the bell bottoms and a budding community of like-minded people just enjoying their favorite plant. To honor those days, and these unique strains, we’ve picked our five favorite diesel strains to share with you. 

What are Diesel Strains?

Diesel strains are exactly what they sound like—a collection of potent fuel-scented, fuel-tasting marijuana flower strains available in dispensaries around the country. Diesel strains get their diesel scent due to a variety of different terpenes found in the plant. If you’ve smelled skunky, gas station truck stop marijuana, there’s a good chance it was a diesel strain. 

While you’re on your flavor journey, be sure to check out our favorite apple strains.

There are quite a few diesel strains available, but these five stand out to our budtenders as the cream of the diesel crop, so to speak. Our top five favorite diesel strains are:

Sativa-Dominant Hybrid

There are few diesel-scented strains that are more popular than Sour Diesel itself. This sativa-dominant hybrid strain is of mysterious heritage—some say it hails from Mass Super Skunk and 91 Chemdog, others say it’s definitely Mexican sativa-meets-Chemdog phenotype. Wherever it came from, its potent aroma and flavor is some of the skunkiest flower you can find, cut only with lemon undertones (hence, the sour part of Sour Diesel). While Sour Diesel packs an aromatic punch, it also soars in THC potency—a whopping 26%. 

Indica-Dominant Hybrid

We know some form of Chemdog created Sour Diesel, so it’s only fair to give this parent strain the spotlight too. Chemdawg is a barely indica-leaning hybrid (55% indica/45% sativa) with THC levels around 19%. No one really knows where Chemdog comes from, though some speculate the actual grower’s nickname was given to this strain, but we do know that its diesel-meets-forest-meets-chemicals smell makes it one of the more uniquely scented strains on the market.

Indica-Dominant Hybrid

You already know that if Motorbreath made it on this list, it has a diesel flavor and smell, but this one also has a unique citrus twist to it. Motorbreath is an indica-dominant hybrid with a high THC potency—28%. If you’re able to get your hands on Chem D and SFV OG Kush, you’ll taste the two strains that made Motorbreath #2 a reality.

Sativa-Dominant Hybrid

Jet Fuel, allegedly named for its powerful effects, is a sativa-dominant hybrid with moderate levels of THC ranging from 17-19%. G6 tastes just like it smells—an overwhelming diesel with just a bit of skunk and pine to it too. Jet Fuel owes its place on this list to its parent strains Aspen OG and High Country Diesel. 
 

Sativa-Dominant Hybrid

One look at this strain’s name and you know where it came from—a cross between Sour Diesel and something strawberry-flavored. In this case, it’s Strawberry Cough. The crossing produced Strawberry Sour Diesel, a fruit-meets-diesel aromatic strain popular with both medical marijuana patients and recreational marijuana consumers. If you’re new to flower, start slow with this sativa-dominant hybrid—it packs up to 28% THC.

Diesel strains are popular among both new cannabis enthusiasts and established cannabis connoisseurs. Because of this, we get a lot of questions like: 

What terpenes smell like diesel?
There’s really no single terpene that causes that distinct diesel smell. Instead, it’s a combination, often of myrcene, limonene that’s popular in lemon strains, and others, that create the smell of gasoline.

Are diesel strains sativa?
Diesel strains are both sativa and indica. Their scent comes from their terpenes, not any kind of classification.

Where did diesel cannabis come from?
That distinctive diesel smell came from the clever breeding of different strains to maximize the smell and flavor of diesel fuel.
 

Purchasing Diesel Strains

Fortunately, diesel strains are pretty easy to find at your local dispensary, especially Sour Diesel and Chemdawg. That said, if your dispensary doesn’t carry any of our five favorite diesel strains, just talk to your budtender. There are plenty more diesel strains available that they can introduce you to.