Choosing the right temperature to vape at will have a large impact on the experience you get from your dry herb vaporizers. The issue of temperature is not so much a matter of finding the "ideal" temperature as finding the temperature that gives you what you're looking for. The right temperature can also change depending on the type of herb you are vaping.

Why Temperature Matters

At the smallest scale, dry herbs are filled with tons of different chemical compounds that give them the smokable and vapable qualities we have come to love. However, each of these chemicals vaporizes at a slightly different temperature.

For example, terpenes that are associated with flavor are vaporized at a slightly lower temperature than cannabinoids. In addition, your dry herbs will start burning above a certain temperature, which completely undermines the whole point of using a vaporizer in the first place.

Choosing a Temperature Range

Most dry herb vaporizers have a smaller temperature window than traditional e-liquid vaporizers. This is because the manufacturers have done their part to find the best range of temperatures for use with cannabis, lavender, sage, and other aromatherapy herbs. For the most part, the temperature range will be between 212 and 410 degrees Fahrenheit (100 to 120 degrees Celsius).

Anything below 212 degrees will likely fail to atomize any of the chemicals that you are trying to get, although this may be a suitable temperature range for aromatherapy-only vapes. On the other hand, above 410 degrees you start to burn up chemicals and eventually you will just be burning your herb altogether.

Low-Temperature Vaping

Low-temperature vaping, such as the VaporFi Atom's Blue setting of 360 degrees, is typically used to create a mellow high and a very flavorful vape. This is the range most associated with releasing the flavors and scents that give each of your herbs its iconic character. For people who want to maintain a functional high, this is a solid temperature range to start with. At this temperature, the terpenes are being actively vaporized, but the cannabinoids are still slow to release from the herb. This is the perfect range for things like eucalyptus and lavender as well.

Middle-Temperature Vaping

The mid-range temperature settings on most dry herb vaporizers are set between 390 and 410 degrees as with the VaporFi Atom. This temperature is used to draw out more of the cannabinoids that are present in your herbs. On the lower end of this scale, THC is more prevalent, while the higher end tends to bring out more CBD and CBN. If you vape sage or chamomile, this is the temperature for which you're looking.

It's also worth noting that some studies show that 410 degrees is the most efficient temperature for vaping cannabis. Above this temperature, you start to lose both terpenes and cannabinoids, which are released faster than your body can absorb them. If you're trying to get the best flavor and the best high from your cannabis, this is the temperature gives you a very balanced vape.

High-Temperature Vaping

On the high end of things is just about any vaporize that goes above the 410-degree mark. For instance, the Atom has a high-temperature setting of 464 degrees. Why is this useful? Because it instantly produces cannabinoids and delivers them full force. High-heat vaping is all about getting results right now. Vapers should definitely work their way up to this temperature before going all in.

Remember, this isn't a very efficient use of your herb, and it isn't great for any of the aromatherapy herbs since it loses a lot of its flavor and scent. This is as close as you can get to burning your herb, so you need to be careful lest you start producing harmful chemicals similar to the byproducts of smoking.

Choosing Your Herb

As an aside to the subject of finding the right vapor temperature, some experts argue that choosing your herb is as important as choosing your temperature. Trying to micromanage the chemical release of your herb by adjusting the temperature up and down is an inefficient way of achieving the result your after. Instead, focus on choosing an herb that is already high in the qualities that you are looking for, and then fine-tune that experience with temperature. Don't rely on temperature to do the hard work when the right product is already out there waiting for you.

Vaping is a highly personal experience. Having the right vaporizer and knowing how to use it properly will go a long way towards giving you the flavor and mental relief you need. Use the temperature ranges in this blog or create a cheat sheet of your own to test your herbs with and determine the perfect range. As you get familiar with your device you will find that some combinations work better than others, and you can move your temperatures according to your daily needs.