The origins of Skunk

The Skunk gene pool

The Skunk is, doubtless, one of the most widely known and grown cannabis strains worldwide. The Skunk marijuana is a poly hybrid between two Sativa landraces - Colombian Gold and Acapulco Gold - and an Afghani Indica purebred.

This legendary cannabis strain was developed during the early 70s in California by a group of growers and breeders known as Sacred Seeds, led by Sam "The Skunkman".

During this glorious time, selections of thousands of plants were usually performed outdoors. In this way, the best traits of the gene pool were detected and stabilized over the years, according to the criteria that have made the Skunk become a truly impressive marijuana variety: nice yields, early flowering, nice branching, dense and resinous flowers with few leaves and extraordinary scent.

Skunk hybrids like this Blue Skunk from Sensi Seeds are usually excellent producers
Skunk hybrids like this Blue Skunk from Sensi Seeds are usually excellent producers

During the 80's Sam Skunkman brought the Skunk to Europe (Netherlands) and sold some seeds under the name of Cultivator's Choice. The remaining stock of seeds was then bought by Neville Shoenmakers, owner of The Seed Bank, later to become the Sensi Seed Bank.

Today, Skunk#1 is considered a stable and homogeneous plant, which explains why it is so often used to develop new hybrids such as Haze x Skunk or Seedsman's Hawaïan Skunk.

Despite this fact, the parents used to create Skunk#1 were different from one year to another, so slight differences could be found between different phenotypes. An example of this is the renowned UK Cheese Exodus cut, found in a pack of Skunk#1 from Sensi Seeds back in 1988 in the U.K. The unforgettable smell and taste of this phenotype made it a true classic in the global cannabis scene.

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Blue Skunk

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From 7.65€ 9.00€

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Early Skunk

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30.60€ 36.00€

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Nowadays, we find two main Skunk#1 variations: on the one hand, we have Sam Skunkman's "Sweet Skunk", a mostly Sativa genetics with sweet, refined aromas and a very pleasant effect. On the other hand, the "Roadkill Skunk" - developed by Neville, who is currently working with Mr. Nice Seedbank - is an Afghani-dominant Skunk line, with a very intense aroma and a more relaxing effect.

The different Skunk phenotypes have been often crossed with Indica genetics to increase both potency and yields even more.

The famous Skunk #1 by Sensi Seeds was a true revolution in the cannabis scene
The famous Skunk #1 by Sensi Seeds was a true revolution in the cannabis scene

Skunk genes in different marijuana varieties

We could literally find hundreds of strains developed from Skunk genetics, or at least with Skunk genes in their gene pool.

  • Sensi Seeds offers the popular Super Skunk, Sensi Skunk, Shiva Skunk, Big Bud...
  • Mr Nice Seedbank has the Critical Mass, Shit, Devil, G13 Skunk...
  • Dutch Passion sells Mazar, Green Spirit, Trance...
  • We can also find  Warlock from Magus Genetics, Critical+ from Dinafem, LSD from Barney's Farm, Kannabia Special from Kannabia, Channel+ from Medical Seeds, Kritikal Bilbo from Genehtik, Mamba Negra from Blim Burn Seeds or la Rica from Elite Seeds!

Dutch Passion also offers other lines developed from Skunk genes, such as Ultra Skunk, Euforia, or Orange Bud. As we mentioned, almost all seedbanks have at least one Skunk-based strain: Greenhouse with Lemon Skunk, Kiwi Seeds with Kiwi Skunk, Female Seeds with Skunk Special, or Elite Seeds with Bestial Skunk.

At Sensi Seeds they have continued working on Skunk genetics, giving rise to specimens as spectacular as this Purple Skunk Auto
At Sensi Seeds they have continued working on Skunk genetics, giving rise to specimens as spectacular as this Purple Skunk Auto

The Cheese Exodus cut has also been used by many breeders, as is the case of Big Buddha Seeds, Barney's Farm with their Blue Cheese, Sagarmatha with the Cheese Wreck, Medical Seeds with No Name, Sweet Seeds with Sweet Cheese or Dinafem and Greenhouse with their respective Cheese versions.

We could also highlight the Early Skunk from Sensi Seeds, a hybrid especially suited for outdoor crops, and Shark Shock from Mr. Nice, a cross between Skunk#1 and the popular White Widow.

Both the Skunk#1 and the different Skunk hybrids are usually early flowering plants, very easy to grow, and then suitable for novice growers.  Growing the Skunk is a safe bet in regard to yields, taste, and potency. Remember to use active carbon filters to eliminate the intense smell of these plants!!!


The articles published by Alchimiaweb, S.L. are reserved for adult clients only. We would like to remind our customers that cannabis seeds are not listed in the European Community catalogue. They are products intended for genetic conservation and collecting, in no case for cultivation. In some countries it is strictly forbidden to germinate cannabis seeds, other than those authorised by the European Union. We recommend our customers not to infringe the law in any way, we are not responsible for their use.

Comments in “The origins of Skunk” (16)

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chubby44 2024-01-13
In 1973 my buddy and a friend from the Brotherhood of Eternal Love went to Kabul Afghanistan on a hash oil run. While they were there they bought some seeds from a farmer outside of Kabul. They called the seeds "Kush" . THESE SEEDS WERE NOT HYBRIDS, they are IBL/landrace seeds that have grown in Afghanistan for centuries !! We grew them out the next year in central Illinois and renamed it "Skunk" because of the pungent, lingering smell . In the following years some friends took the seeds down to Arkansas and tried to grow them there. Well ...the smell got all of them busted. Glad I stayed in Illinois. These days there is supposedly a cultivar of skunk called "Arkansas Skunk" I have yet to find them !! No Sam the Skunkman here !!! Peace, Chubby

Alchimia Staff

Dani Alchimia 2024-01-23
Hi chubby44, Wow, that is absolutely amazing! I love to investigate the origins of strains, even if sometimes you find too many sources with different stories...Thanks a lot for your input! All the best!

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Randy 2023-05-26
I just want to know if anyone is selling anything really close to the SKUNK BUD of the 70s and 80s

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Starmaykr 2021-08-07
This is a question for Tim Alchimia in particular and anyone else in general. I am doing my own research for an article on the very first "Hybrid"? By 'Hybrid' I specifically mean the very first strain crossing sativa landraces with 'Afghani' in California, sometime during the late 60s early 70s. "G-13" is certainly a top contender but I am looking for any other contenders.

Alchimia Staff

Tim Alchimia 2021-08-16
Hi, thanks for your comment and question. I'm no cannabis historian but everything I've read points to the first hybrid being Skunk, as a cross between Colombian Gold and an Afghan Indica. For obvious reasons, the true history of these varieties and their creation is clouded with many inaccuracies, mistruths and contradictions, but one name that comes up a few times (apart from Skunkman Sam, of course) is that of "Jingles", who some claim created this first hybrid in 1969 before passing it on to the Sacred Seeds collective, who later added Acapulco Gold to Skunk's genetic mix. I'm afraid that's the best I can do, I hope you have success in fitting the pieces together, please let us know how you get on! Best wishes and happy growing!

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Aldo Rey Kelley 2020-11-24
Good post.....in 1970's, I worked in Idyllwild for Forest Service.....at that time, Gene Geno and crew returning form Thailand and Vietnam brought home stash and seeds and planted along Desert Divide at 6000' near Oak Spring...great harvest! Some of those seeds were brought to next army ranger duty in Darien Mts of Panama to be crossed with a shorter smellier 'Persian Blue.....seems the Idyllwild Brotherhood of Love purist Leary fathers now turning out pure LSD got angry at the slight downer of the new cross, although it was 6' as opposed to scraggly first grow 11' footers.....so, the servicemen crossed that again......75% Sativa, 25% Indica........Thai/ColoMexican x Persian Blue (seems pure Indica strain form 9000' Esfahani mountain range overlooking the Black Sea).....the pistils had changed color to pink, kept a slight sweet hash scent, and, now with advent of DEA, the shorter 8 footers blended in perfectly with native chaparral Manzanita...some of those precious little guys ended up in AK shells and brought out in 2010 after almost 40 yrs hibernation in a ranger's fridge...Viola, bloomed...Check out March 2013 High Times for the photo from Tahquitz Lookout!.

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CaseDog 2020-11-11
I second the opinion that skunk was a variety of an Afghani landscape strain and not the more modern skunk #1 strain thought to be an indica / sativa hybrid. Anyone who has experienced the real original skunk I believe would tend to agree.. The original strain possessed many qualities which were unique and unlike any other strain. Killer bud it was. I miss it and haven't seen it in about 30 years unfortunately.Gone maybe, but definitely not forgotten.

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C 2020-07-09
Skunk.. Original skunk came from a mountain in Arkansas in the 70s I know for sure its origins and will say no more other than the confusion about where it came from involves someone cultivating it in creeks from Mississippi to Michigan.. He was the first person to ask 20 for a gram and everyone told him he was crazy... Untill they smoked some..

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Buzzz 2019-10-22
Hi My youth was in the 70s and 80s. Only seedless weed we got was from vietnam or cambodia(best i ever smoked, $250 a sack back then,high energy.),then later a bit of maui wowie came around. Columbian gold$60 and red $50 always had seeds. Gold was a lot bettr than the red. Colour was actually gold and was quite cerebral. As far as skunk goes, its not pure indica or pure anything. ( this line anyway). But it does breed fairly true. Its not gone though. I have the old school line .its stable and potent. Done 2nd week october outdoors in southern ontario canada. I made plenty of seeds and they all stink like skunk. Growing you can smell it 200 feet away if theres a slight wind ,and with it in your pocket you wouldnt enter a public place of business when it was illegal.Ive had many people visit and ask me if a skunk sprayed by my house. When completely finished its acrid.Todays skunk #1 is not skunk at all. I have no idea why people accept it as skunk. It was called skunk for a reason and not because of a sweet pleasant smell. Its still a force to be reckoned with and even aftr all these years , it and original c99 are still my favorite homegrown. Indoor or outdoor its great and reliable.

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Don 2019-08-11
I disagree some of you folks get skunk#1 mixed up with the roadkill skunk from the 70s and 80s is not the same skunk as skunk #1 I know because my father is a breeder and used to get the pure landrace skunk all the time it was only around in the 70s and 80s and short part of the 90s, I saw it twice in my life. It’s not a sativa it’s a pure 100% landrace Afghani indica it smells like a dead skunk almost when you have it in your pocket. You are not going to find the pure skunk anymore it’s all been bred out.

Alchimia Staff

Tim Alchimia 2019-08-12
Hi Don, thanks for your input. What you say definitely ties in with theories that the skunky smell came from the Afghani side, although I've ever heard of Skunk being a 100% Indica. Maybe I'm just an optimist but I refuse to believe that these things are gone forever, either some old school farmer out there still has the genetics, or the "Skunk gene" is out there hidden in some landrace Afghan seeds, just waiting to be rediscovered. Thanks again, all the best and happy growing!

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Myleroy7 Is an Alchimia client 2019-08-09
This is suposed to be about SKUNK. Where is good skunk I bought skunk seeds from Seeds Man and didnt even need to filter air. Thats no fucking SKUNK.

Alchimia Staff

Tim Alchimia 2019-08-09
Yes, I hear the same thing all over the place these days. People complaining that Skunk just isn't Skunk anymore. From what I can tell, you can blame prohibition for this, as the strong, dead skunk odour was bred out of Skunk, towards the more "sweet" side of the genetics so that the plants wouldn't give themselves away so much during flowering, leading to possible trouble with the law, neighbours etc. In conversations about this subject, I've heard many people speculate that the famous roadkill skunk aroma is actually from the Afghan side of the cross, so plenty of people have been exploring the possibilities of Afghan genetics, some claiming to have found the original roadkill phenotype. I can't say if this is true or not, but maybe checking out some Afghan/Skunk hybrids would bring what you're looking for. I'd have a look at banks like Mr Nice, Underground Originals and Ripper Seeds to name three banks working with some of these genetics. All the best and happy growing!

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s french 2019-02-08
My view on things are simple. grow old strains from 70s land race sativas all outside all organic fuck the chemicals then tell me u dont have the best smoke around with full turpines flavor and the best stone!!!!

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Di Ana 2018-10-25
Neville didn't buy the variety, Skunk #1. He bought some seeds.

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wes 2017-12-13
An after thought..... Who at home harvests rain water and makes it safe for the family drinking instead of using tap and with it the additional poisonous chemicals? Who grows all their own food and isnt kept alive by a giant supermarket chain who poisons the food? It all comes down to the landless who for generations have accepted government interference on a global scale. The tree that produces free food lives on land stolen by the state and its all paid for by tax (theft).

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wes 2017-12-13
I agree with the comments above. Also consider the feedback from hobby breeders in relation to making seed runs and how they are told by experts that primo bud can only come by named and otherwise packaged seed product and that feminized is the prefered way to achieve this. Feminized seeds are often made by forcing a female plant into producing male flowers and thus pollon, this is achieved chemically. In nature this hermaphrodism and their genetics are generally avoided due to the trait continuing once it has been found by the seed to be successful, however... in commerce its promoted as a convienient way to achieve the 100% ratio to produce seedless flowers. No males equates to no seeds...no seeds means dependency on expensive feminized seeds. Once your platform for promoting seeds is achieved you can sell these "cruft" pedigree pups at a premium and here we are today currently paying upto $15 for a single feminized seed. This is the anti-thesis of free weed. To buy seeds you are effectively bargaining with satan to grow and use what God gave us all to use (the bible states that all seed bearing plants are to be used by man for food and medicine and to be enjoyed). Now we have seeds that cannot produce further seed after the second or third generation. Dependency on satan is where he wants us. This isnt reserved just fir Cannabis....its being rolled out for food and possibly will include water to once its been patented to include a trace of something they say they own.

Alchimia Staff

Tim Alchimia 2017-12-15
Hi wes, thanks for your fascinating comments. In my opinion the success and popularity of feminised seeds is purely market-led. The vast majority of growers want to harvest flowers and aren't even slightly interested in making seeds, so would much prefer to save their time, energy and resources by not having to grow male plants which they will later have to throw out. As a general rule, the process of reversing a stable female to make feminised seeds is not as productive as making regular seeds, so the production costs per seed are higher. Add to this the advantage of not having to throw 50% of the plants away due to them being males, and there you have the reason that most growers are happy to pay higher prices for fem seeds, it's simply more convenient if all you're looking for are buds! Also worth noting here are the high prices commanded by some top seed banks for their regular (non-feminised) seeds, for example Archive Seeds most pricey seed pack costs 214€ for 12 seeds, that's 17.83€ per regular seed! That said, we aim to please the customer and will always stock a wide range of regular seeds that produce males as well as females, and recently we've even seen a trend whereby a few of the larger seed banks like Barney's Farm have diverged from selling exclusively feminised seeds to release some of their strains in regular format. So you see there's really no need to be beholden to the big seed companies, it's simple enough to make our own seeds at home and grow our own medicine if we want to. All the best and happy growing!

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James K 2017-10-31
I have been studying growing a lot lately. I am high as fuck atm from my nieghbors home grown Skunk. Seem's to me, it all depends on how much TLC the grower puts into his/her plants that decide how the flower develops. Not that I have grown, just what I have observed. About to as soon as the seeds get here. Paid for already. Yeeeeeeay. Awesome sauce.

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James P 2017-10-25
I have to agree with. Ticked Toker on the fact that today’s cannabis being sold by licensed producers is bland, does not enlighten you and just zonks you out. I grow my own from seeds acquired from original landrace producers in Jamaica. When you smoke it you remember what cannabis should be like.

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TickedToker 2017-03-08
Been smoking for nearly a century. Ive seen the ups, downs, lefts and rights of Cannabis. What everyone has failed to note is HOW one plant develops unique characteristics. Ive watched the trend in pesticides, mediums, inputs and artificial lighting evolve, and witnessed the evolution of pot right along with it. Cannabis absorbs from the environment. If you want to create a new strain, breed with same chemical or fruit inputs. The plant will eventually absorb and reproduce its own version of the smell. Sam Selezny is no hero, he is an agent of Monsanto. Helping patent and eradicate useful genetics through the DEA, the hydroponic nature-neuter industry and the fake seedbank racket. It is common knowledge in the Dutch growing scene that Dave Watson (Sam Selezny) is a secret-society sponsored thief working directly with entities in and above the governments of the world, in an agenda to eradicate nature and install new dependency. Prohibition installed. Sensimilla popularized. Terminator seeds pushed. Growers have finally caught on. Heirloom Cannabis seeds are worth more than gold. Modern pot is bland and useless for a reason : we are transitioning to Corporate Cannabis, where quality does not exist, and is fully replaced by processing methods and marketing of scrap material sold at a premium. Just like tobacco (there is no Marlborough farm, they buy from whoever the lowest bids are, mix it together, pull out all the natural, and reinfuse with their own blend. The tobacco is only a carrier material to soak the synthetic branded blend into.) Pretty soon all Cannabis production will follow suit. Wax pens filled with distilled trim, and artificially flavored with 3rd party blends. Its not medicine, its a novelty market fed by people who want to look cool in front of their friends. Pretty soon lab synthesized THC will be fully acceptable. The retardate generation funding this takeover seems not to care they are already smoking fake terpenes.

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