When it comes to how the five senses perceive cannabis, the nose will always be king. The eyes aren't far behind, however, and are extremely important in finding defects on your buds, such as mold, mildew, mites and other undesirable traits. After getting past all the health-code stuff, though, you'll find vivid shades of violet, blue or scarlet, milky and amber trichomes, and rusted-tan pistils that can remind you of anything from a sunset to snow-covered Christmas tree.

I've been lucky enough to check out hundreds of sexy strains with this gig, some of which are so gorgeous that it's bittersweet to break them apart and burn them to ashes. And 2018 hasn't disappointed, with Denver's pot shops pumping out a gallery of ganja that even my mediocre photo skills can't ruin. Here are ten of the prettiest strains I've smoked so far this year.

Purple Kush
Purple Kush’s purple is more of a rich, dark tone than bright or violet, and can look black in certain shades of light, thanks to the dark-green tones providing little contrast.

Killer Queen
Killer Queen has spiky nugs that range from circular to fist-shaped, with many odd forms in between. The strain's bright-green color and dusty coat of amber trichomes have the appearance of a piney kush, but the open bud structure is similar to that of Cinderella 99.

Wedding Cake
Trichomes stick to the sides and tops of calyxes, with shades of grape and pinkish-red that make them look like frosted sugar cookies; nugs are dense and shaped like teardrops and footballs. Fun fact: Wedding Cake's pink and purple hues are so striking that the strain is known as “Pink Cookies” in some circles.

Hash Plant
If strains were a football team, Hash Plant would undoubtedly be the center. Short, fat, sticky and dense, Hash Plant has football- and fist-shaped buds that display its Afghani heritage loud and proud. Evergreen in color, it has a heavy coat of trichomes.