Cinderella 99 Cannabis Strain: A Sweet, Uplifting Sativa Classic

Cinderella 99 (often just “Cinderella” or “Cindy 99”) is a legendary sativa-dominant cannabis strain that stands out for its potent cerebral high and candy-like citrus aroma. Bred by Brothers Grimm Seeds’ Mr. Soul (Rick Campanella), this hybrid merges Jack Herer and Shiva Skunk genetics to create a fast-flowering, compact plant. It’s beloved by growers for its short 7–9 week bloom time and by users for its energetic, euphoric buzz. In this post, we’ll explore Cinderella 99’s fairy-tale origins, its sweet and fruity flavor profile, its uplifting psychoactive effects, and tips for growing this high-yielding strain.

Origins and Genetics

Cinderella 99 has one of the most famous origin stories in cannabis breeding. In the mid-1990s, Rick “Mr. Soul” Campanella discovered a few seeds hidden in a bag of Jack Herer buds during a trip to Amsterdam​. He germinated these mystery seeds and grew a remarkable female plant nicknamed “Princess.” Princess was a compact, fast-flowering sativa-dominant plant – a true indoor gem – with outrageous resin production and a pungent pineapple-pine aroma. To stabilize Princess’s traits, Mr. Soul collected pollen from a resin-heavy Shiva Skunk male and began a unique “cubing” breeding process​.

The cubing method involved repeatedly backcrossing Princess to her own offspring over several seed generations (P.50, P.75, P.88, P.94, etc.). Each generation further reinforced Princess’s best traits while improving stability, consistency, and yield​. Mr. Soul even kept Princess in continuous vegetative growth as a dedicated mother plant, using her clones to ensure each new generation stayed true to type​. Eventually, this meticulous breeding produced the cubed clone known as Cinderella 99.

Today’s Cinderella 99 is typically cited as an 85% sativa / 15% indica hybrid. It combines Jack Herer’s legendary cerebral lift with Shiva Skunk’s stout resin and hardiness. The result is a plant that flowers much faster than most sativas (often just 7–9 weeks indoors​) while delivering an energetic, euphoric high. In other words, Cinderella 99 lives up to its name by transforming humble beginnings into a truly royal cannabis strain.

Aroma, Flavor, and Effects

Cinderella 99 is celebrated for its sweet, fruity flavor and citrus aroma. The buds are loaded with terpenes that give off a tropical fruit bouquet – think juicy pineapple, mango, papaya, and zesty citrus​. Many users describe the scent as akin to candy or fresh-squeezed orange juice, with a touch of herbal spice from the Skunk in its lineage​. The flavor follows suit: on inhaling, you’ll notice bright lemon-lime and tropical sweetness, and the exhale can carry soft pine or vanilla notes for added depth​.

These intense fruity notes come from Cinderella 99’s rich terpene profile. The dominant terpenes are myrcene, caryophyllene, and pinene​. Myrcene adds a musky, tropical-fruit quality, while limonene (a common citrus terpene) and pinene give the lemony, piney snap. Interestingly, limonene is known to boost mood – research shows it can raise serotonin and dopamine levels to help reduce stress and uplift spirits​. No wonder this strain smells like sunshine.

When it comes to effects, Cinderella 99 delivers a classic sativa head high. It’s uplifting, energizing, and euphoric, with a rapid onset that sparks creativity and focus​. Many users report feeling happy, giggly, and mentally stimulated without the anxiety or lethargy that some sativas can produce. Leafly notes that Cindy’s effects are often described as “dreamy, euphoric, and uplifting,” making it a favorite among those who want a positive, buzzy experience​. This makes Cinderella 99 especially popular for daytime use or social occasions.

Potency is high – THC levels often range from 18% up to 25% – so the head rush can be intense at first. It’s very cerebral (the high is largely in the head) but isn’t typically sedating or couch-locking. Because of the energetic “psychoactive effects” and mood boost, it’s also been used medicinally: patients report Cinderella 99 helps relieve fatigue, stress, and mild depression by providing an uplifting, anxiety-relieving experience. As one grower joke goes, a hit of Cinderella 99 is like waking up to a sunny spring morning.

Cultivation and Yield

Cinderella 99’s growth traits make it a hit with growers, especially indoors. It stays fairly compact and bushy (rarely topping 3–4 feet) despite its strong sativa genetics. This makes it ideal for small tents or indoor cabinets, where it can soak up light without stretching sky-high. Its plant structure responds well to training techniques like topping, LST or ScrOG; these methods can open up the canopy and boost yields even further. Many cultivators appreciate that Cinderella 99 has a high flower-to-leaf ratio – buds are dense and sticky with trichomes, which means less trimming work and more potent buds.

Flowering time is relatively short for a mostly-sativa strain. Expect around 8–10 weeks of bloom indoors​. On average, Cinderella 99 finishes in about 56–70 days in the flowering phase, though exact timing can depend on phenotype and growing conditions. During this period the room will fill with its sweet citrus aroma – be prepared for a strong scent in week 7 or 8!

Yields are impressive. Under optimal indoor conditions, growers report up to 1.5–2 ounces per square foot​. Outdoors (in a warm, sunny climate), Cinderella 99 can produce even more, often wrapping up before the first cold snaps thanks to its quick finish. Its heavy resin production means that buds get beautifully sticky and dense. Overall, this strain has a higher yield than many sativas, which is one of its standout traits.

In summary, Cinderella 99 is relatively grower-friendly. It doesn’t have any major quirks like hermies (thanks to Princess’s stability) and can handle a variety of environments. Some growers keep a Cinderella 99 mother plant to produce clones, or start from feminized seeds (both regular and feminized seeds are available). If you’re an indoor grower, you’ll love how this compact plant fills the room with sweet aromas and finishes quickly. Outdoor growers in mild regions can also succeed if they can support its height and strong smell.

Explore Related DNA Genetics Strains

If you enjoy Cinderella 99’s lively, fruity vibes, you might also like these DNA Genetics varieties:

• Tangie (Reg) – A renowned sativa-dominant strain loaded with bright tangerine/citrus flavor. Tangie gives an energetic, creative high that appeals to fans of citrus profiles.

TANGIE REG Cannabis Seeds

TANGIE REG Cannabis Seeds

	Clone Only x Crockett’s Selection
	Sativa-dominant Cannabis
	9+ weeks
	16–19 oz./m2
	Regular Cannabis Seeds

Buy TANGIE REG Cannabis Seeds

• Strawberry Banana S1 (Fem) – A dessert-like hybrid with a sweet berry-banana aroma. This strain delivers a smooth, relaxing stone and a delicious fruity taste.
  
• You Who (Fem) – A potent hybrid known for its tropical fruit scent and strong balanced high. You Who packs a punch of exotic flavor and is prized for big yields and trichome production.
  

These DNA Genetics strains share Cinderella 99’s emphasis on flavor and effects, making them great alternatives or companions to try in your garden.

Conclusion

Cinderella 99 lives up to its fairy-tale reputation. This sativa-dominant hybrid offers the best of both worlds: a short, compact plant that flowers quickly, epic yields from its resin-coated buds, and a sweet, citrusy flavor profile that’s a real treat. More importantly, its uplifting and euphoric high keeps it popular among cannabis enthusiasts and growers alike. Whether you’re seeking a creative daytime buzz, relief from fatigue, or simply a mouthwatering tropical smoke, Cinderella 99 delivers a strong, clear-headed experience.

Ready to add Cinderella 99 to your lineup? DNA Genetics offers top-quality seeds to help you grow this legendary strain at home. Plus, don’t forget to join our DNA Loyalty Program or Seed Vault Club to earn points and exclusive perks on every seed purchase. Happy growing, and may your Cinderella 99 plants live happily ever after!