It Starts With Cannabis
Concentrates come from the same cannabis plant commonly called marijuana, weed, flower, or bud.
Cannabis Education for Beginners
Understanding Cannabis Concentrates
Concentrates are cannabis products made by collecting and concentrating the plant’s resin-rich trichomes. They usually contain much higher cannabinoid levels than ordinary flower and may look like oil, glass, wax, batter, crystals, or sauce.
Start With the Basics
What Is a Cannabis Concentrate?
Cannabis flower is covered with tiny resin glands called trichomes. Concentrates collect more of that resin into a smaller amount of material.
Trichomes Are Collected
Trichomes contain much of the plant’s THC, CBD, terpenes, and other cannabinoids and aromatic compounds.
They Can Be Very Potent
A small amount of concentrate may contain far more THC than a similar-sized amount of flower.
Common Types
Concentrates You May See in a Dispensary
Some names describe texture, some describe how the product was made, and others describe the level of refinement.
Wax
A soft, opaque concentrate with a wax-like consistency. It may be sticky, fluffy, or slightly crumbly.
Shatter
A firm, glass-like concentrate that may snap into pieces when handled.
Badder or Budder
A soft, creamy concentrate with a consistency similar to cake batter or whipped butter.
Crumble
A drier, porous concentrate that breaks apart easily and can be easier to portion than very sticky products.
Live Resin
Usually made from cannabis frozen soon after harvest to preserve more of the plant’s original aromatic compounds.
Live Rosin
Made from fresh-frozen cannabis using mechanical separation, heat, and pressure rather than a chemical extraction solvent.
Diamonds
Crystal-like formations rich in THCA. They may be sold alone or combined with terpene-rich sauce.
Sauce
A terpene-rich liquid concentrate that may contain small cannabinoid crystals or larger diamonds.
Distillate
A highly refined cannabinoid oil commonly used in vape cartridges, edibles, and some dab products.
RSO
Rick Simpson Oil is a thick, dark cannabis extract generally intended for oral or topical use rather than ordinary dabbing.
Hash
A concentrate made by collecting and compressing trichomes. Hash can range from dry and crumbly to soft and sticky.
Kief
A powder-like collection of loose trichomes. It may be sprinkled on flower, pressed into hash, or used as a starting material.
!
Texture Does Not Tell You the Strength
Wax is not automatically weaker than shatter, and live resin is not automatically stronger than distillate. Read the cannabinoid percentage, serving information, and laboratory results.
Syringes and Oils
Why Are Some Concentrates Sold in Syringes?
A syringe-style applicator is a package and dispensing method, not one specific type of concentrate. Different syringes may contain very different cannabis oils with different intended uses.
Distillate and Refill Oils
Some syringes contain distillate or another oil that may be labeled for use with compatible refillable cartridges. Only use an oil in a cartridge when the product directions identify it as suitable for vaping.
RSO Syringes
RSO is often packaged in an applicator syringe because the thick oil can be dispensed in small amounts. It is generally intended for oral or other labeled uses rather than as ordinary vape-cartridge refill oil.
The Label Matters
Do not decide how to use a product simply because it comes in a syringe. Check the extract type, ingredients, directions, laboratory information, and intended method of use.
Devices and Use
How Are Concentrates Used?
The correct device depends on the product. Not every concentrate is intended for the same method of use.
Dab Rigs
A dab rig heats a surface called a nail or banger so a small amount of concentrate can vaporize.
Electronic Dab Devices
Electronic rigs and concentrate pens use battery-powered heating chambers instead of a torch.
Added to Flower
Kief, hash, or small amounts of some concentrates may be added to flower, but uneven distribution can make dosing less predictable.
Vape Cartridges
Distillate, live resin, rosin, and other oils may be formulated for cartridges. Loose dab concentrates should not be placed into ordinary cartridges.
Edibles
Some concentrates are used as ingredients in professionally made gummies, chocolates, capsules, and beverages.
Oral or Topical Products
RSO and some oils may have specific oral or topical directions. Follow the product label rather than assuming they are dab products.
Read Before You Buy
How to Read a Concentrate Label
Live Resin Badder
- Package weight
- 1 gram
- Total THC
- 74%
- Total CBD
- 0.3%
- Total terpenes
- 8.1%
- Primary terpene
- Myrcene
- Batch number
- LR-24018
Check the Product Type
Confirm whether the label describes live resin, rosin, distillate, wax, badder, diamonds, sauce, RSO, or another product.
Check Cannabinoid Percentages
Total THC may combine several THC-related measurements. Do not judge strength by appearance alone.
Review Terpenes
Terpene names and percentages may help explain aroma and flavor, although effects can vary.
Look for Laboratory Testing
Check for batch-specific testing, dates, manufacturer information, and contaminant screening when available.
Buy Smarter
Questions to Ask Before Purchasing
What device will I need?
Confirm that your rig, vaporizer, pen, or other device is designed for the concentrate you are buying.
Is flavor or maximum THC more important?
Products with more retained terpenes may offer stronger aroma and flavor, while highly refined products may focus more on cannabinoid content.
How easy is it to handle?
Shatter may snap, sauce can be runny, and badder may be easier to portion with a dab tool.
How much am I buying?
Compare the package weight and price. Concentrates are often sold in fractions of a gram or one-gram containers.
How should it be stored?
Heat, air, light, and poor containers can change texture, aroma, and quality.
Is the label complete?
Avoid products with unclear cannabinoid amounts, missing batch information, or no identifiable manufacturer.
Beginner Safety
Concentrates Can Feel Much Stronger Than Flower
Use a very small amount when trying an unfamiliar concentrate.
Do not drive or operate machinery after using an intoxicating product.
Keep concentrates and heated devices away from children and pets.
Do not attempt hazardous home extraction with flammable solvents.
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