As marijuana legalization expands across the United States, so too does the popularity of cannabis concentrates—potent extracts that offer users a more intense and efficient experience than traditional flower.
Live Resin.
But with so many types of concentrates on the shelves at cannabis dispensaries and retail outlets, it can be difficult to know the difference between them. Below is a breakdown of the most popular forms of marijuana concentrates, including how they’re made, what they look like, and how they’re commonly used.
Live Resin
Live resin is a highly aromatic and flavorful concentrate extracted from fresh, flash-frozen cannabis plants. By freezing the plant immediately after harvest, producers preserve the full terpene profile, resulting in a product rich in flavor and aroma. The concentrate typically has a sticky, saucy consistency and is often dabbed using a rig or vaporizer. Live resin is prized for its strong terpene content and full-spectrum effects.
Wax
Marijuana wax, also known simply as “wax,” is a soft, pliable concentrate with a consistency similar to earwax. It’s typically produced using butane extraction, then whipped or agitated to incorporate air and create its creamy texture. Wax is potent and commonly consumed through dabbing or vaporizing. It generally contains 60% to 80% THC, sometimes higher, making it a favorite for seasoned consumers.
Shatter
Shatter is a translucent, glass-like concentrate known for its hard, brittle consistency. When handled, it breaks apart like glass—hence the name. It’s produced through a similar hydrocarbon extraction process as wax, but without the agitation, resulting in a stable, clear structure. Shatter is highly potent and typically consumed via dabbing.
Rick Simpson Oil (RSO)
Rick Simpson Oil, or RSO, is a full-extract cannabis oil traditionally made using ethanol as a solvent. Named after Canadian activist Rick Simpson, this thick, tar-like concentrate is known for its medicinal applications. RSO is usually taken orally or applied topically and is often used by medical marijuana patients seeking long-lasting effects. Unlike other concentrates, RSO is not commonly used for dabbing.
Budder
Budder is a whipped cannabis concentrate that has a creamy, butter-like consistency. It’s similar to wax but with a fluffier texture due to the whipping process. Budder retains high levels of cannabinoids and terpenes and is often considered one of the most flavorful concentrates available. It’s typically consumed via dabbing.
Hash
Hash, or hashish, is one of the oldest cannabis concentrates and is made by compressing the resinous trichomes from marijuana plants. There are many methods of hash production, including dry-sifting and ice water extraction. Traditional hash is solid and can range from crumbly to sticky in texture. It’s often smoked in a pipe or mixed with flower in a joint.
Rosin
Rosin is a solventless concentrate made by applying heat and pressure to cannabis flower, kief, or hash to extract the resin. The process preserves much of the plant’s natural terpene profile, making it both flavorful and potent. Rosin has a sap-like or taffy consistency and is a favorite among health-conscious consumers looking for a clean, chemical-free product.
Diamonds
THC diamonds are crystalline structures of pure tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), which converts to THC when heated. They’re often formed through a process of slow evaporation of a terpene-rich extract, leaving behind solid crystal formations. Diamonds are sometimes sold “in sauce,” meaning they’re suspended in terpene-rich live resin. Because they contain nearly pure THCA, diamonds are among the most potent concentrates available.
Crumble
Crumble is a dry, brittle concentrate that easily falls apart, hence its name. It’s made using a similar extraction process to wax, but with a purging method that removes more moisture and solvents, resulting in a drier texture. Crumble is easy to handle and can be sprinkled on flower, added to joints, or dabbed. It typically has a high THC content and a honeycomb-like appearance.
Kief
Kief is the collection of loose trichomes that fall off cannabis buds when ground or sifted. It’s a natural concentrate that doesn’t require solvents or heat to produce. Kief can be sprinkled on bowls, added to joints, or pressed into hash. While not as potent as solvent-based extracts, it still contains a concentrated amount of cannabinoids and terpenes.
THCA Isolate
THCA isolate is a purified concentrate that contains nearly 100% tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, the non-psychoactive precursor to THC. It appears as a fine white powder or crystalline solid. THCA isolate doesn’t produce a high until it’s decarboxylated (heated), at which point it converts to THC. This product is often used by medical patients seeking precise dosing or by those looking to customize their cannabis experience without added terpenes or plant matter.
Terp Sauce
Sauce, also known as terp sauce, is a concentrate known for its high terpene content and liquid, syrupy consistency. It’s typically composed of two parts: crystalline THCA (diamonds) and a terpene-rich liquid extract. The separation happens during a curing process after extraction. Sauce is favored for its rich flavor and entourage effect due to the full spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes present.
Distillate
Distillate is a highly refined cannabis oil containing a nearly pure cannabinoid, typically THC or CBD. It’s created through a process called short path distillation that removes all other plant compounds, including terpenes. The result is a nearly flavorless, odorless oil that’s often used in edibles, vape cartridges, and tinctures. Distillate is valued for its potency and versatility but lacks the flavor profile of full-spectrum extracts.
Ice Water Hash (Bubble Hash)
Ice water hash, often called bubble hash, is a solventless concentrate made by agitating cannabis flower in ice-cold water to separate the trichomes. The resin glands are then filtered through fine mesh bags, dried, and collected. The name “bubble hash” comes from the way high-quality product bubbles when exposed to heat. It ranges in texture from sandy to sticky and is typically smoked in a pipe, sprinkled on flower, or dabbed if it’s of high purity.
BHO (Butane Hash Oil)
BHO, or Butane Hash Oil, is a potent cannabis extract made using butane as a solvent to strip cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant material. The resulting oil can take on several consistencies—shatter, wax, budder, or crumble—depending on how it’s purged and processed. BHO is known for its high THC content and fast-acting effects, making it a popular choice among experienced users. It’s typically consumed through dabbing or vaping but must be properly purged of residual solvents to ensure safety.
