What's the Difference between Distillate & Live Resin? (+ Other Concentrates)

Concentrates like distillates and live resin are potent cannabis options, and how they’re made can change your smoking experience. If you’re wondering which one is the right pick for you, it depends on what you’re looking for from your high. Keep reading, and we’ll cover the differences between distillate and live resin, their pros & cons, and other concentrates to try out. We also spoke to cannabis experts to explain more about how these concentrates are made and how it affects your smoking experience.

Live Resin or Distillate: Key Differences

Distillates are made from dried and cured cannabis, but live resin uses fresh frozen plants.
Distillates have a higher THC potency than live resin.
Live resin preserves terpenes that give full-spectrum effects, but distillates have the terpenes removed.
Distillates have subtler flavor and odor, but live resin has flavors more similar to cannabis flower.

Section 1 of 7:

Similarities and Differences Between Live Resin and Distillate

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Extraction Process Live resin and distillates go through completely different extraction processes that affect which parts of the plant are preserved in the final concentrate.
- Live Resin: Fresh cannabis plants are broken down and quickly frozen to preserve the cannabinoids and terpenes. Then, the cannabis is mixed with a solvent like butane to extract the resin and waxes from the flowers. After that, the solvents are removed to leave behind the pure extract.^{[1]
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- Distillate: Fresh cannabis is dried and cured after it’s been harvested. Then, the flower is mixed with a solvent to remove the THC and cannabinoids. After that, the solvent is removed and the oils are distilled over heat to evaporate all the cannabinoids besides THC.^{[2]
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Cannabinoids & Terpenes Cannabinoids and terpenes are chemicals found in cannabis that have minor effects, but they start to degrade when cannabis is cured.^{[3]
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- Live Resin: Live resin preserves all the original cannabinoids and terpenes, so all of the flavors and broad-spectrum effects are preserved in the final concentrate.
- Distillate: Distillates have all the cannabinoids and terpenes removed during the curing process.^{[4]
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  Research source} Riley Kirk, a cannabis research scientist, mentions that distillates lack the “entourage effect,” which is the combination of all the cannabinoids that provide enhanced medicinal benefits.^{[5]
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  Riley Kirk, PhD
  Cannabis Research Scientist
  
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THC Potency Live resin and distillate both have comparable concentrations of THC that are much higher than standard flower or bud. Even though the potency is similar, the effects can vary from person to person.^{[6]
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- Live Resin: Live resin usually has 80-90% THC, but you may feel additional “entourage effects” from the terpenes and cannabinoids.
- Distillate: Distillates typically sit around 90% THC or higher because they’re more concentrated and refined.
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Flavor & Smell Terpenes are responsible for giving cannabis its aromatic flavor, so the extraction process affects how much of the smell and taste is preserved.^{[7]
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- Live Resin: Freezing the cannabis before extraction preserves the terpenes, so live resin has an odor and flavor similar to the original plant.
- Distillate: Distillate has all the terpenes refined and removed, so they don’t have as strong of an odor but they tend to be less flavorful.
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Consistency Concentrates can vary in consistency depending on the types of products and how they’re made.
- Live Resin: Because of the higher terpene content, live resin has a darker color and tends to be a thinner consistency.^{[8]
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- Distillate: Distillate has a stickier and more viscous consistency because all of the waxes and cannabinoids are removed.^{[9]
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Products & Uses Live resin and distillate concentrates are used in many of the same cannabis products because you can consume them the same way. Both concentrates are used in vape pens and cartridges, dab rigs, and edibles.
- Live Resin: Live resin works great for dabbing, vaping, or mixing into flower in a joint or bowl.^{[10]
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- Distillate: While you can mix distillate concentrates into flower, it usually works best if you dab or vape them.^{[11]
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Cost Both live resin and distillates have more involved extraction processes, so they tend to be more expensive than your standard flower. However, prices might vary depending on where you’re buying from and the type of product you’re getting.^{[12]
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- Live Resin: Live resin tends to be slightly cheaper.
- Distillate: Distillate takes longer to cure and refine, so it tends to be a little bit more expensive.

Section 2 of 7:

Pros & Cons of Live Resin and Distillate

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Live Resin If you want a flavor close to the original strain, then live resin is the perfect choice, no matter what product you choose. Because the concentrate still has terpenes, you’ll feel the full effects of the strain. While live resin still has a high THC content, it doesn’t have quite as much as distillate.^{[13]
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- Pros
  - Flavor and aroma similar to flower
  - Versatile uses and ways to consume it
  - More broad-spectrum effects from terpenes and cannabinoids
  - Less expensive
- Cons
  - Lower THC content
  - Noticeable odor if you’re trying to be discreet
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Distillate Distillates are a great option to feel the full effects of the THC at a higher concentration. They also aren’t as smelly, so they are better if you want to avoid the bad odors when you’re using them. However, there aren’t any terpenes in distillates so they have less flavor and less full-spectrum effects.^{[14]
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- Pros
  - Higher THC content
  - Less odor and subtler flavor
  - Variety in products and uses
- Cons
  - Less flavorful
  - No entourage effects
  - May have added artificial flavors that are less desirable
  - More expensive

Section 3 of 7:

Should you choose live resin or distillate?

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Your choice ultimately depends on your personal preferences. If you’re wondering whether live resin or distillate is better, the choice is really up to you and what you want to experience when you’re high. If you’re not sure which one you prefer, try them both out to see how they affect you.
- If you want a stronger high and subtle flavors, distillates are the best option for you.
- If you prefer a more nuanced high and stronger flavors while saving a little money, consider picking live resin.

Section 4 of 7:

What is distillate?

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Distillate is a refined cannabis concentrate that only contains the THC from the plant. Cannabis distillates go through a rigorous extraction process to get rid of other cannabinoids from the flower so the concentrate is pure and potent.^{[15]
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Section 5 of 7:

What is live resin?

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CBD expert Lauren Forsch explains that live resin is a cannabis concentrate made from flash-freezing fresh marijuana plants and then extracting the THC, which preserves the terpenes responsible for flavor and aroma.^{[16]
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Lauren Forsch
CBD Expert

Expert Interview} Because live resin is frozen instead of dried and cured, the floral flavors are still present when you smoke it.^{[17]
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Section 6 of 7:

Frequently Asked Questions

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Where can you buy live resin or distillate? Jamie Corroon, ND, MPH, the Medical Director of the Center for Medical Cannabis Education, says to look for a dispensary that’s licensed by the state. He adds, “Licensed businesses must comply with regulations that promote safety and product quality.”^{[18]
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Jamie Corroon, ND, MPH
Medical Director of the Center for Medical Cannabis Education

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- Corroon also mentions that “dispensaries should display their license prominently inside and on their website” so it’s easy to determine if the business is legit.^{[19]
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Is live resin healthier than distillate? Some people claim that live resin is healthier because it uses more of the cannabis plant than distillate, but the long-term effects of using it aren’t well-known yet. While vaping live resin doesn’t produce smoke or tar, there are still risks with vaping or using cannabis long-term, such as lung damage and heart issues.^{[20]
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Does live resin get you higher than distillate? It varies from person to person, but distillates usually give you a stronger high. Distillates have around a 90% THC concentration while live resin is typically between 80-90%.^{[21]
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- While distillates have a higher potency, you may still feel a strong high from live resin because of the other cannabinoids and terpenes present in the concentrate.
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Is live resin or distillate better if you haven’t had cannabis before? Both live resin and distillate have high concentrations, so they may be a little intense if you’re never consumed cannabis before. Consider starting with live resin at a lower THC concentration, and only take small hits until you get used to the effects.
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Can live resin and distillate give you a bad high? Consuming too much of any type of cannabis can end up giving you a bad high, or greening out. Instead of feeling relaxed and euphoric, too much cannabis might make you feel anxious and afraid instead.^{[22]
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- Take smaller hits and wait a few minutes to see how you’re feeling before consuming more cannabis or concentrate.
- If you need to come down from a high, take some deep breaths, drink some water, and lie down to help stay calm until the feeling passes.

Section 7 of 7:

Other Concentrates to Try

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Live rosin Like live resin, live rosin is made from fresh frozen plants, so it keeps all the terpenes and cannabinoids in the concentrate. The extraction process doesn’t use any chemical solvents so it has a slightly cleaner flavor. However, live rosin products are usually more expensive because of the more intensive extraction.^{[23]
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- Color: Honey, golden
- Potency: Up to 80% THC
- How to use it: Vaping, dabbing, or smoking
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Liquid diamonds This potent crystalline concentrate is made from tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), which converts to THC once it’s heated to a higher temperature. Liquid diamonds are some of the most potent concentrates if you’re looking for a stronger high, but they are also some of the most expensive.^{[24]
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- Color: Clear or translucent
- Potency: 90-99% THCA
- How to use it: Dabbing, vaping, or adding to flower
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Shatter Shatter is a thin, glass-like concentrate that’s made using all the cannabinoids and terpenes from marijuana plants. Because of the high concentration, shatter is fast-acting and only takes a small amount to get high. However, you have to vape or use a dab rig to heat the shatter up enough to feel the effects.^{[25]
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- Color: Orange or amber translucent
- Potency: Typically 70-80% THC
- How to use it: Vaping or dabbing
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Crumble Crumble is a type of cannabis wax that’s dry and crumbly so you can easily break apart with your fingers. During the extraction process, the cannabis is processed with low heat until it dries out to a thicker consistency.^{[26]
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- Color: Yellow to amber
- Potency: 60-90% THC
- How to use it: Vaping, dabbing, smoking, or edibles
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Wax Cannabis wax is a sticky concentrate that can vary a lot in consistency. While some waxes are soft and have a smooth texture, other waxes may be harder and break apart more easily.^{[27]
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- Color: Opaque amber
- Potency: 60-80% THC
- How to use it: Vaping, dabbing, or adding to a joint or bowl
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Budder During the extraction process, the resin and cannabinoids are whipped together to give budder its creamy, easy-to-spread consistency. Budder tends to be more aromatic and have a stronger flavor and smell than other concentrates.^{[28]
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- Color: Bright yellow or amber
- Potency: 70-90% THC
- How to use it: Vaping, dabbing, or adding to bowls
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Sauce Terp sauce is a sticky concentrate with a mix of cannabinoid crystals and oil that has a consistency similar to jelly. Because the crystals are not thoroughly mixed, some hits of sauce may be stronger and more flavorful than others.^{[29]
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- Color: Bright yellow or amber.
- Potency: Around 60% THC
- How to use it: Vaping or dabbing

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Only use THC vapes if they’re legal in your area and if you’re above the legal age.

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Warnings

There is limited information on the long-term effects of vaping and using cannabis concentrates.^{[30]
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Research source} While vaping is not as harsh as smoking, it can still lead to injuries to your heart and lungs.^{[31]
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Johns Hopkins Medicine
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Avoid hitting any fake black-market vapes because they could contain harmful chemicals or additives. Only buy vapes from reputable brands that you purchased from a licensed dispensary.

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