When you hit your vape pen, you must wonder about the potion you’re puffing on. And let it be known, the concentrates in vape pens vary more than the average consumer would think. To make it a bit more confusing, two of them sound almost the exact same. What is the difference between live resin first live rosin? Understanding all the types of cannabis concentrates used in vapes can significantly enhance your experience. In this guide, we’ll explore rosin, resin, distillates, and the different extraction methods involved, helping you choose the right product for your needs.

lab beaker imagery — Laboratory equipment

What Makes A Cannabis Product “Live” ?

"Live" refers to cannabis products made from plants that are flash-frozen immediately after harvest, preserving the plant's full range of cannabinoids and terpenes. This process locks in the freshness and potency of the cannabis, delivering a more flavorful and aromatic experience. By skipping the traditional drying and curing stages, "live" products capture the essence of the plant at its peak, offering a vibrant and robust profile. Think of it like enjoying a smoothie made from fresh fruit rather than dried, it's bursting with flavor and potency!

Rosin : A Solventless Choice

Why is live rosin gaining popularity among cannabis enthusiasts? Rosin is extracted without the use of solvents, using only heat, water and pressure. We like to say this is the “Puritan” form of vapes, as it is untouched by chemicals. This method preserves the natural cannabinoids and terpenes, making it a clean and potent option for vapes. Because no solvents are involved, many consumers appreciate it as a pure and flavorful concentrate that is smoother on the lungs and throat. It has more aromatic resemblance to flower than other vapes would, making it feel nice and authentic.

Rosins typically test lower in THC, but that doesn’t counteract any of their positive attributes. The terpenes are vital to look at when selecting a rosin vape, and the brands we carry list each one of their COAs (Certificate of Analysis). The taste and aroma from the terpenes directly impact the behavior of the strain, so it is important to consider terpenes, genetics and grower when choosing a vape.

At Starbird, we carry rosin vapes from Harbor House, Bountiful Farms and Treeworks, each brand with reputable and consistent products that satisfy those searching for something more high end.

dab of rosin — Live Rosin from Treeworks

Resin: The Terpene-Rich Favorite

What sets resin apart from other concentrates? Resin, especially live resin, is known for preserving the full spectrum of terpenes. This process helps maintain the plant’s original flavor profile, making live resin a top choice for those who want a rich, flavorful vaping experience. It is flash frozen like rosin is, but there is a solvent used. Most growers use butane to process resin. Because of this, live resins usually test very high in THC. This is an ideal option for those who value flavor and potency. Harbor House and Bountiful Farms also manufacture supreme resin vape cartridges. Be mindful to check with your budtender, because resin and rosin are only one syllable apart and can easily be misread despite having a significant difference.

Distillate: Purity and Potency

Most vapes on the market are distillate. Distillate is celebrated for its unmatched purity, but how exactly is it produced? Distillate is created through a multi-step refining process that begins by extracting cannabinoids, such as THC or CBD, from the cannabis plant using methods like CO2 or ethanol extraction. Once the crude extract is obtained, it undergoes a process called winterization, where unwanted fats, waxes, and chlorophyll are removed by freezing and filtering.

After this, the extract is heated to evaporate and separate specific cannabinoids using a process called distillation. The precision of this method is what gives distillate its versatility, allowing it to be flavorless or infused with added terpenes, making it ideal for use in vape products and other cannabis applications. Because distillate is highly refined, it eliminates impurities, making it a clean, nearly pure product. This ensures that those with weakened immune systems or heightened sensitivities aren’t exposed to contaminants, while still receiving potent relief from symptoms like pain and nausea.

While distillate offers purity and potency, it’s important to understand that the original cannabis strain is largely stripped away during the refining process. This means you’re not truly experiencing “White Widow” or “Blue Dream” in its full-spectrum form. What you're getting is a neutral base with added terpenes to mimic the flavor and effects of those strains. And while these terpene profiles can come close, they aren’t a perfect replica of the whole-plant experience. That’s why it’s crucial for consumers to educate themselves on what they’re actually vaping. If you’re seeking specific effects or a true-to-strain experience, it’s worth doing a little research rather than relying on branding alone. After all, if you’re inhaling something into your lungs, doesn’t it make sense to know what it really is?

Visual process of cannabis distillate refinement.

Dry Herb Vaporizors : A Flower Lovers Choice

If you enjoy smoking but want a smoother option, a dry herb vaporizer is a fantastic choice. Unlike concentrate vapes that use pre-filled cartridges, dry herb vapes let you use whole cannabis flower, preserving its natural flavors and effects. By vaporizing the flower at a lower temperature, you avoid combustion, resulting in a cleaner, less harsh hit that’s easier on the throat and lungs. This method offers a full-spectrum experience, capturing the unique aromas, terpenes, and cannabinoids of each strain. Plus, dry herb vapes produce minimal odor, making them ideal for more discreet use while still letting you enjoy the pure essence of your favorite strains.

Extraction Methods

There are several methods for extracting distillate, each with its own pros and cons:

CO2 Extraction: CO2 extraction is widely regarded as one of the cleanest and most eco-friendly methods for producing cannabis distillates. It uses carbon dioxide under high pressure and low temperature to separate cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant, resulting in a pure and potent product without the need for chemical solvents. This method is not only safer for consumers, as it leaves behind no harmful residues, but it also preserves the integrity of the cannabinoids and terpenes, ensuring a high-quality, flavorful final product. Additionally, CO2 extraction is sustainable and reusable, making it an environmentally responsible choice for high-end cannabis products.
Butane extraction is known for producing highly potent cannabis concentrates, such as BHO (Butane Hash Oil), prized for their high THC content and robust flavors. However, the process uses butane, a highly flammable solvent, which poses significant safety risks if not handled properly. Although skilled professionals can safely purge the butane from the final product, improper techniques can leave harmful solvent residues behind. Despite these risks, butane extraction remains popular due to its ability to extract a broad range of cannabinoids and terpenes, resulting in potent and flavorful concentrates like shatter, wax, and live resin.
Ethanol extraction is a popular method for creating cannabis distillates, as it efficiently extracts cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant material. Ethanol acts as a powerful solvent, capable of pulling out a wide range of compounds, which makes it ideal for producing high-purity, full-spectrum oils. This process is not only efficient but also safer than methods using more volatile solvents, as ethanol is less flammable. Moreover, ethanol extraction preserves the integrity of valuable compounds like cannabinoids and terpenes, ensuring a potent and flavorful final product that's free of harmful residues. As a result, ethanol is often the solvent of choice for creating high-quality distillates.
Solventless extraction is revered for creating cannabis concentrates, as it relies on mechanical processes rather than chemical solvents to extract cannabinoids and terpenes. Techniques like rosin pressing use heat and pressure to squeeze the resin from cannabis flower or hash, producing a clean, full-spectrum concentrate. This method is highly valued for its purity, as it avoids the risk of residual solvents entirely, making it ideal for health-conscious consumers. Additionally, solventless extraction preserves the natural profile of cannabinoids and terpenes, ensuring a potent, flavorful product that retains the plant’s full medicinal benefits.

What Concentrate is Right for Me?

This answer is very subjective, since different people like different things. Here’s a couple pointers that can help you narrow down what might be ideal for you. Just remember that you can always try something new or go back to what you like, there is no right or wrong in cannabis.

Distillate

The high from distillate is potent, fast-acting, and cerebral, making it ideal for activities that require focus or energy. However, because distillate is not full-spectrum, it lacks the natural balance of cannabinoids and terpenes found in the original plant. This can result in a more one-dimensional experience. It’s powerful, but often lacks the depth or therapeutic nuance of extracts like live resin or rosin. Unless CBD or other cannabinoids are added back in, distillate may not offer the same level of relief for pain, anxiety, or inflammation. Still, its predictability, ease of dosing, and high THC content make it a favorite for many consumers who want consistent effects with bold profiles.

Even with added terpenes, distillate can have a slightly acrid or sharp finish that’s noticeable to some users. This is simply a result of the high level of refinement, which creates a cleaner but less rounded flavor compared to full-spectrum extracts. If you aren’t super picky about flavor and you enjoy things that are flavored to mimic things like strawberry, tropical fruit or citrus candy, distillate will be more geared towards your preference.

Resin

Live resin offers a flavorful, potent middle ground for vape lovers. It’s made using solvents, but unlike distillate, it's extracted from fresh frozen cannabis, which helps preserve the plant’s original terpene and cannabinoid profile exceptionally well. The result is a rich, strain-specific experience with bold flavor and strong effects. While the process still involves chemicals, live resin manages to maintain much of the plant’s natural integrity. You will also be smoking an authentic strain, since normally only one kind of flower is being used for this process. This makes it a great option for those who want fuller effects and better taste, without going fully solventless.

Since live resin maintains all the terpenes, it has a more authentic cannabis profile than distillate. Resin tends to taste more pungent and pack a bit of a punch, which makes it great for seasoned users who value potency and flavor. If you enjoy a long lasting high that has a bit of a kick, you should give live resin a try.

Rosin

Solventless concentrate has skyrocketed in popularity in the past couple years. It is what is regarded highest by most cannabis connoisseurs, but that doesn’t make it explicitly “the best”. It is simply the most natural result of extraction. Because rosin is extracted only using water, heat and pressure, the result is a product that has all the same characteristics as the strain you got it from.

Live Rosin has an exceptional and authentic taste. It has an organic richness, and an almost buttery taste when smoked. Since no harsh solvents are used, it is optimal for smoothness. It delivers a gentle but powerful vapor that is very similar to smoking cannabis. Rosin typically tests lower in THC, but the value of it is found moreso in its terpene profile. If you are curious about resin and rosin specifically, we would highly recommend speaking to our budtenders or reading a few articles about the entourage effect and terpenes.

You might like rosin if you want to avoid any solvents, or if you find many vapes are too harsh for your liking. It is absolutely the choice for those who want the most authentic, unaltered cannabis flavors.

cartridges lined up — Distillate Cartridges

Whether you’re after the solventless purity of rosin, the terpene-rich experience of live resin, or the concentrated strength of distillates, understanding the differences between these cannabis concentrates can transform your vaping experience. Beyond just vapes, this knowledge is vital to carryon to other categories, like concentrates for dabbing.

Each option offers unique benefits: rosin delivers clean potency without solvents, making it ideal for those who prioritize purity; live resin retains the natural terpenes and cannabinoids from the fresh plant, offering rich, full-spectrum flavor and aroma; and distillates provide highly refined THC or CBD, perfect for those who seek potency and versatility in consumption.

By exploring these options at our Salem dispensary, you can tailor your sessions to suit your preferences and elevate your overall cannabis experience. Whether you’re a fan of flavorful hits or prefer clean, potent effects, Starbird has a range of high-quality products to help you find your perfect match.

Fly high!

Live Resin vs Rosin vs Distillate: Choosing a Vape by Flavor & Effect