Live Resin vs. Distillate: What’s the Difference?
When exploring cannabis concentrates, their processing can dramatically differ and influence the effects and experience. In this context, two of the most popular concentrates emerge as the top choices among cannabis shoppers: live resin and distillate. While both are potent, their creation processes and final effects differ significantly. Understanding the differences between these two will help you find the best fit for your cannabis experience.
Let’s break down what sets live resin and distillate apart, exploring their production methods, key characteristics, and pros and cons.
What is Live Resin – In Simple Words

Live resin is a cannabis concentrate that is carefully made by preserving the plant’s natural flavors, aromas, and effects. Its prominence is largely attributed to its processing.
When the cannabis plant is harvested, it is immediately frozen to lock in its freshness. This helps preserve the full range of cannabinoids and terpenes within the live resin, helping it deliver robust effects and smell. The frozen cannabis is then processed using different solvents to extract its oils. The resulting product is a sticky, aromatic concentrate with a rich texture.
Live resin offers a stronger, more flavorful high than other concentrates because of its original terpene profile. It is often compared with live rosin, another cannabis product. However, live resin is an entirely different concentrate due to using solvents during extraction, whereas live rosin is made without it.
Live resin is often found in products, including dabs or vapes, though it can also be added to bowls or joints for an enhanced experience.
What is Distillate?

Distillate is a highly refined cannabis extract that is admiringly pure and potent. This is because of its sophisticated distillation, which frees cannabinoids from plant matter and impurities. The result is a clear, viscous THC-rich liquid with a high concentration ranging from 85% to 99%.
Unlike other cannabis extracts, the distillate undergoes an additional processing step. The liquid is heated and vaporized to separate specific cannabinoids from other compounds. This refined process produces a product that is lighter in color and incredibly pure.
Distillates are extremely versatile and are used in various cannabis products such as edibles, vape cartridges, and concentrates. Unlike live resin, which preserves the plant’s terpene profile, distillates are made from dried and cured plants, focusing on boosting cannabinoid potency rather than flavor or aroma.
Distillates typically contain one potent cannabinoid, such as THC, CBD, CBG, or CBN, with THC distillates being particularly popular among experienced cannabis users due to their high concentration and potency.
Live Resin vs. Distillate: What Makes Them Different?

When it comes to Live Resin vs. Distillate, both are cannabis concentrates. However, both differ in production processes, composition, uses, and overall experience.
A Glimpse Into Key Difference Between Distillate and Live Resin
Production Techniques Used
- Live Resin: This extract is produced through a solvent-based extraction process that uses low temperatures to maintain the terpenes and other compounds of fresh, flash-frozen cannabis plants. The final product is then purged to achieve the desired texture.
- Distillate: In distillation, specific cannabinoids like THC or CBD are isolated by refining a winterized cannabis extract. Under high heat, various methods are performed, such as short-path or wiped-film distillation, in which terpenes and other compounds are removed to obtain a purified and potent concentrate.
Terpene and Other Cannabinoid Profiles
- Live Resin: With a robust terpene content (typically between 4% and 12%), live resin delivers a rich, aromatic, flavorful experience in a similar profile as that of the original plant. Moreover, its wide spectrum of cannabinoids enables it to produce balanced effects.
- Distillate: With minimal terpene content and cannabinoid purity exceeding 90%, distillate brims with high potency. However, it may lack the nuanced flavors and aromas of live resin.
Texture and Appearance
- Live Resin: Its looks can range from sugary and glassy textures to waxes and crumbles, with a golden-amber hue. Its consistency may vary depending on the post-extraction manipulation, which enhances its versatility for consumption.
- Distillate: Its appearance is more of a translucent, viscous liquid but pourable. This refined nature makes it visually distinct from live resin.
Consumption Methods
- Live Resin: It is commonly found in dabs and vapes, and can be smoked in joints or bowls. Due to its strong flavor and the fact that it is not activated (decarboxylated), it is not typically used in edibles.
- Distillate: It is exceptionally versatile. Distillate can be used in edibles, beverages, tinctures, topicals, and suppositories. Its odorless and flavorless nature makes it ideal for products requiring discreet or precise dosing.
Aroma, Flavor, and Experience
- Live Resin: It is a preferred choice for an authentic cannabis experience with a terpene-rich aroma and flavor. The entourage effect, created by the interplay of cannabinoids and terpenes, results in a more balanced high.
- Distillate: With limited terpene content, distillate is almost flavorless and odorless. Its effects are more intense and singular due to the absence of balancing compounds. It is an appealing choice to those seeking pure THC or CBD potency.
Potency and Effect
- Live Resin: It is highly potent, with THC reaching 45%-90%. This THC dominance and the presence of terpenes and other cannabinoids enable it to create a smoother and more nuanced high.
- Distillate: Distillate provides an intense and focused high with cannabinoid concentrations exceeding 90%. It is ideal for those who emphasize potency over flavor.
Price and Availability
- Live Resin: More expensive due to the detailed extraction process and the demand for high-quality, fresh-frozen cannabis material.
- Distillate: Generally more affordable and accessible, as it can be made from lower-grade starting materials with high potency.
How to Buy Distillate and Live Resin: Exploring Different Formats

Selecting the right product can make all the difference when shopping for distillate and live resin. Here is a breakdown of the different forms and how to choose the best option.
Buying Live Resin Products
- Live Resin Vapes: Live resin vapes are ideal for users who seek the aromatic and flavorful profile of live resin. These pre-filled cartridges retain the rich terpene content, delivering an authentic cannabis experience. These vapes are easy to use and often available in THCa disposable formats for discreet and convenient vaping.
- Other Live Resin Products: Live resin comes in various textures and formats for smoking or vaping, such as sauce, shatter, and diamonds, each offering a unique experience.
Buying Distillate Products
- CBD Vape Pens: CBD vape pens, in particular, deliver a powerful dose of CBD with minimal flavor, making them an excellent choice for those who prefer an odorless, neutral cannabis experience.
- Other Distillate Products: Distillates are odorless and colorless but highly potent. Hence, they can be easily incorporated into various products, such as pre-made edibles, including THC gummies and beverages. They also offer customizable experiences when incorporated with dab rigs, vape cartridges, bowls, or joints.
Pros and Cons with Live Resin
Pros
- Full-Spectrum Experience: The fully retained cannabinoids and terpenes from the cannabis plant deliver the entourage effect for wellness.
- Genuine Flavor and Aroma: The natural cannabis terpenes deliver a flavorful, aromatic experience that reflects the original strain.
- Single-level Sourcing: Live resin is often derived from a single strain and harvest, ensuring consistency and premium quality.
- Well-rounded Benefits: Terpenes in live resin may alleviate pain and inflammation.
Cons
- Higher Cost: The premium material quality and complex extraction process make live resin more expensive.
- Strong Cannabis Smell: While some enjoy the aroma, it can be a drawback for those in discreet or smoke-sensitive environments.
- Potential Solvent Risks: Live resin is prepared with solvents like butane or propane. This makes it essential for the consumer to purchase this concentrate from reputable brands offering lab-tested products to ensure safety.
- Intoxication Risk: With THC concentrations between 45%-90%, the live resin can lead to tolerance build-up, making it less suitable for beginners.
Pros and Cons with Distillate
Pros
- Purity and Potency: Distillates have highly concentrated cannabinoids, which deliver strong effects and provide targeted relief.
- Versatility: Used in different products, including vape cartridges, edibles, beverages, and more.
- Discreet and Odorless: Distillates are virtually odorless and flavorless, making them ideal for low-profile consumption.
- Cost-Effective: Typically more affordable than live resin and widely available at dispensaries.
- Clean Formulation: Distillates are known for their purity, carrying only desired cannabinoids in pure form.
Cons
- Mellowed Effects: With limited content of terpenes and other beneficial compounds, it lacks full-spectrum benefits.
- Artificial Additives: Some manufacturers add non-cannabis terpenes or artificial flavors, which may not replicate the natural cannabis experience.
- Fast Tolerance Build-Up: Regular consumption of high-potency distillates can lead to rapid tolerance, making users less sensitive to lower-THC products.
Live Resin vs Distillate: Which One Should Be Your Choice?
When it comes to deciding between live resin and distillate, the decision boils down to your preferences, prior experience with cannabis, and desired effects. Live resin is perfect for those who enjoy the rich flavors and aromas of the original cannabis plant and seek a full-spectrum experience with enhanced effects.
On the other hand, distillate is suited for users prioritizing purity and potency, offering unsurpassed levels of cannabinoids like THC, CBD, CBG, or CBN in a colorless, odorless, and flavorless profile in various THCA products.
Both are potent, but with live resin, you get a more authentic cannabis experience, while with distillate, versatility and precision are assured.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) Is live resin a better option for new cannabis users?
It depends. For those looking for a more authentic cannabis experience, it can be a great option. However, start with a small amount, as its strong effects may be overwhelming for first-timers.
2) Do live resin and distillate produce a high?
Yes, both live resin and distillate can get you high. The main difference lies in how both affect you. Live resin provides a more balanced, full-spectrum high because it contains a range of cannabinoids and terpenes. Distillates, on the other hand, are highly concentrated in one or more cannabinoids (often THC) and may provide a more intense or specific high, depending on the potency.
3) Where can I buy live resin products?
When shopping for live resin products, select trusted stores like Gas Boys, which prioritize transparency and safety by offering lab-verified products, guaranteeing the purity and potency of every product.