Key Differences Between Live Resin vs Distillate

Live resin and distillate are two popular cannabis concentrates that have applications ranging from dabbing and vaping to edibles. Live resin is a full-spectrum extract made from fresh frozen cannabis plant material. Distillate is typically made from dried cannabis flower or trim and is void of terpenes, flavonoids, waxes, and lipids. 

Processors looking to produce cannabis concentrates commercially may focus on one kind of cannabis extract and its derivatives as their flagship product, or diversify and produce the widest possible range of concentrates for consumers. Understanding the manufacturing process for each concentrate, the differences from the consumer’s perspective, and the price points of each concentrate type will help you make strategic decisions for your operation.

Differences between Live Resin and Distillate

The differences in the extraction process between live resin vs distillate lead to several visible and experiential differences in the end products.

Extraction Process

Live resin is a solvent-based cannabis oil that is made by extracting fresh frozen cannabis plant material in a mixture of butane and propane. The solvent dissolves the active compounds in the frozen resin glands (trichomes) and carries them through a filter to a collection chamber. The solvent is then purged from the "crude" live cannabis oil in a vacuum oven using specific temperatures, pressures, and techniques to achieve the desired texture.

Distillate is made by distilling a winterized cannabis extract to separate cannabinoids (such as THC, CBD, CBG, CBC, THCV, and other minor cannabinoids including delta 8 and delta 10 THC), leaving the rest of the compounds in the extract behind. The starting extract is typically a solvent extract made from dried and cured cannabis using hydrocarbons, ethanol, or CO2. This extract is then winterized, filtered, and decarboxylated to activate the cannabinoids before distilling the oil using a method such as short-path distillation, wiped-film distillation, or fractional distillation. 

Please note: While the distillation process removes all residual solvents, it also removes all terpenes and other aromatics.

Uses

Live resin can be dabbed, vaped (with some additional post-processing), and added to bowls and joints. It can theoretically be used in edibles. However, this is not common. Distillates can be used in the same ways as live resin and can additionally be used in topicals, edibles, sublingual tinctures, and even suppositories because they are activated (decarboxylated), odorless, flavorless, and easier to dose. 

Color

Live resin typically has a solid golden-to-amber color due to the presence of the full range of cannabinoids, terpenes, waxes, fats, and lipids in the extract. Cannabis distillate is typically translucent.

Aroma and Flavor

Live resin oil has a rich aroma and flavor shaped by the terpenes present in the concentrate. Terpenes are aromatic compounds that give plants their fragrances and flavors (the piney fragrance of pine, the characteristic scent of lavender, and so on).

The precise terpene profile present in each live resin product depends on the genetics of the strain used as well as the growing, harvesting, handling, and storage practices of the grower and processor. Some strains smell fruity and sweet, others have floral overtones, and yet others smell like skunk or diesel.

Distillate is generally flavorless because it doesn't contain any terpenes. This makes cannabis distillates popular with people who don't like the taste of cannabis. The lack of odor and flavor also makes distillate ideal for use in edibles and infused beverages.

Consistency

Live resin extracts are much thicker than distillates due to the presence of waxes, fats, and lipids. The live resin oil can be manipulated to create a range of consistencies after extraction, ranging from a sugary consistency to jam, budder, badder, wax, crumble, and shatter. Live resin can also be winterized, filtered, and decarboxylated to make vape oil.

Distillate generally has the consistency of a thick liquid that may become stiff at room temperature or colder.

Cannabinoids and Terpenes

Live resins are "full spectrum" in the sense that they contain the full spectrum of cannabis compounds, including cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. Live resin cannabis extracts are typically richer in terpenes than other solvent cannabis extracts because they are made from fresh frozen cannabis flowers rather than dried and cured plants.

The distillation process concentrates cannabinoids and removes other compounds with higher and lower boiling points such as terpenes. In this sense, they are the opposite of "full spectrum." That can sometimes be a good thing, however, especially in cases such as edibles for which accurate dosing is essential. For the most accurate dosing, manufacturers typically use a concentrate dispenser that delivers pre-measured doses of distillate.

Potency

Both live resin and distillate are extremely potent. Concentrated forms of cannabis, in general, typically test at 52-95% THC. Live resin falls in the middle of this spectrum with around 60% to 90% THC. Distillates fall on the higher end of the spectrum with upwards of 90% cannabinoids.

High

While both distillate and live resin concentrates are very high in THC, consumers can expect a slightly different experience after consumption. THC alone (such as in THC distillate) will cause intoxication along with other reported effects including pain relief, nausea relief, appetite stimulation, and relaxation.

In contrast, live resin concentrates can be expected to provide the above effects in a more complex and balanced way for the consumer due to the variety of compounds present and the interactions between them (referred to as the "entourage effect"). 

Price Point

Live resin concentrates sell at a higher price point than distillate in dispensaries because the live resin extraction process requires tightly controlled environmental conditions and a higher quality of starting material than distillate (which can essentially be made from any quality of starting material).

At one point in time, live resin concentrates were considered the most premium cannabis extracts on the market due to their "live" nature and rich aromas and flavors. In 2022, however, live rosin rose above live resin in price as it offers similar differentiating factors without the use of solvents. This leads many consumers to see it as a superior product.

Live Resin vs Distillate: Each Has Its Place

THC distillate and live resin both have a very high THC content and are used in similar applications. Live resin extraction leads to a "premium" full-spectrum product that contains the full range of cannabinoids and terpenes. Distillate extraction leads to a multipurpose product that can be added to a range of SKUs with greater precision.

The best cannabis concentrate for your operation will depend on your starting material (cannabis flower vs trim), your goals, your equipment, the SKUs you want to make with the extract, and the customer segment you are hoping to reach. Either way, quality starting materials and high-precision equipment will help you produce the best possible quality end product.