Cannabis Concentrates 101

August 13, 2026
By Jessica Reilly-Chevalier

This article was first published in the Concentrates edition of Fat Nugs Magazine in February 2026.

Diving into the world of concentrates can be confusing and overwhelming. For the new consumer, concentrates represent intense potency and intimidating consumption methods.

Traditionally, concentrates are consumed with a dab rig, an adapted water pipe heated by a blow torch. I tried smoking this way once, and went directly to outer space, do not pass GO. I didn’t speak for the next hour! After that, I avoided concentrates for several years, thinking they weren’t for me.

But concentrates offer several benefits: highly potent products mean a little goes a really, really long way. Concentrates work as quickly as smoking weed does, without the mess of the flower. And certain concentrates offer an unparalleled plant experience, beautifully capturing the aroma, flavor, and effects of a specific strain. They’re also just plain fun.

Wading into this world means understanding a whole new set of vocabulary beyond eighth and Q. And these terms are important because each one denotes a slightly separate product type. So, to make it easy, here’s what you need to know about cannabis concentrates.

Extraction at a Glance

Concentrates are a concentrated form of THC. The trichomes are extracted from the plant matter through one of a few ways and manufactured into the finished product.

Solvent or Solventless, That is the Question…

There are two types of extraction: solvent-based, using a chemical solvent to separate the trichomes and plant material, and solventless, which does not use a chemical solvent.

Solvent-based extractions are purified to remove any traces of the solvent so the product can pass lab testing (well, allegedly). These tend to be cheaper, whereas solventless products are considered purer and are more expensive.

Concentrate Categories: Resin, Rosin, and Distillate

There are three main types of concentrates: resin, rosin, and distillate. Resin and rosin are full-spectrum extracts that contain other compounds from the cannabis plant, while distillate is an isolate that only contains THC.

Resin: a full-spectrum concentrate extracted from the flower with a solvent, such as CO2 or butane. Resin can be live (made from flash-frozen flower) or cured (made from cured flower). Confusingly, “resin” is also a term for the trichome layer on the flower itself.

Rosin: a full-spectrum concentrate made with heat and pressure, not solvent. Like resin, rosin can be live or cured. Live rosin is widely considered the purest form of cannabis concentrates because it’s made from flash-frozen flower without solvents.

Distillate: isolated THC compounds removed via solvent from the cannabis plant and refined. Usually a golden liquid, often found in vapes. Contains no other cannabinoids, terpenes, or other compounds from the cannabis plant, although botanical terpenes are often added to distillate for flavor. The cheapest option for concentrates.

Cannabis Concentrate Types

Concentrates are further divided into categories based on texture, consistency, and overall appearance. The difference between many of these types is negligible, but serious concentrate lovers have their preferences.

Badder: a thick, whipped concentrate slightly thicker than budder.
Budder: a thick, creamy concentrate with a texture similar to butter.
Crumble: a dry, sometimes powdery form of concentrates, often with a honeycomb texture
Cartridge: one of the newest forms, these concentrates are made into a viscous liquid consistency so they can be easily sipped through a vape.
Keif: a collection of trichomes that have fallen off or been removed from the cannabis plant. Keif can easily be found in the keif catch of most grinders.
Hash: the oldest form of concentrates, hash (or hashish) is made by removing the kief from the plant and pressing it into balls. Traditionally, this was done by hand!
RSO: shorthand for Rick Simpson Oil, it’s a dark, syrup-like concentrate that is usually ingested by mouth or applied topically. It is named after Rick Simpson, who popularized it as a cancer treatment
Sauce: a sticky, nearly liquid consistency
Shatter: usually a brittle texture, but can also be malleable and sappy.
Sugar: also called sugar wax, this concentrate has a wet consistency, like sugar mixed in liquid.
Wax: another term used for budder, batter, and even crumble. Typically used as a modifier for softer concentrates.

Concentrates are named by the extraction method, then by consistency. You may see Live Resin Badder or a Live Rosin cartridge. If all you see is the consistency name (like Sugar Wax), then you can assume it’s a solvent-based product.

How to Consume Concentrates without a Dab Rig

If you’re like me and want nothing to do with a blowtorch, you can still find several ways to enjoy concentrates in your cannabis routine.

Add to a Bowl With Bud

Nothing spices up the potency of a smoke session like packing a little concentrate into your flower. Not only will your bowl burn slower and for longer, each hit will resonate harder and headier. This is perfect for a Friday night smoke sesh when you really want to kick back, or when sharing a bowl with friends.

Roll into Your Joint or Blunt

You can easily make your own infused joints at home. Adding concentrates here ensures your joints burn slower and smoother, and your weed goes farther. This takes a little more skill than just packing a bowl, so you may have to practice it a few times, or check out one of the dozens of tutorials online.

Cook with Concentrates

Any food quickly becomes an edible when you stir in a little concentrate to your meal. I prefer to infuse oil or butter, because these have the fat content necessary for proper cannabinoid absorption—but experiment and see what works for you.

Invest in an Electric Rig

Today, there are options for electronic dag rigs that give you all of the experience of the traditional method, sans blow torch. There are dozens of options that hit a variety of price points and work well. I’ve personally used a Dr. Dabber, PuffCo, and Bomb ERig and had good experiences with them all.

Get a Vape

Ideal for people who need to be discreet. A disposable or reusable vape cartridge puts the power of concentrates at your fingertips, whenever you want it. But please, please, for the love of cannabis—don’t get a distillate vape. Invest in higher-quality extracts. Your lungs and endocannabinoid system will thank you.

Subscribe to Fat Nugs Magazine!

Love this article? Show your support for Fat Nugs with a magazine subscription!

As a fully independent media organization, Fat Nugs relies on the grassroots support of individuals like you to continue to write and share these articles. Every subscription helps us keep bringing you the unbiased, broad-ranging cannabis, hemp, and psychedelics articles like these.