Cannabis concentrates are potent cannabis plant extracts that have higher THC levels, richer terpene flavor, and faster effects than flower.
They’re available in multiple forms like live resin, rosin, wax, sugar, and diamonds.
Each offers a different balance of strength, flavor, texture, and effects.
Here’s everything you need to know about using and shopping for cannabis concentrates to get you started:
Using & Shopping for Cannabis Concentrates
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Cannabis concentrates are highly potent extracts, often containing 60–90% THC, compared to 15–25% in flower.
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One dab can feel similar to smoking a full joint.
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Different types deliver different experiences:
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Live resin / live rosin → best for flavor and balanced effects
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Wax / badder → easy to use and beginner-friendly
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Sugar → balanced strength and terpene flavor
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Diamonds / sauce → maximum potency for experienced users
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Terpenes influence flavor, aroma, and how the high feels.
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Extraction method impacts quality:
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Solventless (rosin) = clean, full-spectrum
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Solvent-based (resin, wax) = strong, flavorful, efficient
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Concentrates hit faster when dabbed or vaporized compared to smoking flower.
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Choose your concentrate based on effects, flavor, and tolerance.
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Use the right device:
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Dab rigs or e-rigs for most concentrates
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Dab pens for softer textures and convenience
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Always buy lab-tested concentrates from licensed dispensaries to ensure safety, potency, and purity.
What Makes Concentrates Different from Flower
Cannabis concentrates are highly refined extracts that isolate and intensify the most active compounds in the cannabis plant.
They’re different from flower.
Flower contains cannabinoids and terpenes in their natural form, concentrates are produced through extraction methods that compress potency and flavor into a much smaller amount.
Why concentrates are different:
1) Higher Cannabinoid and Terpene Concentration
One of the biggest differences between cannabis flower and concentrates is concentration.
Flower typically contains 15–25% THC, while concentrates often range from 60–90% THC.
Many concentrates like live resin and live rosin retain their terpene content, resulting in stronger aroma, flavor, and more pronounced effects.
2) Stronger Effects with Smaller Amounts
Because concentrates are more potent, users can get the desired effects with far less material than flower.
A small dab can bring you effects comparable to smoking an entire joint.
Concentrates are more efficient for experienced consumers who prefer stronger, longer-lasting effects without needing to consume large amounts.
3) Faster Onset
You can consume concentrates through dabbing, dab pens, or vape cartridges. These methods lead to a faster onset of effects compared to smoking flower.
Vaping cannabinoid as opposed to smoking them allows these compounds to enter your bloodstream faster.
4) Greater Focus on Extraction Quality and Starting Material
Unlike flower, where strain alone plays a major role, concentrates place heavy emphasis on extraction method and source material.
The quality of the starting cannabis and whether the concentrate is solvent-based (live resin, wax) or solventless (live rosin) impacts purity, flavor, and the experience.
High-quality concentrates are lab-tested and carefully processed to preserve cannabinoids and terpenes while removing impurities.
Together, these make concentrates a different category from flower. They prioritize potency, efficiency, and flavor.
Types of Concentrates
Think of concentrates the way you’d think about coffee: espresso, cold brew, pour-over. They all come from the same plant, but how they made changes the experience.
Here’s a breakdown of the most common types of cannabis concentrates:
Live Resin
Live resin is made from fresh-frozen cannabis plants, locked in at harvest before drying or curing.
This process preserves a wide spectrum of terpenes and cannabinoids, resulting in a concentrate that smells and tastes very close to the living plant.
Because the terpene profile stays intact, live resin often give you balanced, well-rounded effects. Many consumers describe it as feeling more “complete” or strain-true compared to other extracts.
Check out our live resin options.
Live Rosin
Live rosin takes a different approach.
Instead of solvents, it’s made using only heat and pressure, squeezing resin from fresh-frozen material.
The result is a clean, full-spectrum concentrate that highlights both cannabinoids and terpenes in their natural ratios.
Because of its purity, live rosin is often compared to organic or cold-pressed foods.
Check out our live rosin options.
Badder / Batter
Badder (or batter) gets its name from its soft, whipped texture, similar to cake batter or frosting.
This consistency makes it easy to scoop.
While texture is the standout feature, badder still delivers potent effects and rich terpene flavor, making it a popular concentrate for dabbing.
Check out our Badder concentrates.
Wax
Wax is one of the most widely recognized cannabis concentrates.
Its texture can range from crumbly to slightly sticky.
Many people start here because wax is potent and widely available.
Check out our Wax.
Sugar
The middle ground between flavor and strength.
Sugar concentrates are tiny THC crystals suspended in a terpene-rich sauce. This structure allows sugar to maintain a high terpene content and solid potency, giving you a balance between flavor and effect.
Think of sugar as the “sweet spot” concentrate: expressive without being overwhelming, flavorful without sacrificing strength.
Check out our Sugar concentrates.
Diamonds (THC Crystals)
Cannabis diamonds are one of the most potent forms of concentrate available.
They’re made by allowing THC to crystallize into solid “diamonds,” which are then paired with a terpene-rich sauce to balance out the intensity.
On their own, diamonds are nearly pure THC.
Check out our Diamond options.
How to Choose
With so many concentrate options available, the best choice comes down to how you want the experience to feel. Potency, flavor, texture, and consumption method all play a role in how concentrates hit.
Below is a practical way to narrow it down.
1. Choose Based on Desired Effects
Start by thinking about what you want from the experience.
Balanced, full-spectrum effects
Look for live resin or live rosin, which preserve a wide range of cannabinoids and terpenes. These tend to feel smoother and more strain-accurate.
Maximum potency and intensity
Diamonds or sauce & diamonds deliver the highest THC concentration and hit fast. Best for high-tolerance or experienced users.
Consistent, reliable effects
Wax, badder, or sugar provide strong results without being overwhelming, making them a solid middle ground.
2. Decide How Important Flavor Is to You
Flavor comes from terpenes, and not all concentrates preserve them equally.
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Top-tier flavor and aroma: Live resin, live rosin, sugar, and sauce
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Clean but lighter flavor: Solventless rosin
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Potency over flavor: Diamonds or high-THC waxes
3. Match the Concentrate to Your Experience Level
Your tolerance and comfort matter more than THC percentage.
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New to concentrates: Start with badder, wax, or sugar. They’re easier to dose and more forgiving.
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Intermediate users: Live resin or rosin offers stronger effects without sacrificing control.
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Advanced users: Diamonds and high-potency sauces are best when you already know your limits.
4. Consider How You Plan to Consume It
Different concentrates pair better with different devices.
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Dab rigs or e-rigs: All concentrates, especially wax, badder, live resin, rosin, and diamonds
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Dab pens: Sugar, live resin, or softer textures
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On-the-go convenience: Oil cartridges (less intense, more discreet)
If you prefer simplicity, softer textures are easier to work with than crystals or sticky sauces.
5. Think About Clean Extraction & Quality
Not all concentrates are created equal.
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Solventless: Live rosin (heat + pressure only)
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Solvent-based: Live resin, wax, sugar, sauce
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Always choose lab-tested products from licensed dispensaries to ensure purity, potency, and safety.
High-quality starting material and careful extraction make a noticeable difference in how the concentrate feels.
Buying From Licensed Dispensaries
Purchasing from a licensed dispensary like Smacked Village ensures you’re getting products that are safe, consistent, and accurately labeled.
All our concentrate options are lab-tested for potency, purity, and contaminants. That means the THC percentages are accurate, the terpene profiles are verified, and you know exactly what you’re consuming every time.
Another advantage is personalized guidance. Our budtenders can help you compare concentrate types and explain differences in texture and effects.
They’ll recommend options based on your tolerance, preferences, and how you plan to consume them.
Convenience also matters. We’re open 7 days a week, with late-night hours until midnight Thursday through Saturday, so you can shop on your schedule.
You can browse our full concentrate menu online, compare options, and place an order for pickup or delivery anywhere in Manhattan.