How to Use Cannabis Concentrates: The Complete Beginner’s Guide

Cannabis concentrates are the fastest-growing segment of the legal cannabis market, and for good reason. They deliver stronger effects, better flavor, and a cleaner experience than traditional flower — but the learning curve can feel steep if you’re just getting started.

This guide breaks down everything you need to know: what concentrates actually are, the different types you’ll find at dispensaries, how to consume them, what temperatures to use, and how to store them properly. By the end, you’ll know exactly what you’re looking at on the menu and how to get the most out of every gram.

What Are Cannabis Concentrates?

Concentrates are exactly what the name suggests — concentrated cannabis. Various extraction methods strip away plant material and isolate the cannabinoids (THC, CBD) and terpenes (the compounds responsible for flavor and aroma) into a more potent form.

Where flower typically contains 15-30% THC, concentrates range from 60-95% THC depending on the type. This means you need far less material per session, and the flavor profile is often dramatically cleaner and more pronounced.

The extraction method used determines the final consistency, texture, and name of the concentrate. That’s why dispensary menus list so many different types — they’re all concentrates, just made differently.

Types of Concentrates: What You’ll See at the Dispensary

Rosin (Solventless)

What it is: Rosin is made using only heat and pressure — no chemical solvents involved. Cannabis flower or hash is pressed between heated plates, and the resin squeezes out as a golden, sap-like substance.

Why people love it: Rosin is considered the cleanest concentrate because nothing is added during extraction. What you see is pure cannabis resin. The flavor is outstanding — full terpene profiles preserved exactly as the plant intended.

Consistency: Ranges from sappy and pull-and-snap to a softer, badder-like texture depending on the starting material and pressing technique.

Best temperature range: 350°F–450°F. Rosin is best enjoyed at lower temperatures to preserve those delicate terpenes. Start low (around 380°F) and work up to find your sweet spot.

Live Resin

What it is: Made from fresh-frozen cannabis — the plant is frozen immediately after harvest instead of being dried and cured first. This preserves terpenes that would otherwise evaporate during the drying process.

Why people love it: Live resin captures the plant’s full terpene profile at peak freshness. The flavor is as close to smelling the living plant as you’ll get in a concentrate.

Consistency: Usually a wet, saucy texture with small crystals throughout. Sometimes separated into “sauce” (terpene-rich liquid) and “diamonds” (THC-A crystals).

Best temperature range: 380°F–480°F. The terpene-rich sauce does well at lower temps, while the crystalline portions can handle slightly more heat.

Wax / Budder / Badder

What it is: These are all BHO (butane hash oil) concentrates that have been whipped or agitated during the purging process, creating an opaque, butter-like consistency.

Why people love it: Easy to handle, easy to load, and widely available. Wax is often the most affordable concentrate option while still delivering excellent potency and decent flavor.

Consistency: Wax is crumbly and dry. Budder is smoother and creamier. Badder is the softest and most malleable. These are all essentially the same product at different moisture levels.

Best temperature range: 400°F–500°F. Wax and budder are more forgiving with temperature than rosin or live resin.

Shatter

What it is: A translucent, glass-like concentrate that “shatters” when broken. Made through BHO extraction without the whipping step, so it sets into a hard, stable sheet.

Why people love it: Shatter is stable and easy to store. It doesn’t stick to everything the way softer concentrates do, making it straightforward to portion and load.

Consistency: Hard and brittle at room temperature. Pull-and-snap at slightly warmer temps.

Best temperature range: 420°F–520°F. Shatter can handle higher temps without burning because of its stable molecular structure.

Diamonds & Sauce

What it is: THC-A crystals (diamonds) suspended in a terpene-rich liquid (sauce). Often the highest-potency concentrate available — diamonds can test at 95%+ THC-A.

Why people love it: Maximum potency combined with full terpene flavor from the sauce. A small diamond goes a very long way.

Best temperature range: 400°F–500°F. Load a diamond with a dab of sauce for the full experience.

Hash / Bubble Hash

What it is: The original concentrate. Trichome heads separated from plant material using ice water and fine mesh screens. No solvents, no heat — just cold water agitation.

Why people love it: Traditional, solventless, and when done well (full-melt bubble hash), it vaporizes completely with exceptional flavor.

Best temperature range: 350°F–420°F. Hash is delicate — keep temps low for the best results.

How to Consume Concentrates: Your Options

There are several ways to vaporize concentrates, each with trade-offs in portability, flavor, and ease of use. Here’s how they compare:

eRig (Electronic Dab Rig)

An eRig is a self-contained electronic device that heats a crucible to a precise temperature, letting you take dabs without a torch. You load your concentrate, press a button, and inhale. The best eRigs offer precise temperature control and rebuildable components so you’re not throwing the whole device away when the heater wears out.

The Core 2.0 eRig is a fully rebuildable portable eRig with temperature control — and the Core XL Deluxe takes it further with a larger heater cup and bigger battery for extended sessions.

Best for: Daily users who want consistent temperature control, great flavor, and the convenience of no torch. Especially excellent for rosin and live resin where precise low temps matter.

Mod + Atomizer Setup

A box mod (battery) paired with a concentrate atomizer. This gives you the most control over your experience — you set the exact wattage, temperature, and can rebuild the heater yourself.

The V5 rebuildable heater paired with a Pico Plus mod is the go-to setup. Add a bottomless banger and a water piece for the ultimate home setup.

Best for: People who want full control and don’t mind a small learning curve. The most cost-effective long-term option since individual components are replaceable.

Dab Pen

The simplest option — a battery with a built-in or attachable concentrate chamber. Load, click, inhale. Most dab pens use coils that contact your concentrate directly.

Best for: Beginners and people who prioritize portability above everything else. Great for on-the-go use when maximum flavor isn’t the primary concern.

Traditional Dab Rig + Torch

A glass water pipe with a quartz or titanium banger, heated with a butane torch. The original method. You heat the banger, let it cool to your target temp, drop in the concentrate, and cap it.

Best for: People who enjoy the ritual and don’t need portability. Can deliver excellent flavor when you nail the timing, but the learning curve is real — too hot and you burn terpenes, too cool and you waste material.

Ball Vape / Desktop Vaporizer

Desktop devices like the Ruby Twist ball vaporizer use heated ruby corundum balls to vaporize material through convection. While primarily designed for dry herb, ball vapes can handle concentrates when loaded onto hemp fiber or a concentrate pad.

Best for: Home users who want the most powerful extraction possible. Ball vapes are unmatched for dry herb and work well for concentrates in a home setting.

Temperature Guide: Getting the Most from Each Concentrate

Temperature is the single biggest factor in your concentrate experience. Too low and you won’t vaporize efficiently. Too high and you destroy terpenes, producing harsh, flavorless vapor. Here’s the breakdown:

General rule: start at the low end and work up. You can always add more heat — you can’t un-burn terpenes. If you’re using an eRig or mod with temperature control, you have the advantage of consistency. Set your temp once, and every session is the same.

This is where understanding Ohm’s law and TCR settings pays off. Temperature control modes on your mod give you precision that wattage mode alone can’t match.

How to Load Concentrates Properly

Loading technique matters more than most people realize. Overloading wastes material, creates unnecessary mess, and makes cleanup harder. Here’s the approach that works:

The Right Amount

Start with a piece roughly the size of a grain of rice — about 0.02-0.05 grams. This is enough for a full, satisfying hit from any eRig or atomizer. You can always take another dab; you can’t un-load one that’s too big.

Loading Technique

1. Use a proper dab tool — not a paperclip, not a toothpick. The right tool makes clean loading easy.
2. Place the concentrate directly in the center of the crucible or on the coil. Don’t smear it up the walls.
3. If using a SiC insert, drop the concentrate onto the polished surface. The non-stick finish means virtually nothing gets wasted.
4. Cap your device before firing. A carb cap creates the restricted airflow that vaporizes concentrates at lower temperatures.

Storing Your Concentrates: Why It Matters

Concentrates degrade when exposed to light, heat, air, and moisture. The terpenes that give your concentrate its flavor and effect profile evaporate at room temperature — slowly, but steadily. Here’s how to keep your stash fresh:

Short-Term Storage (Daily Use)

5ml UV glass jars are the gold standard for daily-use concentrate storage. UV glass blocks visible light while allowing beneficial UV frequencies through, actually helping to preserve terpene profiles longer than clear glass or silicone containers.

Store at room temperature in a dark location. If you’re not using it daily, refrigerate — but always let the jar come back to room temperature before opening to prevent condensation on the concentrate.

Long-Term Storage (Weeks to Months)

For larger quantities or long-term storage, larger UV glass containers like 100ml UV jars or 1000ml UV jars work perfectly. The key principles:

• Airtight seal: Every time the jar opens, terpenes escape and moisture can enter.
• UV protection: Light is the #1 enemy of terpene preservation. UV glass handles this passively.
• Cool temperature: Room temp is fine for weeks. For months, a fridge or cool dark closet is better.
• No silicone: Silicone containers leach terpenes over time. The concentrate may look fine but the flavor degrades. Always use glass.

If you’re running a dispensary or storing bulk product, childproof UV jars give you both preservation and compliance in one package.

Maintenance: Keep Your Device Clean

However you choose to consume concentrates, keeping your device clean is the single most important factor in long-term performance and flavor. Residue builds up with every session, and left unchecked, it degrades your heater, chokes airflow, and makes everything taste like burnt reclaim.

The good news: cleaning takes almost no effort if you stay on top of it. A dry Q-tip while the crucible is still warm after each session is all it takes for daily maintenance. For deeper cleaning, burn-off cycles and occasional alcohol wipes keep everything performing like new.

We wrote a complete guide on this: How to Clean & Maintain Your Vaporizer. With the right maintenance, a single heater can last a full year of daily use.

Getting Started: What to Buy First

If you’re new to concentrates and want a clear starting point, here’s what we recommend based on your situation:

Just Want Something Simple

An eRig is the easiest entry point. The Core 2.0 is ready to use out of the box — charge it, load it, press the button. Temperature control is built in, and the heater is rebuildable so you’re never buying a whole new device when a component wears out.

Want Full Control

A V5 kit with Pico Plus gives you precise wattage and temperature control with a rebuildable atomizer. There’s a small learning curve with setting up your mod, but you’ll understand exactly how your device works and can fine-tune every aspect of your sessions. Our guide on Ohm’s law and temperature control covers everything you need to know.

Home Use with Dry Herb Too

The Ruby Twist ball vaporizer handles both dry herb and concentrates. It’s a desktop unit, so not portable, but the convection heating through ruby corundum balls delivers extraction that no portable can match.

Essential Accessories

• Dab tool set — proper tools make clean loading easy
• 5ml UV glass jars — the right storage from day one
• SiC insert — the best upgrade for flavor and easy cleanup
• Cotton Q-tips — your most important maintenance tool, and you already have them

Understanding Your Device: It’s Simpler Than You Think

The technology behind concentrate vaporizers isn’t complicated once someone explains it plainly. A coil heats a cup. The cup holds your concentrate. Temperature determines what vaporizes and what doesn’t. That’s the core of it.

If you want to go deeper — and we think you should, because understanding your device makes you a better user — we’ve put together guides on the science behind it all:

• Ohm’s Law, Watts & TCR — understand what your mod is actually doing
• Wire Science & Rebuilding — know your heating element inside and out
• Cleaning & Maintenance — make your heater last a full year

We believe in making people smarter about their devices. The more you understand, the better your experience — and the less money you waste on replacements you didn’t actually need.