Oils vs. Concentrates vs. Flower: Which Product Should You Be Using?

The cannabis industry has changed drastically over the last few decades, which means you’re no longer confined to just smoking bud from a bong. These days, you can find a wide variety of ingestion methods on the market, from vaping oils to concentrates to the classic flower. If you’re a new user, it’s important to know the differences between the various forms before smoking or vaping for the very first time!

So what’s the difference between oils vs. concentrates vs. flower? Let’s dive in and find out!

Oils

Vaping oils can be extracted from cannabis or hemp plants through various methods, depending on the type of oil being created. Oils extracted from hemp, for instance, tend to be heavier on the CBD, while the oil extracted from cannabis tends to have higher levels of THC. If you’re in the market for oils, you should do your research about which variety you’re purchasing. CBD-heavy oils will have drastically different effects than THC-dominant varieties, which can not only impact your experience but affect the legality of the product you’re consuming.

In the face-off between oils vs. concentrates vs. flower, oils are the odd man out in that they are the only product that’s not technically solid. They’re also more often manufactured in very controlled settings, which means their dosages are precise and easy for consumers to calculate.

What Works Best With Oils?

Oils are one of the most versatile ways to consume cannabis. You can place a few drops under your tongue, or you can drop some into your food or drinks. These are very common and easy methods of consumption, but it may take longer to feel the effects. The fastest way to enjoy oils is by vaping them.

Vaping oils is a convenient and discreet way to enjoy CBD or THC. Oil vapes work by heating the oil or concentrate and turning it into vapor within the atomizer. They come in all shapes and sizes, at all price points. You can find reusable vape pens to add your oils to or disposable ones for on-the-go fun. There are tons of options at your fingertips!

Concentrates

Concentrates are the broader term for any cannabis product extracted from the plant. Oils technically fall under the ‘concentrate’ category, but so do waxes, tinctures, dabs, and hash. There is a huge difference between concentrates vs. flower, with the main one being potency. Flower buds typically fall in the 10-15 percent THC range, while concentrates fall between 50 and 80 percent. That means that you need a much smaller amount of wax, oils, or dabs in order to feel the same effects you would with flower.

Like we mentioned earlier, there are many different types of concentrates out there, so it’s important to know all the terms. The names of the different concentrates, like shatter, wax, hash, and oil, tend to refer to the texture that they have. Each option is very similar, but they work differently depending on the delivery method.

Best Methods for Concentrates

There are tons of ways you can enjoy cannabis concentrates. You can dab with resin or shatter, or use vape pens with concentrate cartridges. You can also ingest cannabis directly by placing drops of tinctures under your tongue or in your food.

Vaping oils and concentrates is one of the easiest and quickest ways to experience cannabis. All you need to do is decide if you want to use rechargeable battery vapes or disposable ones!

Flower

The most classic of the three options, cannabis flower is what started it all. These are simply dried cannabis buds, picked directly off of the plant. Science has advanced immensely over the last few decades, and the kinds of cannabis flowers that are grown are carefully cultivated to produce desired outcomes. They are much stronger now than what your parents were smoking in the 60s, but they are still less potent than the concentrates on the market.

As we mentioned earlier, the main difference between concentrates vs. flower is their potency levels, but also their methods of consumption.

Best Ways to Consume Flower

You may be surprised to learn that you can actually vape with flower! The experience will differ from vaping oils, but the option is still available. The most common way to vape flower is by using a tabletop vape. There are also portable versions on the market, allowing you to pack the buds directly into the chamber and vape away even when you’re on the go!

The most common way to consume flower, however, is by smoking it. This is the main difference between concentrates vs. flower — you can dab or vape concentrates, but you can’t technically smoke them. Flower works best with bongs, pipes, or joints. Compared to vaping, this is a much less discreet option, but it’s the most common and classic way to use cannabis.

Find the Best Method for You

Talk to any veteran cannabis user, and you will surely spark a debate about which method is the best — oils vs. concentrates vs. flower. The only way you can find out for yourself is by trying out the different forms and methods. Thankfully, StayLit Design offers cool, customized vapes, bongs, and more to help you consume your favorite products in style. Explore our selection today!