Full spectrum vs Live resin
They are not opposites, which is why the comparison confuses people. Live resin describes the starting material; full spectrum describes how much of the extract was kept.
They are not opposites, which is why the comparison confuses people. Live resin describes the starting material; full spectrum describes how much of the extract was kept.
The short version
| Full spectrum | Live resin | |
|---|---|---|
| Made from | usually fresh-frozen | fresh-frozen flower |
| Solvent | varies | hydrocarbon (butane or propane), purged afterwards |
| Tastes | the complete profile of the plant it came from | bright and close to the living plant |
| Costs | mid to high | mid |
| You need | varies by format | nothing special; it comes in carts, disposables, pods and jars |
How each one is made
Full spectrum is kept whole rather than separated — nothing is isolated out. The solvent is varies.
Live resin is extracted with a hydrocarbon solvent from flower frozen at harvest, before it is ever dried. The solvent is hydrocarbon (butane or propane), purged afterwards.
What that does to the flavour
Full spectrum: the complete profile of the plant it came from.
Live resin: bright and close to the living plant — the terpenes that fade during drying are still there.
Strength
Full spectrum — the THC number often reads lower than an isolate, and the effect is usually described as heavier rather than weaker.
Live resin — high, and the effect tends to be described as fuller than distillate because more of the plant survives.
What each costs, on this site
Live resin runs 33% cheaper here — a median of $25.33 against $38.00.
We stock 220 full spectrum products from $38.00 to $130.00, and 2138 live resin from $6.50 to $130.00.
| In stock | Typical | Range | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full spectrum | 220 | $38.00 | $38.00 – $130.00 |
| Live resin | 2138 | $25.33 | $6.50 – $130.00 |
Which should you buy
Choose full spectrum if you want the complete profile of the plant it came from without paying solventless prices. The label is used loosely across the industry — the extraction method tells you more than the words do.
Choose live resin if you want high. It scorches at voltages distillate shrugs off, so keep the battery low.
What we stock
Jungle Boys Full Spectrum Concentrates165 flavours · from $38.00
Jungle Boys Blu Full Concentrates12 flavours · from $38.00
Jungle Boys Apricot Full Concentrates10 flavours · from $38.00
West Coast Cure Live Resin Concentrates 1g211 flavours · from $10.44
Rove Premier Live Resin Cartridges176 flavours · from $21.76
Almora Cartridges139 flavours · from $17.28