Cannabis Wax vs. Shatter: What’s The Difference?
Cannabis concentrates are identified by their textures and overall appearance. They can be sticky, wax-like, liquid, or granular. Some production methods retain the full array of cannabinoids and terpenes harvested from the plant’s trichomes; others deliver a highly potent, purified form of THC on its own. Of the many concentrates sold in our West Phoenix dispensary, our customers are understandably curious about the differences between shatter and wax.
If you’re contemplating the virtues of these potent concentrates for the first time, budtenders at The Superior Dispensary will likely suggest starting with a wax. But ultimately, the choice is yours. In this product guide, we’ll explain how waxes and shatter are made and explore the key differences between them – the details you need to know before choosing one over the other. That’s how we roll.
What is Shatter?
Shatter has a brittle texture and unique candy-like appearance. The concentrate is made by liberating the cannabinoids and terpenes from cured cannabis with butane (sometimes propane). The crude butane hash oil (BHT) is poured into trays and vacuum purged for 36-72 hours to remove excess moisture, plant lipids, and residual solvents. The concentrate rests undisturbed until it hardens into a thin, translucent, glass-like sheet. Some operators flip the slab several times to ensure an efficient, effective purge.
What is Wax?
Cannabis wax is soft, malleable, and opaque. Instead of allowing the solvent-extracted cannabis concentrate to rest undisturbed after purging, it’s agitated or whipped. Concentrates agitated at lower temperatures have a drier, more crumbly texture. Higher temperatures and vigorous whipping produce a smoother texture and softer form. After achieving the desired consistency, wax is left to cure at temperatures between 60-70°F for several weeks to optimize its fragrance, flavor, and potency.
Shatter vs. Wax
Most shatter and a significant number of waxes are made from butane-extracted oil because it’s a non-polar solvent. The hydrocarbon efficiently and effectively liberates the cannabinoids and terpenes while leaving unwanted components like chlorophyll behind. Although the extraction method had been somewhat controversial in the past, today’s closed-loop systems and BHO purge ovens (and third-party testing) reduce the risk of potentially harmful off-gassing and ingesting residual solvents.
Waxes and shatter are considerably more potent than pre-rolls and flower. Most clock in between 70-90% THC, and state law allows adults 21+ to purchase and possess up to 5 grams of concentrate for recreational use. But the differences in their textures can have a lot more impact on your overall experience than you might expect. Your Superior Dispensary budtender may suggest taking note of the following differences before finalizing your decision.
Consumption Methods
Cannabis wax can be used to optimize the potency of your flower. You also have the option of using wax to make THC-infused edibles, vaporizing your wax using a dab rig and torch (or battery-operated dab pen), and sublingual absorption. Most cannabis consumers use shatter exclusively for dabbing.
Flavor Profiles of Cannabis Concentrates
Shatter is known for delivering a crisp, clean taste when vaporized. Wax tends to be more aromatic and flavorful. Many first-time concentrate users also find wax easier to work with than shatter because the concentrate can be surprisingly difficult to break into uniformly sized pieces.
Cannabis Product Shelf Life
All cannabis products have an anticipated shelf life. Assuming proper handling and storage, most wax remains stable for up to 12 months, then loses potency as it ages. Shatter molecules, on the other hand, are tightly bonded, which makes the concentrate more resistant to flavor loss and degradation.
Buy Cannabis Concentrates at The Superior Dispensary
Shatter is transparent and has a glass or candy-like appearance. Wax is opaque and can look smooth and creamy, crumbled, honeycombed, or sugared. When you’re ready to see the differences between shatter and wax in person, visit The Superior Dispensary. You’ll find us in West Phoenix near Toleson & Levine.
At The Superior Dispensary, our buyers have access to some of the best lab-tested medical and recreational shatter and wax available. Plus, our budtenders are well-versed in the finer points of concentrate consumption and are always on hand to help you navigate the very best of what Mother Nature has to offer. We’re open 8 AM to 10 PM Monday-Sunday. If you have questions about shatter or wax we haven’t covered, contact us today!
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