Patient education resource
Understanding Vape Cartridges
Distillate, live resin, live rosin, terpenes, and what actually matters for patients.
Common Vape Oils
Distillate
Highly refined THC oil, rebuilt with added terpenes
Cured/Live Resin
Solvent based extraction for a more complete plant profile
Live Rosin
Solventless extraction - Ice water hash pressed into oil
Distillate
Distillate is what is in the “standard” vape cart, and what you are typically buying unless you specifically choose otherwise. It is a highly refined, highly processed cannabis oil.
The starting material is heavily processed under high heat and refinement techniques designed to isolate THC for purity and consistency. In this process, most of the plant’s original compounds are removed, including natural terpenes and many minor cannabinoids. What remains is essentially a neutral, highly concentrated THC oil.
Because those original terpenes are lost during processing, they are added back in after extraction to restore flavor and influence the overall experience. This is where you will see labels like BDT, CDT, or sauce/sauz on products.
This is also why two vape carts that look nearly identical on the shelf can feel completely different, effects-wise. The added terpenes and their source, plays a major role in how the final product tastes, smells, and feels.
BDT (Botanically Derived Terpenes)
Terpenes from nature, but not cannabis
These are terpenes that are extracted from non-cannabis plants (lemons, hops, oranges, etc) and added into distillate after processing. They are used primarily because they are very inexpensive and also provide some flavor consistency.
Because they are not sourced from cannabis, BDT profiles are often designed for flavor rather than strain authenticity. This can result in sweeter, more artificial or candy-like profiles that don’t always reflect the strain name on the package.
Patients may find BDT carts to be effective for THC delivery, but the overall experience may feel more simple or short-lived compared to cannabis-derived terpene options.
CDT (Cannabis-Derived Terpenes)
Terpenes from cannabis
CDT refers to terpenes that are extracted directly from cannabis plants. These terpenes are then added back into distillate to recreate a strain-specific profile.
Because they come from cannabis, CDT products tend to better reflect the natural aroma and character of the strain listed on the packaging. Many patients report that CDT carts feel more familiar and closer to the experience of flower.
CDT is often preferred by patients who want a more authentic cannabis profile while still using a distillate-based vape product.
Sauce/Sauz/HTE/HTFSE
Terpenes from live cannabis
HTE, often labeled as “sauce” or “sauz,” refers to a distillate-based vape that has been enhanced with a higher concentration of cannabis-derived terpenes and minor compounds.
These products are designed to restore more of the plant’s natural complexity compared to standard distillate, resulting in stronger aroma, richer flavor, and a more layered experience.
While still built on a refined distillate base, HTE-style carts are generally considered a step closer to full-spectrum effects compared to standard BDT or CDT blends.
