Industry Insights: Tap Into Concentrate Curiosity for 710 Sales in 2026

Drive 710 Sales with Flavor-Forward, Accessible Concentrates That Attract New and Returning Consumers.

710 has evolved from an insider cannabis holiday into a meaningful retail moment for concentrates. Beyond celebrating extraction craftsmanship, it’s now a key opportunity for brands and dispensaries to drive product trial, increase basket size, and engage new consumers.

Retail data supports this shift. Headset recorded “an overall sales lift of 10.7% across U.S. markets and 7.3% in Canada when comparing the 2023 Monday holiday to a typical Monday.”¹ More recent reporting suggests average daily sales can increase by over 40% on 7/10 compared to typical sales days.²

Similar to other cannabis holidays, brands are using the occasion to launch limited releases, promote premium formats, and introduce consumers to concentrates through more approachable products.

At the same time, consumer preferences are shifting. Flavor-forward products, accessible formats, and customizable experiences are expanding the category beyond traditional dab consumers.

So, what products are resonating with today’s consumers? Are shoppers prioritizing potency, flavor, or format? How should brands position their portfolios to meet evolving expectations around 710? Discover what’s driving concentrate curiosity, what’s trending, and how to optimize your portfolio for your most successful Dab Day yet.

 

Consumer Cannabis Behaviors to Watch for on 710

Even non-cannabis users are often aware of the 420 holiday. However, despite growing awareness among existing consumers, 710 remains a more niche occasion.

At the same time, concentrate usage is increasing. According to Mintel, between 2023 and 2024, usage rose from 30–35% among cannabis consumers, signaling continued expansion of the category.³

One challenge, and opportunity, for brands is that many consumers are still unfamiliar with concentrates in their traditional forms. Importantly, they may already be using them indirectly through products like vape cartridges, infused pre-rolls, or edibles. 

This creates an important dynamic for 710: curiosity is growing, but confidence is still developing. Consumers are interested in exploring concentrates, but may need guidance to understand which products align with their preferences and comfort level.

While concentrates have historically been associated with potency and efficiency, purchasing behavior is becoming more nuanced. Mintel data shows that potency remains a key driver for some consumers, with 36% of shoppers ages 22–34 reporting they purchase more potent products to reduce cost per use.⁴

For brands, this means balancing two distinct audiences:

• Consumers seeking high-potency, high-intensity experiences
• Consumers who are curious but looking for approachable entry points

Meeting these needs requires more than simply offering a range of products, it requires clear positioning around format, experience, and use case.

   

What’s Driving Concentrate Growth Heading into 710

While potency and novelty have historically influenced concentrate purchasing, recent data suggests that consumer motivations are expanding as the category matures

Flavor Is a Key Driver of Product Trial

Flavor continues to play a major role in cannabis purchasing decisions. In Mintel research, 47% of recreational cannabis consumers cited “appealing flavor” as a primary motivator for trying new products.

This aligns with broader industry reporting from BDSA, which highlights continued demand for differentiated flavor profiles across cannabis categories, particularly as consumers explore new products and formats.⁵

Growth Is Being Driven by Customization and Control

Mintel reports that increased usage of formats like concentrates is being driven in part by consumer interest in customization, discretion, and more controlled consumption behaviors.

This reflects a broader shift toward personalized consumption, where consumers select products based on how and when they plan to use them, rather than defaulting to a single format or potency level.

Familiar Formats Are Lowering Barriers to Entry

For many consumers, concentrates are not introduced through traditional dabbing, but through more familiar formats like vape cartridges, infused pre-rolls, and edibles.

Retail data underscores the importance of these formats. According to MJBizDaily, infused pre-rolls accounted for an average 43.4% share of the pre-roll segment in markets tracked by Headset.⁶

BDSA reporting also points to continued growth in convenient, portable formats, which help expand the category to a broader range of consumers.

Premiumization Continues to Shape the Category

Concentrates remain a high-value segment, with market data showing continued consumer interest in premium and differentiated products.

This is consistent with BDSA analysis of the cannabis market, which highlights ongoing growth in premium segments and increased consumer willingness to explore higher-quality or differentiated products.

Retail moments like 710 can amplify this behavior, as consumers are more likely to experiment with new formats or trade up to higher-quality products during promotional periods. For brands, this reinforces the importance of clearly communicating quality signals, whether through product type, formulation, or overall experience.

   

Trending Cannabis Strains and Flavors for 710

While price and recommendations still influence purchasing decisions, flavor plays a major role in trial. Between longtime users and shoppers who’ve only recently begun purchasing cannabis products, demand exists for a wide variety of flavors and aromas. 

This includes everything from exotic gas categories to fruity and floral flavors that might not taste like cannabis at all. Trending cultivars and widely recognized strain names can help drive consumer interest. That might look like Leafly’s Strain of the Year, unique cannabis genetics, or iconic strains like Blue Dream, GMO, or King Louie XIII.

Broader industry data is also showing increased demand for fruit-forward, dessert-inspired, and ‘exotic’ flavor profiles across cannabis categories. Think Unicorn Poop, Lemon Cherry Gelato, or London Pound Cake.

Brands can also infuse products with flavors and aromas outside of cannabis. This is particularly important since younger consumers (52% of Gen Z and 49% of Millennials) enjoy experimenting with new tastes and are often attracted to new flavors and limited-time offerings.

One option is leaning into familiar favorites or giving nostalgic flavors unexpected twists in new formats. Orange Cream Soda is an excellent example of this. It already toes the line between beverage and dessert, but now consumers can enjoy that zesty orange and sweet cream in a variety of concentrates. Trending flavors like Dubai Chocolate, Passionfruit Pleaser, or Sakura Blossom can provide mass appeal and create the novelty some consumers want for the 710 holiday.

   

Cannabis Concentrate Product Types for 710

The range of concentrate formats gives brands multiple ways to align products with different consumer needs, from approachable, everyday options to high-intensity, boutique experiences. For this holiday, success often comes down to how well each format is positioned and merchandised, not just which formats are offered.

Core Concentrates: Live Resin, Shatter, Rosin, Crumble, and MORE

Traditional concentrate formats remain central to 710, particularly for consumers who are already familiar with dabbing or high-potency products.

Live resin and rosin are often associated with aroma-forward experiences, while formats like shatter and crumble offer versatility across consumption methods. These products are typically positioned toward consumers seeking intensity, flavor, or a more hands-on experience with concentrates.

For brands, these formats present an opportunity to highlight product quality, extraction method, and overall experience, especially for shoppers looking to explore beyond entry-level options.

High-Intensity Formats: Diamonds and Sauce

Formats like diamonds and sauce are often associated with higher-potency and more specialized experiences. Their distinct appearance and composition can also make them visually compelling at retail, particularly during promotional events like 710.

These products tend to appeal to more experienced consumers who are already comfortable with concentrates and are seeking differentiation in both potency and experience.

Accessible Formats: Vapes, Extracts, and Oils

For many consumers, concentrates are most commonly experienced through formats like vape cartridges, extracts, and oils. These products offer convenience, portability, and ease of use, making them a practical option for both new and experienced consumers.

Because of their familiarity, these formats can also serve as a bridge between traditional cannabis products and more advanced concentrates. This makes them especially valuable for brands looking to attract new consumers to concentrates without requiring a significant change in behavior.

In addition, formats like distillate can serve as a neutral base for customized flavor and aroma profiles, allowing brands to create differentiated products that align with current flavor trends.

H3: Infused Pre-Rolls and Edibles

Infused products continue to play an important role in expanding access to concentrates. They may not be perceived as traditional concentrates, but they can incorporate many of the same inputs and appealing features in more familiar formats.

These products combine ease of use with enhanced potency and flavor, making them an effective option for both new consumers and those looking for a more convenient experience.

For 710, infused formats can help brands reach a broader audience by offering multiple entry points into the category, from low-friction trial to more advanced exploration.

   

Abstrax Tech | Optimize Your Product Portfolio for 710

From the authenticity of our Signature Series, our breakthrough discoveries in Cheesy Cannabis, or our Science of Exotic Cannabis research, we continue to advance cannabis aroma science and we’ll help you apply our research to your products.

Have a signature flavor? Want custom experiences? Cultivar-specific aromas? With our expert formulation assistance, a database of over 1,000 strain profiles, and our high-intensity Cloudburst Technology, we’ll help you create endless flavor variations to deliver differentiated, high-impact flavor experiences.

Schedule a free consultation with our formulation experts and optimize your product portfolio in time for 710.

1. Headset. (2023, July 12). Dab of data: Recapping “Dab Day” 2023. https://www.headset.io/blog/dab-of-data-recapping-dab-day-2023 

2. Cash, M. (2025, July 10). 7/10 Dab Day is big business: Concentrates now power 30% of all weed sales. StupidDOPE. https://stupiddope.com/2025/07/7-10-dab-day-is-big-business-concentrates-now-power-30-of-all-weed-sales/ 

3. O’Donnell, F. (2024). Recreational cannabis consumer – US – 2024 [Market report]. Mintel. https://www.mintel.com/ 

4. DiGirolamo, V. (2024). Cannabis retail: Positioning and marketing – US – 2024 [Market report]. Mintel. https://www.mintel.com/ 

5. BDSA. (2024). Cannabis market trends and consumer insights. https://bdsa.com 

6. Jackson, M. (2024, September 11). Pre-rolls spark fastest growth category in the cannabis industry. MJBizDaily. https://mjbizdaily.com/pre-rolls-spark-fastest-growth-category-in-cannabis-industry/