RAW Ethereals vs. Elements Phantoms. Which is best?

In the ever-evolving modern world of cannabis, two titans of upmarket, slow-burning and ultra-thin rolling papers have recently emerged. RAW Ethereals and Elements Phantoms.

Both are high performers, made for purists and true connoisseurs, but which one reigns supreme? In this blog, we break down the key differences to help you choose the right tool for your next session. Both papers are available for £2.99 at www.thehigheststreet.com. Okay - promo done. We begin.

It's important to keep in mind that both RAW and Elements are commercially connected. Both brands were founded by Josh Kesselman and are owned and distributed by parent company, HBI International. Both brands share similar production and distribution networks, marketing strategies and promotional materials, whilst appealing to similar customer demographics – smokers who care about quality, sustainability and performance. These similarities make it difficult to pinpoint exactly which paper is best. Nevertheless, we will navigate these intricacies and come to a solid conclusion. To do this, we will discuss both papers’ thickness, material, burn quality, flavour, packaging, handling and pricing. Let’s go.

Beginning with the first comer on the market, RAW Ethereals. As @thehigheststreet only engages in no-nonsense articles, we start by saying that RAW Ethereals are undoubtedly THE thinnest premium rolling papers on the market. Thinner than the OCB Ultimates, RAW Blacks and yes, the Elements Phantoms. If you’re a confident, skilled roller who is purely looking for an ultra, ultra-thin paper – RAW Ethereals should be your go-to. They’re made from unrefined, unbleached natural plant fibers, with vegan gum, and are a light brown colour. RAW Ethereals burn extremely clean, even and slow - slower even than the Phantoms. They come in gorgeous, shiny, gold packaging that is sure to stand out at every session, have 32 papers per pack and are usually priced at around £3.00. Before we move onto the Phantoms, it should be noted that some users of Ethereals have reported detecting a very mild, subtle earthy note within the flavour profile. This is likely due to the use of RAW’s natural plant fibers. Nevertheless, the taste experience of Ethereals is still unmatched in comparison to most papers on the market. Overall, RAW Ethereals are a top tier rolling paper, and have been a must-have in my personal setup since their worldwide release in 2024. They’re available in more size variations than the Phantoms, are reliable, consistent and, whilst feeling like they’re ‘barely there’, always deliver a slow, clean burn.

So, did Elements create a paper that truly competes with the glorious RAW Ethereals? In short – a most definite yes. Made from chlorine-free, ultra-thin, rice paper with vegan gum, Phantoms are produced using the exact same traditional manufacturing methods in the same factory in Alcoy, Spain as the RAW Ethereals. The main difference being the materials used. Phantom papers are a white colour and come with 32 papers per pack, sleek, navy packaging and shiny silver lettering. Both papers are crafted with sustainability in mind, both are super-thin and both deliver similar levels of praise amongst stoners.

However, if what you’re looking for is the purest taste experience possible – Elements Phantoms should be your top pick. There is no paper that matches the flavourlessness of Phantoms. With absolutely zero taste interference, Elements Phantoms let your terps take the mic. In my personal experience, I find the Phantoms to deliver not just a much more flavourful draw than the Ethereals, but a smoother, cleaner one too. I also find that the Phantoms burn more evenly, more consistently, leave less ash residue behind and perform much better when trying to get that juicy oil ring to form. Additionally, Elements Phantoms are noticeably easier to roll with and are more versatile, when backstrapping for example. They weigh slightly more and are very minimally thicker than the Ethereals, making Phantoms way easier to handle in comparison. Furthermore, due to their later release and recent entry to European markets, Elements Phantoms are more exclusive and much harder to find than RAW Ethereals – if exclusivity is your thing. Despite the exclusivity, they too are generally priced at around £3.00.

Now to more easily visualise this tough comparison, you may refer to the individual ratings below. Each category has a winner with a brief description of why they were chosen.

To be completely honest, choosing between these high-quality rolling papers ultimately comes down to personal preference. Taste profiles, material types and even packaging aesthetics are all very subjective to each different user. That being said, we promised to arrive at a definitive conclusion, so here is @thehigheststreet’s choice. Both papers are mostly targeted towards skilled rollers who appreciate consistency, purity and flavour above all. So, if we had to pick one daily driver – it would be the Elements Phantoms. The Ethereals are incredible and as mentioned, always remain a part of the setup. But, the ease of use, smoother draw, better taste profile and more even burn quality, thrust Phantoms to the very top. For me, rice papers seem to burn much nicer and allow for more flavour to come through. In addition, some small ‘quality-of-life’ factors also influenced my decision to crown the Phantoms king. For example, the Phantoms are way easier to backstrap, they’re less likely to get ruined by humidity and are just that little bit more exclusive than the Ethereals at the moment, ensuring that you pull up to the next session looking like a true connoisseur. In my humble personal opinion, for daily, consistent use, either by established stoners or by beginners, the Elements Phantoms just cannot be beaten.

@thehigheststreet