What Is Actually Returned in an Urn? Understanding the Difference Between Resomation and Flame Cremation
One of the most common questions families ask when considering cremation is:
"What exactly is in the urn?"
Many people assume that the ashes returned after a cremation are the ashes of their loved one. In reality, this is not entirely correct. Whether a person chooses traditional flame cremation or Resomation (water cremation), the remains returned to the family are primarily processed bone fragments, not ashes in the way most people imagine.
Understanding this can help families make a more informed decision about the type of cremation that best aligns with their values and wishes.
What Happens During Flame Cremation?
During a traditional flame cremation, the body is placed in a coffin and cremated at temperatures typically ranging between 760°C and 1,150°C.
The intense heat burns away all soft tissue, organs, skin, and the coffin itself. What remains after the cremation process are the skeletal bones and any non-combustible materials such as surgical implants.
Once the bones have cooled, they are placed into a machine called a cremulator, which reduces them into the fine, grey powder commonly referred to as "ashes."
What Is Returned in the Urn?
The contents of a cremation urn following flame cremation are:
Processed skeletal bone fragments
Mineral compounds from the bones
A small amount of residual cremated material
The remains are typically grey or off-white in colour and have a sand-like consistency.
Contrary to popular belief, they are not the ashes of the body itself, as all organic tissues have been consumed during the cremation process.
What Happens During Resomation (Water Cremation)?
Resomation, also known as water cremation or alkaline hydrolysis, uses warm water, gentle alkalinity, pressure, and circulation instead of fire.
The process mimics the natural breakdown that occurs in the earth but accelerates it in a controlled environment.
Over 3-4 hours, all soft tissues are gently broken down into their natural chemical building blocks. No burning takes place, and there is no direct flame involved at any stage.
At the end of the process, only the skeletal remains remain.
These bones are naturally soft, white, and extremely pure because they have not been exposed to intense heat.
The bones are then dried and processed into a fine powder, similar to what families receive after flame cremation.
What Is Returned in the Urn?
The contents of a Resomation urn are:
Pure processed skeletal remains
Natural bone minerals, including calcium phosphate
No soot, smoke residue or combustion by-products
Because the bones have not been burned, the remains are often lighter in colour, appearing white or ivory rather than grey.
Many families describe the remains as being finer and more natural in appearance than those produced through flame cremation.
Why Are the Colours Different?
One of the first things families notice is the colour difference.
Resomation
Usually white or ivory
No burning or charring occurs
Contains only natural bone minerals
Flame Cremation
Usually grey or grey-white
Colour influenced by high temperatures and combustion
May contain carbon residue from the burning process
The difference in appearance reflects the fundamentally different processes used to return the remains.
Are More Remains Returned After Resomation?
Generally, families receive approximately 30 - 50% more remains following Resomation than flame cremation.
This is because flame cremation can result in the loss of some bone minerals due to the extreme temperatures involved.
Resomation preserves more of the natural bone structure, meaning more of your loved one's remains are returned to the family.
Choosing What Feels Right for Your Family
Every family is different, and there is no right or wrong choice when it comes to final disposition. For some, traditional flame cremation reflects long-standing traditions. For others, Resomation offers an environmentally conscious alternative — one that avoids burning, significantly reduces carbon emissions, and returns more of a loved one’s natural remains.
At Pure Reflections, we believe that families deserve clear, transparent information about all available options so they can make the choice that feels right for them.
After all, understanding what is returned in the urn is not simply about science—it is about understanding the final physical connection families receive with the person they love.
Pure Reflections — Ireland’s Water Cremation Specialists
If you’d like to learn more about Resomation, private family farewells, or our prepaid funeral plans, our team is always here to answer your questions with compassion, honesty and care. Call us on 01 969 6990 or email info@purereflections.ie.
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