How can I recognise good CBD oil?
The decision for the right CBD oil (cannabidiol oil) or the right CBD drops is not easy. The choice of brands and shops has become huge. CBD products are now available in drugstores like Rossmann, DM or Müller, in pharmacies, in stationary CBD shops or in various online shops. You can no longer see the wood for the trees.
Especially for people who want to try oil or drops with CBD for the first time, the question arises: How can I recognise a good CBD oil? What should I look out for when buying and comparing the prices of CBD oil or CBD drops? But even experienced CBD users are sometimes still in the dark. In this article we would like to explain what makes a good CBD oil.
Table of content
1 Organic quality in the cultivation of the hemp plant
2 Hand selection during harvest
3 Type of extraction method
4 Ingredients in the oil
4.1 Cannabinoids: natural extract or isolates?
4.2 Terpenes (flavours)
5 Carrier oil and colour
6 Testing by an independent laboratory
7 Conclusion: Finding the best CBD oil
Organic quality in the cultivation of the hemp plant
Let's start at the beginning. With the raw material. What is CBD actually made from? CBD (cannabidiol) is one of the active substances contained in the cannabis plant. It is one of many active substances ((cannabinoids) that the hemp plant has to offer. The best known cannabinoid is THC.
A healthy and uncontaminated plant is very important for the quality of the CBD. Therefore, when buying CBD oil, it is important to pay close attention to whether it is hemp from conventional cultivation or hemp from organic cultivation. The difference lies in the cultivation of the fields.
In organic certified cultivation, the plants may only be planted either outside in the field (outdoor) or in the greenhouse on "real" organic soil. This grows robust plants that have their own defences against pests or environmental influences. This would not be possible in indoor cultivation on artificial soil.
The hemp plant is a deep rooter. It gets water and nutrients from deeper soil layers (up to two metres). However, if the soil is contaminated, the plant absorbs pollutants. This underlines the importance - especially in hemp cultivation - of organic certification. Organic cultivation also does not use environmentally harmful pesticides or chemical fertilisers. This protects the environment and ensures a very pure quality of the products.
Hand selection during harvest
How is the hemp harvested for CBD ? By machine or by hand? Harvesting by hand ensures a good selection of the plant parts and thus also a high purity of the product. This is because impurities are removed in advance before the leaves of the cannabis plant are processed into an extract.
Type of extraction method
The hemp leaves are dried after harvesting and carefully processed into an extract. The extraction method is important here. Because it determines - similar to the hand selection - the purity of the product.
The best and most environmentally friendly way to obtain a hemp extract from the raw material is the CO2 extraction method. No solvents are used in this method. You can find more information about the extraction methods at CBD oil production.
Ingredients in the oil
You can distinguish between these types of CBD oils: Full Spectrum CBD oil 10%, Broad Spectrum in diffrent concentrations and oils made from isolate. What is the difference? An oil called full spectrum contains all the important cannabinoids and ingredients of the hemp plant ((terpenes, flavonoids) including a small amount of THC (less than 0.2%). It is the full extract of the hemp leaves.
Broad spectrum oils are also made from the full extract of the plant. The only difference is that oils or drops in this category contain almost no THC. The THC is filtered out to such an extent that it is no longer detectable in the laboratory.
Cannabinoids: natural extract or isolates?
CBD oils can consist of a natural hemp extract or be composed of isolates. Hemp extracts contain the natural and important combination of cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids. The full power of the plant is therefore contained. This can be proven in laboratory analysis.
A product made from pure CBD isolate, on the other hand, contains only the cannabinoid CBD. Some oils consist of a mix of different cannabinoids that are mixed together as isolates. All other important active substances of the plant are no longer contained. It is questionable whether the entourage effect is effective here. However, the suppliers save money in production this way.
In summary: A balanced profile of the different cannabinoids from the hemp extract reflects the naturalness of the plant. Oils that consist only of isolates are artificial in nature. This is about like the difference between freshly squeezed orange juice (extract) or an orange soda like Fanta (isolate).
Terpenes (flavours)
The hemp plant has a very complex and extensive flavour aroma due to the terpenes it contains. Terpenes are - simply put - fragrances. The composition of the terpenes results in the taste and smell profile of the oils and depends on the respective variety of the hemp plant.
Terpenes are also used in aromatherapy, for example, to achieve certain effects. Lavender oil, for example, contains the terpene linalool, which has a calming and relaxing effect. Tea tree oil contains, among other things, the terpenes pinene and myrcene.
The terpene profile can be determined in the laboratory. The more terpenes an oil contains, the more intense the oil's taste. The reverse is also true. The fewer terpenes in the oil, the less intense the flavour of the product. A tasteless CBD oil is most likely an indication that isolates were used in the production. Isolates do not contain terpenes.
Carrier oil and paint
The hemp extract is mixed with an oil (carrier oil) after production. This has a significant influence on the colour of the product. Commonly used carrier oils are sunflower oil, hemp seed oil or MCT oil:
| Oil | Color | Taste |
| Sunflower oil | yellowish to golden-yellowish | tasteless |
| Hemp oil | yellowish to greenish | Flavourful |
| MCT oil* | transparent | tasteless |
*MediumChain Triglycerides
Furthermore, the colour of the oil is an indirect indicator of quality. The colour also gives information about the extraction method. With the CO2 extraction method, a clear extract is to be expected, which is somewhat darker and richer in content. Rather transparent CBD oils are made from isolates. An additional plus is the organic cultivation of the raw materials used for the oil.
By the way,CBD drops are also available without carrier oil. These are water soluble CBD drops that generally consist of water and hemp extract. These drops have the special property that they can be better absorbed by the body.
Testing by an independent laboratory
Another quality criterion is the analytical examination of the ingredients of the CBD products in an independent laboratory. The analysis reports provide information about the THC content, the cannabinoids present and the terpenes. Particular attention should be paid to the THC content, which must be below 0.2%. Here is an analysis report as an example:
Conclusion: Finding the best CBD oil
Which CBD oil is recommended? When choosing the right CBD product, you should consider the following criteria in particular:
- Organic cultivation of the hemp plants
- Hand selection during harvest
- Environmentally friendly extraction method for CBD production (CO2 extraction)
- Natural hemp extracts instead of products consisting only of isolates
- High-quality carrier oil in organic quality
- Current laboratory tests of the products
You will find the best CBD oil if you ask for the exact ingredients in your local CBD shop and do detailed research on online shops or manufacturers' websites. If you adhere to these important points, you will find the best CBD oil for you.
