CBD Oil vs CBD Tincture

Did you know that CBD oil and CBD tinctures are actually not the same thing? For some, this is super confusing. Many people think the two are the same thing and when you research CBD oil you will likely stumble across CBD tinctures too. “When the hemp/CBD industry began to ramp up in late 2017 and early 2018, many businesses used the terms interchangeably,” says Russell Markus, the founder of Lily CBD (Healthline). A ‘tincture’ quickly became associated with the dropper style bottle. Even though CBD oils and CBD tinctures are often packaged in the same ways, they are different have some important distinctions.

So what is the difference between CBD oils and CBD tinctures?

CBD oil is most often a blend of CBD extract and an inert carrier oil like medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) coconut oil. To make CBD oil, CBD and other compounds like terpenes and flavonoids are extracted from the plant material. These oils are usually extracted using the supercritical c02 method which maintains the quality, sustainability, and bioavailability of the plant. Once the desired compounds are extracted, they are then mixed with the carrier oil. Sometime, essential oils are added for flavoring. CBD oils are easy to find, and they’re more common than CBD tinctures. Many products labeled “CBD oil tincture” and even some products labeled “CBD tincture” are actually CBD oils (Healthline).

A CBD tincture is an alcohol-based extract. High-proof alcohol is used as a solvent to extract the natural compounds of the cannabis plant.  It’s also used in the finished product. CBD in alcohol-based liquids will likely contain approximately 60 to 70 percent alcohol . Alcohol-based tinctures have a longer shelf life of about 3-5 years but do have a very bitter taste. To mask the bitterness, tinctures are often mixed with additives like sweeteners, flavoring, or vegetable glycerin. Some companies might also add vitamins, herbal extracts, or supplements like melatonin, depending on the desired goal of the product. CBD tinctures are not very common because of the bitter taste (Healthline).

Both CBD oils and CBD tinctures can both be effective in terms of their benefits. The biggest difference between them is the production process and the base ingredient. When trying to decide which one is best for your needs, it’s important to always onsider your preferences and goals.

CBD oils can be taken orally. It can take 1 to 2 hours for an oil to take effect. CBD tinctures are taken under the tongue, for the fastest and most efficient absorption. You can also add CBD oils and tinctures to foods and drinks for oral ingestion. Depending on the specific oil, some CBD oils can even be used topically, or applied directly to the skin. However, there are CBD products designed specifically for topical use. These tend to be better used for on-the-spot relief rather than full-body effects. Applying a CBD tincture topically does not have any benefit, so please dont waste your product by doing so.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t regulate CBD in the same way as it does drugs and supplements, which makes it crucial to shop wisely. To shop our PG Organix CBD products, click here.