Hemp Oil vs CBD Oil: Unveiling the Key Differences

Many natural oils and extracts are obtained from different parts of the same plant. Take the oil extracted from eucalyptus trees, for example. The oil from the bark of the tree is often used to make natural cleaning products. The oil extracted from the plant's leaves, on the other hand, is added to over-the-counter cough suppressants, vapor rubs, muscle creams, and breath fresheners. 

Like eucalyptus, rosemary, peppermint, and rose, industrial hemp is a source of more than one type of oil. Although the oils are liberated from different parts of the plant, many people shopping for CBD oil purchase hemp oil instead. While only you can decide if you might prefer choosing one over the other, knowing their key differences ensures you can shop with confidence when product descriptions and clever packaging blur the distinctions between them. 

What Is CBD Oil?   

CBD (cannabidiol) is the most abundant of more than 113 cannabinoids in naturally cultivated hemp flower. Once mature crops are harvested, the cannabinoid-rich oil is liberated from the unwanted plant matter. For full spectrum and broad spectrum CBD products, CO2 extraction is considered our industry's gold standard for preserving the flower's many minor cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and other phytonutrients.¹ Ethanol extraction is ideal for CBD isolate powder. The product most people know as CBD oil is a blend of cannabinoid-rich hemp flower extract and a carrier oil.  

What Is Hemp Oil?   

Hemp oil is a nutrient-dense product sourced from the plant's seeds. After harvesting, the seeds are cleaned to remove any plant residue that could alter the composition of the oil, then dried. Most hemp seed oil is cold pressed, meaning the seeds are fed into an expeller press leveraging mechanical pressure to preserve the oil's most healthful components.² Unrefined hemp seed oil has a deep green color, a slightly nutty flavor, and is an excellent choice for drizzling on salad or adding essential fatty acids to a smoothie.³ Once the oil is refined, most of its nutritional value is lost. Hemp seed oil has no CBD. 

Exploring the Key Differences Between Hemp Oil and CBD Oil  

When you purchase unrefined hemp oil from your local grocer, the packaging makes it clear that you're buying cold-pressed seed oil. The distinctive color, flavor, and aroma confirm you have the exact product you intended to purchase. But not all companies selling products made with inexpensive hemp seed oil clarify the source of their ingredients. 

Although clear labeling and accurate information are essential for preventing consumer confusion between CBD oil and hemp oil, some manufacturers package, label, and describe hemp seed oil's potential benefits similarly to those of CBD oil products to capitalize on consumer demand for hemp-derived cannabinoids. Whether you're leaning towards purchasing hemp seed oil or CBD oil, you can protect yourself from any intentional ambiguity by remembering the key differences between them. 

Contributions to Overall Health and Wellness  

The CBD in hemp extract is pleiotropic, meaning it produces many possible effects through its interaction with multiple molecular pathways. Although its interactions with serotonin, dopamine, GABA, and vanilloid receptors are well documented, it's the cannabinoid's influence on the endocannabinoid system, the largest regulatory system in the human body, most often credited for CBD's considerable health and wellness potential.⁴ Cannabis researchers believe CBD's influence on ECS receptors supports the processes of homeostasis.⁵ 

Tinctures, capsules, and gummies made with cold-pressed hemp seed oil are a good source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, vitamins D and E, vitamin C, beta carotene, digestible plant protein, and other essential nutrients. The fats in hemp seeds are essential for heart health, immune system support, and brain function. Our Western diet typically contains less omega-3 than people need for optimal health.⁶ Hemp seed oil can also be applied topically. It's non-comedogenic, promotes skin elasticity, and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.⁷ 

Total Number of Milligrams Per Bottle  

Reputable brands keep their CBD oil pricing structures competitive. Consumers are charged according to the total number of milligrams (mg) of CBD in the bottle. Most CBD oil tinctures are sold in 30ml glass bottles containing 500mg to 5000mg of CBD. Reputable brands also provide access to the third-party test results shoppers need to confirm the amount of CBD in their oil and verify the product has been screened for heavy metals, pesticide residue, and other potentially harmful chemicals. 

"Bargain-priced" hemp oil products packaged in the same type of dropper-top bottles as CBD oil tend to have labels boasting an extremely high number of milligrams (mg) of "hemp," often tens of thousands of milligrams per bottle. Manufacturers adopted the practice of adding mg totals to their packaging because consumers learned to avoid vague potency claims in favor of products with their CBD content specified in milligrams. If you can't find documentation to verify manufacturer claims, look elsewhere. 

Choosing the CBDistillery CBD Oil That's Right for You  

Even the most experienced CBD user can be swayed by clever marketing. That's why we stress the importance of viewing every CBD oil label and product description with a healthy dose of skepticism. Whenever you see "hemp oil" or even "hemp supplement" printed on the label of a dropper-topped bottle, look closely at the list of ingredients. If the hemp oil is cold-pressed or you see "cannabis sativa oil" in the ingredient list, you'll probably have to keep looking if you want CBD. 

Reputable CBD brands, the companies CBD users trust for high-quality products, specify the origins of their hemp extract and the amount of CBD per serving in their supplement facts. You'll also find one other crucial detail of product selection on their labels – the type of hemp flower extract in the bottle. At CBDistillery®, you'll find an impressive selection of CBD oil tinctures labeled according to their cannabinoid and terpene profiles. Knowing how they compare will help you decide which of the three main types is right for you. 

CBDistillery® Full Spectrum CBD Oil Tinctures 

Full spectrum hemp extract gives you the flower's many cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids in the same proportion's nature intended.⁸ The extract's natural 15-20:1 CBD to THC ratio ensures there's no risk of intoxication. Full spectrum CBD oil is credited as the more potent of the three main types because of the way the cannabinoids and terpenes combine to amplify the contributions of each plant element. It's a unique property cannabis is known for called an "Entourage Effect.”⁹ CBDistillery® Full Spectrum CBD Oils are sold in concentrations ranging from 500mg to 5000mg per bottle. 

 CBDistillery® Broad Spectrum CBD Oil Tinctures 

Broad Spectrum CBD oil has a cannabinoid and terpene profile similar to full spectrum extract, but there's one crucial difference. The THC is reduced to non-detectable levels (.01% or less). It's an option most often favored by CBD users who prefer avoiding THC while retaining the plant elements needed to initiate the potency-maximizing potential of an entourage effect. Some CBD users, however, feel removing the THC from the equation diminishes its impact.10 CBDistillery® Broad Spectrum CBD Oil is sold in 30 ml bottles with 1000mg or 2500mg of CBD. 

CBDistillery® CBD Isolate Tinctures 

CBDistillery® CBD Isolate Tinctures are made with highly refined hemp flower extract. All that remains after extraction and winterization is a flavorless, odorless, crystalline powder with 0% THC. Although you won't have the plant elements contributing to the entourage effect cannabis is known for, investigators specified in a 2020 report that most of the data utilized for their research documented the favorable effects of the "pure form" of CBD.11 CBD isolate tinctures are popular with enthusiasts who don't care for the flavor or aroma of cannabis and are available with 1000mg or 2500mg of CBD per bottle. 

Discover What CBD Oil Could Contribute to Your Wellness Routine  

Cold-pressed hemp seed oil is a terrific source of essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and digestible protein. It also has considerable skin-soothing potential. But if you're looking for CBD, you'll want to pay close attention to ingredient lists and third-party test results to ensure any product you purchase is made with hemp oil extracted from the plant's flowers and quality assured. 

Based on a 2019 CBDistillery® survey of 1,900 customers, most respondents reported achieving positive results for better sleep, relaxation, mild or temporary anxiety, and discomfort and inflammation after physical activity within 7-14 days of consistent use. If you're still not quite sure where to start, consider scheduling a personal consultation or taking our CBD Quiz. 

References  

1. Pollastro F, Minassi A, et al. (2018) Cannabis Phenolics and Their Bioactivities. 25(10) Curr Med Chem 1160-85. https://doi.org/10.2174/0929867324666170810164636 

2. Vivek V. (2019) The Complete Cycle of Hemp Oil Manufacturing. Hemp Foundation. 

3. Nunn M. (2023) Hemp: Everything You Need to Know. Verywell Health. 

4. Ligresti A, Petrocellis L. (2016) From Phytocannabinoids to Cannabinoid Receptors and Endocannabinoids: Pleiotropic Physiological and Pathological Roles Through Complex Pharmacology. 96(4) Physiol Rev 1593-659. doi: 10.1152/physrev.00002.2016. PMID: 27630175. 

5. Sallaberry C, Astern L. (2018) The Endocannabinoid System, Our Universal Regulator. 34(6) JYI 48-55. https://www.jyi.org/2018-june/2018/6/1/the-endocannabinoid-system-our-universal-regulator 

6. Robertson R. (2023) Omega-3-6-9 Fatty Acids: A Complete Overview. Healthline. 

7. A Gotter C. (2019) Hemp Oil for Skin. Healthline. 

8. Jenkins B. (2018) Is Full Spectrum CBD Really Better? Terpenes and Testing Magazine. 

9. Nahler G, Jones T, et al. (2019) Cannabidiol and Contribution of Major Hemp Phytocompounds to the "Entourage" Effect: Possible Mechanisms. 5, J Altern Complement Integr Med 70. PDF 

10. Wilkins T. (2022) What Is the Entourage Effect? How This Enhances CBD Effects. Marijuana Takers. 

11. Larsen C, Shahinas S. (2020) Dosage, Efficacy and Safety of Cannabidiol Administration in Adults: A Systematic Review of Human Trials. 12(3) J Clin Med Res 129-41.