By Jeff Gallagher, founder of Made By Hemp. Helping people find real hemp since 2013.
“Hemp oil” is an umbrella term for two very different products. Hemp seed oil is pressed from the seeds and used as a nutrient-rich food oil, with no CBD. CBD hemp oil comes from the stalks and flowers and is rich in cannabinoids like CBD. Knowing which one you are buying is the whole game.
Hemp is a remarkably versatile plant, and the oil it produces shows up everywhere from the kitchen to the bathroom cabinet to your skincare shelf. The catch is that the same words get used for products that are not the same thing at all. Below we break down the main types of hemp oil, where each one comes from, and how to tell them apart before you buy.
The main types of hemp oil
Hemp oil can come from the seeds, the stalks, or the flowers of the hemp plant. Where it comes from determines what is in it. Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp is federally legal and clearly separated from marijuana. Both come from the cannabis family, but hemp does not get you high.
Hemp seed oil, from the seeds
Hemp seed oil is pressed from the seeds of the hemp plant. It has a nutty flavor and is used much like other culinary oils, in salad dressings, drizzled over vegetables, or dipped with bread. It is high in essential fatty acids, with a well-regarded 3:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3, and carries fiber, protein, and minerals like potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and calcium.
One thing to know: hemp seed oil has a low smoke point, so it is not meant for frying. And the most important point for shoppers, hemp seed oil does not contain CBD. Because of that, it is much less expensive than CBD hemp oil, and the two are easy to mix up when a label just says “hemp oil.”
CBD hemp oil, from the stalks and flowers
Oil extracted from the mature stalks and flowers of the hemp plant, not the seeds, contains cannabidiol, or CBD. CBD interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system, the network that helps keep the body in balance. This is the type most people mean when they say “CBD oil,” and it is what we make and carry at Made By Hemp.
Full-spectrum CBD hemp oil also carries other naturally occurring compounds from the plant, including minor cannabinoids and terpenes. When those compounds are present together rather than isolated, people often refer to the combined effect as the entourage effect.
Popular types of CBD hemp oil products
CBD hemp oil comes in several formats, so you can pick whatever fits your routine:
- Tinctures, liquid drops taken under the tongue, available in several flavors.
- Edibles, gummies and other treats with a pre-measured serving.
- Concentrates, pure hemp extract with nothing added, dispensed by the serving.
New to CBD? Our CBD Oil Buyer’s Guide walks you through choosing a first product.
Hemp oil for skin
Both hemp seed oil and CBD hemp oil show up in topicals, from lotions and lip balms to facial serums and muscle rubs. Hemp seed oil is rich in vitamins A and E and fatty acids that help skin stay moisturized, which is why you increasingly see it in moisturizers and balms.
CBD topicals work differently. They are applied to a specific area and are a popular choice for targeted, post-activity comfort. If a product is meant to deliver CBD, check the label for how many milligrams it actually contains.
Hemp oil vs CBD oil: what’s the difference?
Sometimes “hemp oil” and “CBD oil” mean the same thing, and sometimes they are worlds apart. It is all about context. Because “hemp oil” can technically describe oil from any part of the plant, the only way to know what you are getting is to read the label.
If you buy a “hemp oil” salve hoping for the benefits of CBD, but it is actually made with hemp seed oil, it will not do what you expected. Before buying, find out how many milligrams of CBD or “hemp extract” the product contains.
Full spectrum hemp oil vs CBD isolate
CBD hemp oil is called full spectrum (or sometimes broad spectrum) when it contains CBD plus the other naturally occurring compounds from the plant. CBD isolate is what is left when everything else is stripped away, leaving only pure CBD. Isolate is technically not “hemp oil” in the full sense, because it no longer carries the plant’s other nutrients.
Whichever you choose, do your research and confirm what is really in the bottle. For any product we sell, you can check the third-party lab results so you know exactly how much CBD is in it.
Which type of hemp oil is right for you?
- Want a nutrient-rich food oil for the kitchen? That is hemp seed oil, sold in grocery and health-food stores. It has no CBD.
- Want the benefits of CBD and other cannabinoids? That is CBD hemp oil, in tinctures, edibles, concentrates, and topicals.
- Not sure a product actually contains CBD? Check the milligrams on the label and ask for lab results.
Not sure which type you need?
Made By Hemp has been helping people find real hemp since 2013. If you are trying to figure out which type of hemp oil fits your goals, our West Michigan team is happy to help. Call (844) 887-4367 or email support@madebyhemp.com.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
