CBD Tincture Vs. Oil: Key Differences you should Know
Confused about CBD tincture vs. Uncover the differences, uses, and benefits of these CBD products. Find out which suits you best cbd gummies 2025 with our guide to the world of CBD. If you’ve done any CBD shopping, you know the number of choices is borderline unreal. CBD oils and tinctures may look like the same damn thing, but there is actually a difference. We get into the nuts and bolts of it below, but to quickly answer your burning question: One is oil-based, and the other is alcohol-based. CBD oil uses a carrier oil – commonly medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil – as its base, while CBD tincture uses an alcohol base. What is CBD tincture? CBD tinctures and oils are used to help ease many conditions. People use CBD for things like sleep and anxiety relief to things like help with pain and inflammation. Tinctures have a reputation for fast-acting results, which makes them a strong choice for those looking to relieve pain.
A tincture also tends to live longer on your nightstand since its base is preserving alcohol and not oil. Unlike CBD oils, tinctures are more challenging to find. Most CBD brands have a good selection of CBD oils to choose from, but for those looking for a tincture, you may have to search across a good handful of brands before finding one that suits you. Plus, many brands use the term tincture to describe an oil and vice versa, so it can be annoyingly confusing. Scanning the ingredient list can help. If you see a carrier oil listed, you’ll know it’s an oil. P.S. Tinctures may be extra bitter-tasting, though some brands try to help with flavoring. Don’t say we didn’t tell you. What is CBD oil? CBD oil has the same potential benefits as CBD tinctures and is used similarly to CBD tinctures. It can be added to food and bevys, but it can also be applied to the body.
CBD oil may not last as long as CBD tinctures, but it may not taste as earthy. It’s pretty easy to find CBD oil; most brands have a variety of CBD oils ranging across broad-spectrum, full-spectrum, and isolate options. CBD oils and tinctures need a base ingredient to make CBD products. The point here is to dilute your product so it’s safe for consumption. CBD tinctures and oils go about this in two different ways, and the extraction method varies too. CBD tinctures use an alcohol base for dilution. Manufacturers use high-proof alcohol to extract what they need from the cannabis plant. Plus, alcohol is also added to the item when it’s all done. The point of this extraction method is to protect the precious cannabinoids at all costs and keep everything safe from oxidation. 2. A bitter flavor may be left behind (ew). Since not too many folks love a bitter dose of anything, some brands try to offset the earthy taste by tossing in vegetable glycerin, best cbd gummies 2025 flavors, or sweeteners.
At this point, some may question why they don’t just eat a CBD gummy instead, and that’s a very valid question, TBH. Like a good deal of CBD products, CBD tinctures may also feature extras like sleep supplements (often melatonin) or some good ole vitamins to sweeten the deal. For CBD oils, the extraction method is either CO2 or ethanol. Instead of using any alcohol, a carrier oil is used to dilute the product. As we mentioned, many brands’ go-to choice is MCT oil, an ingredient usually made from coconut oil. The carrier oil of choice is mixed with CBD extract, and sometimes, brands also include other extracted compounds from the cannabis plant, like flavonoids and terpenes, for potentially extra benefits (a theory known as the entourage effect). For those who want CBD and nothing but CBD, CBD isolate products don’t include extra compounds from the cannabis plant, meaning there’s likely zero THC in these products and zero or little earthy taste.
CBD oils are popular for those who don’t feel like eating a CBD gummy, which can often include added sugars and can become costly. Of course, an alternative to CBD oils is CBD capsules, which can be taken more easily on the go. This ultimately comes down to personal preference and possible allergy restrictions. If you know you’re allergic to MCT oil, one of the more commonly used carrier oils in CBD oil (coconut allergy peeps, this means you), opting for a CBD tincture makes sense – these products use an alcohol base instead. Of course, if you’re trying to skip alcohol, opting for CBD oil might be the right choice for you. The potency of your CBD will make the biggest difference in your experience, not so much whether you choose an oil or a tincture. But CBD beginners, be sure you don’t overdo things initially and crank up to an intermediate or high dose (more on that in a sec).
