By Max Sargent Reviewed by: Gloria Payá

Here's how to figure out which CBD oil is right for you.


Cannabidiol, or CBD, has become a bit of a wellness craze over the past few years, with many brands and retailers eager to capitalise on the boom. While they were once rare, there are now more CBD oils than we know what to do with.

Some have started to infuse their products with the essence of rose and vanilla, while others have worked to mix in other cannabinoids like CBN and CBG to enhance the oil's scope of effects. Certain brands have even begun using liposomes and nanoemulsion to boost the efficacy of their CBD products.

But do all CBD oils do exactly what they claim? And how can you tell the difference between a legitimate CBD oil and an inauthentic alternative? There are a lot of factors that come into play when deciding which CBD oil is best for you. These factors, along with deceptive marketing, can make it very hard to actually pull the trigger and make a purchase.

In turn, we think everyone could benefit from a general guide on the ins and outs of being a discerning CBD oil customer.

FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING CBD OIL

The CBD industry is getting more regulated every year, but there’s still a long way to go. As a result, it’s worth noting that the quality and purity of CBD oils—and thus, their effectiveness—can vary greatly from one product to the next. So, how do you decide which to get? Let's take a look.

SPEAK WITH YOUR DOCTOR

When it comes to trying CBD oils for the first time, your doctor is your best friend. Regardless of the reason you’re taking it, CBD oil could have some cross-drug interactions you don’t know about. Therefore, a visit to the doctor is a must before starting a regular CBD regimen. After all, it’s their job to answer your questions when your health is at stake.

But what, exactly, could happen when CBD and another drug mix in your body? In short, CBD is broken down by the same family of enzymes as most prescription meds, forcing the substances to compete and interrupting their metabolism. This, in turn, could lead to some notable complications if introduced into your routine without a doctor's guidance.

Even if you live somewhere cannabis isn't legal, you should still speak to your doctor. Whether they're receptive to the idea of CBD or need to learn more, they can still help.

SPEAK WITH YOUR DOCTOR

CHOOSE A SUITABLE CBD CONCENTRATION

CBD oil products come in a range of concentrations, meaning some contain higher doses of cannabidiol than others. In short, the higher the concentration, the more potent the effect.

Whether in capsule or dropper bottle form, all reputable CBD oils will display that information on the packaging. Some brands will list the amount of CBD in milligrams—for example, 250mg—while others specify the percentage—for example, 40% CBD. Either way, the higher the number, the more potent the concentration.

If you're new to CBD oils, we recommend starting with a low to moderate concentration. Then, you can gradually work your way up to higher doses if needed. No matter how you're using CBD, it's easier to increase your dose than it is to decrease it after the fact. Observe how it affects your body, and you’ll be better informed on how to adjust your dose in the future.

FULL-SPECTRUM CBD VS CBD ISOLATE

Full-spectrum CBD and CBD isolate are the most common types of CBD oil. Put simply, full-spectrum oils contain all of the active cannabinoids and terpenes found within hemp, while CBD isolates contain pure cannabidiol and nothing else.

Until recently, CBD isolate was considered an industry standard. However, full-spectrum oils have been found to offer a host of potential benefits. See, the compounds in cannabis are thought to build off each other in a theorised dynamic known as the entourage effect. According to this idea, cannabinoids and terpenes can boost or mediate each other's effects when they interact in the body.

Considering that, unless you’re adverse to the other compounds, or only need CBD for some other reason, we recommend full-spectrum CBD oils for first-time users. That being said, however, both types have their benefits, and CBD isolate is equally valid relative to its full-spectrum counterpart.

FULL-SPECTRUM CBD VS CBD ISOLATE

CBD OIL VS CAPSULES

Almost as important as choosing the right concentration, it’s also worth considering how you’ll be ingesting your CBD. Plenty of oils are available in dropper bottles and meant to be taken sublingually (under the tongue). However, you can also get CBD capsules or gummies, which offer discreet, controlled doses that are easy to administer and work similarly to vitamins.

These products contain the same active ingredients, regardless of delivery method. However, the onset and duration of effects may vary. To be specific, when you take CBD oil sublingually, the cannabinoid has a direct path into your bloodstream via the oral mucosa, and the amount you receive in your system relative to your dose (in other words, your absorption rate) is far higher than it would be with edibles.

That said, once the effects of edibles and capsules do come on, they last longer than if you took CBD under the tongue. As you can see, each method has benefits the other can’t offer. Capsules are covert, convenient, and exert longer-lasting effects, whereas sublingual intake offers a faster effect and better bioavailability. Basically, there's no right or wrong answer.

Capsule

EXTRACTION METHOD

There are a variety of ways to extract CBD from the cannabis plant. That said, some methods offer a more pure and high-quality product. Some companies aim for quality as a priority, while others cut corners. While certain extraction processes are far cheaper than others, the savings aren't worth the risk of using inferior methods.

The best CBD oils are created via supercritical CO₂ extraction. This method uses carbon dioxide that’s been pressurised into a simultaneous liquid and gaseous state, acting to swiftly separate cannabinoids and terpenes from plant matter. Products made using this method are more expensive as a result, but you'll know you're getting quality for your money.

When looking at CBD oils, check to see if the method of extraction is listed on the packaging, or on the brand website. Reputable manufacturers are usually transparent about this. If the extraction method is nowhere to be found, you should be cautious before buying.

CARRIER OIL

Plant-derived carrier oils—also known as base oils—are used to help carry the active components of CBD oil into the body. Look into the different types of carrier oils popular manufacturers use. Two of the most common are hemp seed oil and olive oil, though there are plenty of others, including MCT (medium-chain triglyceride), grapeseed, sunflower, and avocado.

HEMP SEED OIL

Hemp seed oil is made by pressing hemp seeds to release their natural oil. Hemp seeds are considered a superfood, and are known to offer a comprehensive range of nutritional benefits.

As a carrier oil, hemp seed oil adds a distinctive taste to your CBD oil, which some might not like, but others will deeply enjoy. The fact that it comes from the same plant as the cannabinoids and terpenes within makes hemp seed oil an appropriate fit as well. It’s also worth noting, however, that some companies out there try to sell hemp seed oil as CBD oil, which is just plain lying.

OLIVE OIL

Olive oil has been a staple of Mediterranean cooking for centuries. Being rich in antioxidants, with a great ratio of saturated and unsaturated fats, it’s easy to see why it’s also one of the most popular carrier oils for cannabis oils, especially CBD oil.

CBD oils with olive oil as a carrier taste more mild than those with hemp seed. Olive oil also feels thicker than hemp seed oil, which might give it a heavier mouthfeel. If you’re familiar with the taste and texture of the former, however, it’ll be a much more recognisable and pleasant sensation than the hemp seed oil-based alternative.

MCT OIL

Plant oils are great, but an interesting alternative has started appearing over the past few years. Specifically, CBD oil manufacturers have found that MCT (medium-chain triglyceride) oil is one of the most effective mediums for delivering cannabinoids into your system.

See, MCTs are a type of fat composed of shorter molecules than those of most fats we enjoy (long-chain triglycerides [LCT]). This makes MCT far easier for our bodies to quickly absorb into our bloodstream. It also turns out that CBD and other cannabinoids cling right onto these molecules when they enter the system together. In turn, you'll enjoy more of the CBD when it's carried into your body by MCT oil.

COST

If you're on a budget, you’ll naturally need to take price into consideration. While CBD oils with higher concentrations may be more expensive, their potency also means they can last longer. As a result, they may cost less in the long-run. But, of course, it’s all about whether you’re able to put down more money at once.

Once you know how much oil you need to feel its effects, it might be worth looking into buying products with a higher concentration. For example, one 500mg bottle will cost less than two 250mg bottles of the same product.

Moreover, you might find two oils with the same concentration of CBD available at vastly different price points. Don't bother buying the cheapest product possible if it makes promises it can't back up. That doesn't mean you need to buy the most premium product either, but you should be judicious.

CHECK WHERE THE HEMP IS FROM

Organic or naturally grown EU hemp plants are undoubtedly the best raw material for CBD oil. Shadier CBD oil manufacturers—the same ones that cut corners when it comes to extraction—sometimes use hemp or cannabis grown in questionable conditions. This is bad because hemp absorbs harmful chemicals in the soil and air very easily.

To stay on the safe side, look for brands that reliably test their hemp. European hemp regulations are particularly strict, ensuring negligible levels of THC and high-quality harvests; but great hemp can be found worldwide.

To verify the quality of the hemp, you can look to the lab results of the CBD oil itself, as this should include a heavy metals analysis and a cannabinoid/terpene breakdown.

Brand Reputation

BRAND REPUTATION

Like most consumable products, brand reputation is key to weeding out the good CBD oils from the bad. A reputable CBD manufacturer will list all of the information you need to ascertain quality on their website (or as downloadable attachments).

Alongside lab results, extraction methods, carrier oils, and more, customer reviews are also extremely helpful. In addition to verifying the quality of the products, you can get an idea of a company's shipping times and costs, customer service, and history in the industry.

Some will mention the taste, others the quality or potency, and some might even amend their reviews if the brand reached out to deal with an issue.

Most of the best manufacturers will link to external review sites on their own website, so you know the feedback is coming from real customers. As a rule, we recommend checking independent platforms such as Trustpilot, Facebook, and Google to see what people have said about a particular brand.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT CBD OIL FOR YOU: DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE

If you're looking to find the right CBD oil for you, scope out different companies and see what they have to offer. Check what's in your CBD oil, what methods they use to harness the cannabinoid in the first place, and whether or not they've got a good reputation. You have to account for your own needs, of course, and should consider other factors like your budget and optimal dose. Beyond that, it’s all down to personal preference.

🌱 How do you choose quality CBD oil?
There are a few key criteria by which you can measure CBD oil quality. If the oil was sourced from organically grown hemp, processed using supercritical CO₂, and tested by a third-party lab, you should be in the clear.
👨🏻‍🔬 How do I choose a CBD brand?
To choose the best CBD brand for you, you’ll have to start by doing some research. Generally, you’ll want to look for brands that independently test their products, and brands that offer comprehensive customer reviews.
🧬 What are the different types of CBD oil?
There are several types of CBD oil. The three main categories are full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and CBD isolate.
🍯 What’s the difference between CBD oil and CBD tincture?
CBD oil is made by infusing cannabis in a carrier oil such as hemp seed, MCT, or olive. CBD tincture, on the other hand, is made by infusing cannabis in alcohol or glycerine.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: