CBD flower is the dried bud of the hemp plant, sold as raw plant material. It is derived from hemp, a type of cannabis grown for high cannabidiol (CBD) and low tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Hemp is a type of cannabis grown for high CBD and low THC. CBD oil is an extract of the hemp plant, blended into a carrier oil and sold in bottles, usually with a dropper.

The difference between CBD flower and CBD oil is their form factor: flower is the dried plant material, and oil is a liquid extract of the plant.

This guide covers the main differences in CBD flower vs CBD oil, how each is made, how to read the label on each, how they are regulated, and how to choose between them.

This guide will compare the two formats only and makes not health claims.

A table that covers some of the main differences between CBD flower and CBD oil.

What Is CBD Flower?

CBD flower is the dried bud of the hemp plant, sold as raw plant material. The buds come from female hemp plants, as male hemp plants produce pollen rather than buds. These buds are sold loose by weight, usually in gram increments. Hemp varieties are bred for low THC, so CBD flower is low in THC.

CBD flower contains a myriad of cannabinoids, which are the natural compounds found in the cannabis plant. CBD is the main cannabinoid found in the flower.Minor cannabinoids such as cannabigerol (CBG) and cannabinol (CBN) are also present, along with trace levels of THC. The taste and aroma come from a group of compounds called terpenes. The smell and taste of each flower are influenced by the terpenes it contains. Cannabinoid content can differ from batch to batch and is shown on the lab report, called a certificate of analysis (COA). Terpene results appear only if the lab tested for them. Our guide explains how to read a CBD flower COA.

What Is CBD Oil?

CBD oil is an extract of the hemp plant, blended with a carrier oil and sold in bottles, usually with a dropper. It is sold by bottle size and strength, and the label shows the total amount of CBD contained in the bottle. CBD oil comes in three main types:

• Full-spectrum: contains a wide range of cannabinoids and other plant compounds from hemp, including trace THC.

• Broad-spectrum: a narrower range of compounds, with THC removed or reduced.

• Isolate: CBD on its own, as a single purified compound, with the other cannabinoids and plant compounds removed.

Because CBD oil is sold as an ingestible product, it is treated as a food under UK rules, and CBD food products require authorisation as novel foods. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) publishes guidance on CBD. 

How Are CBD Flowers and CBD Oil Made?

CBD flower is harvested from mature female hemp plants. The buds are cut from the plant and dried, and often cured. Curing involves keeping them in controlled conditions for a period of time before sale. Some producers cure the buds to affect their taste and aroma. They’re then trimmed to remove leafy material and packed into containers to be sold as raw plant material. Nothing is added or extracted. CBD flowers can be grown from hemp plants with a valid licence in many countries. In the UK growing hemp needs a Home Office licence, and the licence doesn’t cover using the flowering tops, so much of the CBD flower sold here is grown abroad. Our guide to growing hemp in the UK explains why. 

CBD oil is made by extracting compounds from hemp plant material. Two commonly used extraction methods are CO2 and ethanol. The hemp extract is refined depending on what type of extract is being made. Full-spectrum extracts are refined least, broad-spectrum extracts are refined further to remove or reduce THC, and isolate is purified furthest.. The result is blended into a carrier oil, lab tested and bottled.

What Are the Main Differences Between CBD Flower and CBD Oil?

The main difference between CBD flower and CBD oil is the form, and the ways they are made, sold and labelled. CBD flower is the dried plant material and contains all the compounds found in the flowering head of the hemp plant. CBD oil is a liquid extract, and the compounds it contains depend on its type.

CBD flower and CBD oil are measured in different units, so the figures can’t be compared directly. That is why the label matters. We explain how to read each one in the section below. 

Neither replaces the other. They are different formats. 

How Do You Read the Label on CBD Flower and CBD Oil?

CBD flower and CBD oil have different units written on their labels, so the figures seen on one can’t be compared directly with the figures on the other. CBD flower is measured as a percentage of plant weight and oil as milligrams in a bottle. This commonly creates confusion between the two products when comparing CBD flower vs CBD oil. Once you know what each number measures, it is easier to follow the different labels and understand those differences. 

How do you read a CBD flower label?

A CBD flower label usually shows the percentage of CBD, THC and sometimes minor cannabinoids by weight, along with the size of the pack. 

• % CBD: this is the amount of the flower’s weight that is CBD. Most of our CBD flowers are listed at 8-13% CBD, which is 80-130 mg CBD per gram of flower.

• % THC: this is the ratio of the flower’s weight that is THC.

• Weight: the amount of grams in a pack. CBD flower is commonly sold in packs such as 3.5g, and the pack size is on the label. 

• COA: the % of CBD and THC come from the COA, which covers a sample from a batch. A listing may show a range, like 8-13% CBD, because figures vary between batches.

How do you read a CBD oil label?

A CBD oil label usually shows the total amount of CBD in the bottle, and the size of the bottle.

• Total CBD in mg: the amount of CBD in the entire bottle, not in a single drop.

• Bottle size in ml: how much liquid the bottle holds.

• % strength: some CBD oil labels use a percentage instead. On most labels, a 5% CBD oil contains 50 mg of CBD in each ml, so a 10 ml bottle contains 500 mg in total.

• Type and carrier oil: there are three main types of extract used in CBD oils: full-spectrum, broad-spectrum or isolate. The carrier oil is the oil that the extract is blended into.

The two figures measure different things, so a larger number on one label says nothing about how it compares with the other. Read each product against its own COA to check the CBD figures on the labels.

Are CBD Flowers and CBD Oil Regulated in the Same Way?

CBD flower and CBD oil are covered by different UK rules, because they are different kinds of product.

CBD oil is sold as a food product and therefore falls under food rules. In Great Britain, CBD sold as a food is a novel food and needs authorisation before it can be sold. The FSA publishes consumer guidance on CBD products in England and Wales and keeps a public list of CBD products with novel food applications in progress. Being on the list is not the same as being authorised

CBD flower is raw plant material from the hemp plant, which is a variety of cannabis. The Home Office publishes a drug licensing factsheet on how drugs law applies to cannabis, CBD and other cannabinoids, and it tells businesses to take their own legal advice.

CBD rules can change, and this guide does not serve as legal advice. Our guide to CBD flower and the law covers the flower side in more detail.

How Do You Choose Between CBD Flower and CBD Oil?

Choosing between CBD flower and CBD oil comes down to what you are looking for in a CBD product. Neither is better than the other, because they are different formats.

• Variety and flavours: CBD flower comes in many different strains, all of which have unique flavours and aromas, and and a COA for each batch. CBD oil comes in three different types: full-spectrum, broad-spectrum and isolate, and is blended into a carrier oil that may also have flavouring added.

• How they’re measured: CBD flowers are sold by weight and labelled as a % of CBD. The percentage lets you compare one flower with another, although only the COA gives the figure for a batch. CBD oil is sold by bottle size and labelled with the total mg of CBD. You may find that one product type has a labelling system that is easier for you to understand.

• Price: comparing prices between CBD oils and CBD flowers is difficult because they are different formats. Compare prices within the same format. For CBD flower, look at the price per gram, and for CBD oil, look at the price per mg of CBD.

• What you can check: CBD flowers and CBD oil should come with a COA from a named laboratory. Check that the product name on the COA matches the listing, and ask the seller which batch the COA covers.

If anything is unclear or the label and COA don’t match, ask the seller. They can share COAs for specific batches and answer questions you might have about products.

Frequently Asked Questions About CBD Flower vs CBD Oil

Is CBD flower stronger than CBD oil?

CBD flower and CBD oil use different labels and measure different things, so the labels can’t tell you. CBD flower is labelled with a percentage of plant weight, and CBD oil with the total mg of CBD in the bottle. A large number on one product’s label doesn’t tell us how it compares with the other, so check each product against its own COA.

Is CBD oil the same as hemp seed oil?

No. Hemp seed oil is made by pressing hemp seeds. CBD oil is an extract blended into a carrier oil. Look for CBD or cannabidiol extract in the ingredients list. If the label only says “hemp oil”, it may mean it is seed oil, so check the ingredients and the COA.

Is CBD flower the same as hemp flower?

Often yes. The terms are often used interchangeably. They both describe the dried bud of the hemp plant. Not all CBD flowers are the same, so read the COA, which shows the CBD and THC content for a batch.

Do CBD flowers and CBD oil contain the same ingredients?

No. CBD flower is raw plant material, and CBD oil is a mixture of CBD extract and carrier oil and sometimes flavourings. CBD flower and CBD oil should have a list of ingredients used on the back of their packaging.

What should you check before buying CBD flower or CBD oil?

Check for a COA from a named laboratory. Make sure the named product and listed strength are shown on the COA report. Check the units on the label, and for CBD oil, check what type of CBD extract is used. If anything is unclear, contact the seller and ask which batch the COA covers.

What Should You Know Before Buying CBD Flower or CBD Oil?

CBD flower and CBD oil are sold to adults aged 18 and over. CBD products cannot be sold as medicines, and anyone who takes medication, is pregnant or is breastfeeding should speak with their GP before using them.

Ask the seller for clarification if you have any questions about the product label or COA.

Our range of CBD flowers and CBD oils all have detailed descriptions and COAs attached to each product page. Our customer service team would be delighted to answer any of your questions via email and is open for discussion 24/7. You can see the current range, with the CBD percentage on each listing, in our CBD flower collection.

Summary: CBD flower vs CBD oil 

• CBD flower is the dried bud of the hemp plant. It is sold as raw plant material, usually in a pouch.

• CBD oil is an extract of the hemp plant, blended into a carrier oil, usually sold in a dropper bottle.

• CBD flower is labelled with a percentage of plant weight, and oil with the total mg of CBD in the bottle. In some cases CBD oil is labelled with a percentage.

• You can’t compare CBD flower vs CBD oil from the labels directly, so check them against their COAs.

• CBD oil is a blend of extract and carrier oil, using three types of extracts: full-spectrum, broad-spectrum and isolate.

• CBD flower and CBD oil are covered by different UK rules.

• We advise comparing CBD flower and CBD oil prices within their respective formats, per gram for flower and per mg for oil.

• If anything is unclear, you should contact the seller.