Learn how CBD oil is made and what it takes to make the best CBD oil on the market in 2020.

 CBD, or cannabidiol, is just one of 120+ compounds called cannabinoids that are found naturally occurring in hemp.

Along with other valuable and aromatic compounds such as terpenes, cannabinoids are produced in the sticky resins of mature hemp flowers.

How does CBD go from sticky plant resin to amazing CBD oil that’s fit for consumer products such as CBD tinctures, topicals, capsules, and others?

This article goes over how CBD oil is made from seed to shelf. You’ll discover the nuanced intricacies that go into crafting high-quality CBD oil and learn about the extraction process of CBD.

CBD-Rich Hemp

CBD oil starts with hemp, but not just any type of hemp. CBD oil starts with specifically crafted strains that are genetically selected to produce high concentrations of CBD. 

Known as CBD-rich hemp or phytocannabinoid-rich hemp, it’s the most ideal source of cannabidiol. The desirable compounds are primarily synthesized within mature female hemp flowers. That means plants must be cloned from a female, or selected for sex if grown from seed to cultivate the cannabinoid-rich flowers that produce CBD. 

Since CBD is concentrated within the resinous flowers, the plants must be cultivated to grow large flower tops, or colas, rather than a tall, fibrous stalk. 

Hemp grown for the stalk or its nutritious hemp seed is not an ideal source of CBD and other cannabinoids due to the nature of the cultivation.

Once CBD-rich hemp is cultivated to maturity, it’s harvested at just the right time. After harvest, the hemp flowers are processed in several different ways, which we’ll go over in the next section. 

CBD Extraction

While the quality of the plant material and hemp genetics is the first most important step in crafting high-quality CBD oil, the extraction process comes in a close second.

There are numerous methods of CBD extraction, which refers to separating the desirable hemp compounds from unwanted plant materials.

There are so many different ways of extracting beneficial compounds from hemp that you’ll have to read our other articles below to learn about each.

That being said, most extraction techniques typically utilize manipulations in temperature, pressure, and a gas or liquid solvent. Each process has its unique pros and cons, with ethanol and supercritical CO2 extraction generally deemed as the cleanest and safest among industry practices. 

The result of the extraction process, depending on the method utilized, results in what’s known as CBD or hemp extract, sometimes called raw CBD.

Raw CBD is a thick, viscous, and highly concentrated substance that can be difficult to manage and consume directly. In the next section, you’ll learn how CBD producers and manufacturers use CBD-rich hemp extract to create different types of CBD products for the consumer market.

Types of CBD

Depending on the extraction method, some CBD-rich extract goes through a second process of filtration and purification to remove any remaining unwanted plant fats and wax-like compounds.

Finally, CBD-rich extract is ready to use in consumer products and can be made into different forms including –

• CBD wax or shatter
• CBD tinctures and CBD oils
• CBD topicals
• CBD capsules
• And more

In some types of processing, CBD extract can be crystallized into concentrates, isolates, or powder forms that contain 99% pure CBD. 

Otherwise, raw CBD extract is typically diluted into a carrier oil such as MCT-rich coconut oil or hemp seed oil to formulate different potencies and consistencies of CBD oil. 

Once diluted to the appropriate concentration or potency, the CBD extract is then used to make various types of CBD consumer products, including –

• CBD skin and beauty care
• CBD soaps, shampoos, etc.
• CBD roll-ons and topicals
• CBD-infused snacks and beverages
• And more

Learn More About CBD

Thanks for reading! Now that you’ve learned more about how CBD oil is made are you ready to try it for yourself?

Join the millions already enjoying an improved quality of life with CBD today by browsing our latest catalog of high-quality CBD oil by Hemp Elf.

You can learn more about CBD by reading our other articles linked here. If you’ve found this content helpful, then please share it with others you think may also enjoy reading it.