What are carrier oils and why are they in your CBD?

If you’ve just started your Cannabidiol (CBD) journey you might be wondering why the label says there’s another oil in your CBD oil bottle. But don’t worry, it’s completely normal. The second oil is called a carrier oil and it has a few different uses and benefits. Read on to learn more about why carrier oils are added to CBD oil and how you could be reaping extra benefits from this additional ingredient.

What are CBD carrier oils?

As their name suggests, carrier oils ‘carry' essential oils and are used to dilute them. The main reason they’re used is to make it easier for your skin or digestive system to absorb all the goodness from the essential oils without causing any irritation. In this case, the essential oil we’ll be talking about is CBD oil.

Carrier oils have a light scent, some are even odourless, and flavourless. They’re usually derived from the seeds, kernels, or nuts of a plant using a cold pressing method. Common carrier oils include vegetable oils like coconut or avocado oil.

Most carrier oils won’t interfere with the essential oils so you don’t have to worry about them making your dose of CBD less effective. They can actually add benefits and extra nourishment, giving you a more restorative therapeutic treatment. Let’s take a further look into how they can benefit you.

What are the benefits of carrier oils in CBD and which one is best?

CBD dissolves better in oil than in water. Because of this, your digestive system can process CBD better when it's ingested together with fat. Carrier oils can be used to help improve the absorption of CBD oil into your system, as well as stabilise and preserve the CBD. Carrier oils can also enhance the flavour and scent of CBD oil. 

This is what makes CBD oils a great choice for incorporating CBD into your lifestyle. Some examples of CBD carrier oils can include:

• Medium-Chain Triglyceride (MCT) oil - this is the most common type of carrier oil. They’re made up of a type of fat that can be easily absorbed and broken down by the digestive system. You’ll find that MCT oils are stable because they take time to break down and go rancid. They also have a neutral taste which makes them more palatable. Some common MCT oils include coconut and palm kernel oil.
• Grapeseed oil - this is less commonly used as a carrier oil, probably because it takes a bit longer for it to digest. It’s still a good carrier that has a light fruity flavour to it and is rich in phytonutrients and minerals.
• Cold-pressed hemp seed oil- this also comes from the hemp plant but isn’t the same thing as CBD oil. CBD is extracted from the flower of the hemp plant, while hemp seed oil is extracted from the seed. The seeds contain a few phytochemicals that aren’t present in the flower, and hence in CBD. When hemp-seed oil is used as a carrier oil, it contributes to the entourage effect because of these additional phytochemicals. This makes it ideal as a carrier for full spectrum CBD. It is, however, a little unstable and also has a sharp, herby flavour that may not be everyone’s cup of tea, or drop of oil.
• Sunflower oil - this is an unstable carrier which makes it a cheaper option. You’ll probably find that the price tag of the CBD oil will be lower than if it carried any of the above oils. But this could mean that the quality of the product and its effects are lowered as well. It has a mild taste to it and is rich in vitamins.

There are a number of different carrier oils that are used when bottling CBD oil but MCT oils are considered to have the best effect on delivering the benefits of CBD oil. Studies show that MCT oils increase the bioavailability of CBD and exposure to orally admitted CBD. This makes them the better choice because they can increase therapeutic effects. And not only are they good for CBD inside your body, but also for CBD inside the bottle. MCT oils act as a stabiliser which gives your CBD oil longer shelf life.

The perfect pairing for an enhanced CBD experience

Carrier oils carry many benefits when consumed with CBD. They help to enhance the absorption of CBD oil and give it a longer shelf-life so that you get the most out of your product. 

Here at Fränkly, we use only the finest ingredients so you can be sure that you’re getting an excellent and pure product, from the fields to your door. We use MCT coconut oil to add extra health benefits to your dose of CBD and to make sure that it has a superior taste quality.  This also makes it the perfect pairing for providing balance and calm in a demanding lifestyle.