Types of CBD: What are the different types of CBD?

George Kruis
George Kruis

With a number of unfamiliar words surrounding CBD oils, it is easy to get confused. You might have come across different CBD oil designations, such as: full spectrum CBD, broad spectrum CBD, or CBD isolate.

In this article, we will cover the different types of CBD oils and their benefits. While there is no clear answer to which one is the best one, we will talk about the properties of each CBD type so that you can choose which one is right for you and your lifestyle.

How many types of CBD are there?

Though in theory there can be hundreds of different CBD oil types, depending on their cannabinoid content and extraction process, there are three different types of CBD you will likely come across:

  • CBD Isolate
  • Full Spectrum CBD oil
  • Broad Spectrum CBD oil

CBD Isolate

As the name suggests, CBD Isolate is an isolated form of cannabidiol, or CBD. To put it simply, CBD Isolate oil corresponds to the purest form of CBD oil, since it does not contain any other cannabinoids or natural compounds of the cannabis plant. For this to be possible, all of the plant’s compounds are thoroughly removed, except for CBD, through an extensive extraction process. 

Depending on the extraction process type, high-quality CBD isolates are usually over 99% pure. This level of purity is the biggest benefit of this type of CBD since you can maintain the potency of CBD even when added to other substances, such as foods, lotions or shampoo.

CBD Isolate can also be a great choice if you want to avoid THC altogether, since Isolates do not contain any other cannabinoids, including the famous psychoactive constituent of cannabis. This CBD type is highly used therefore by people who have to undergo drug testing, though there is always a slight possibility that THC will show up too, since all CBD products may contain trace amounts of THC.

Finally, CBD isolate might be right for you if you’re looking for a flavourless and odourless product. However, you can find CBD isolate oils with added flavouring if you prefer flavoured products. 

Our Pro CBD oil with Vitamin D3 has a peppermint flavour and is great for athletes or anyone who wants to support their active lifestyle. It is BSCG tested and approved, so you can trust you’re compliant whether you’re a drug tested sports professional or hard working blue lighter.

Full Spectrum CBD Oil

Full Spectrum CBD oil corresponds to an oil rich in CBD, alongside small amounts of THC (up to 0.2%), terpenes and flavonoids. Some people prefer to take full spectrum CBD oil over CBD isolate due to the entourage effect theory. This theory defends that taking CBD and THC together, along with other cannabis compounds may be more effective than taking cannabidiol alone. 

Moreover, most full spectrum CBD oils will contain a wide range of  terpenes and flavonoids, which can have their own beneficial  effects. Therefore, this type of CBD oil can be right for you if you prefer a less refined product and if you don’t mind its earthy flavour, though you can find flavoured full-spectrum varieties.

It’s worth noting that from the 1st of April 2021, this type of CBD might no longer be available to buy in the UK due to the Novel Foods act. This act basically applies to foods that weren’t consumed in large quantities before 1997, and as such need to be regulated and licensed. Since full spectrum CBD oil contains small amounts of THC and other cannabinoids, it might be challenging for CBD brands to get this CBD oil type licensed. At fourfive, we don’t sell this product but we offer a range of CBD broad spectrum oils made from 100% natural ingredients.

Broad Spectrum CBD Oil

Broad spectrum CBD sits somewhere in the middle between CBD isolate and full-spectrum CBD. To put it simply, this CBD oil type contains mostly cannabidiol alongside small amounts of other cannabis compounds, but it doesn’t contain THC. However, some products will contain trace quantities.

Like full-spectrum CBD, this form of CBD may also produce heightened effects because they contain additional components that work together. Some of the usually added compounds include cannabinol (CBC) and terpenes, such as limonene, myrcene and pinene.

People who want to benefit from the entourage effect without having to take THC usually prefer this type of CBD for greater benefits.

What is the best type of CBD oil?

Not enough scientific research has been done to determine which type of CBD produces the best benefits with the least side effects. Therefore, the best type of CBD oil will completely depend on your lifestyle, personal preference and what you use CBD oil for. 

Other factors might also influence your decision. For example, if you’re an athlete you will likely want to stick to THC-free products.

For instance, if you prefer a refined product that can be added to a variety of substances without losing its potency, you will likely opt for CBD isolate. On the other hand, if you don’t mind small amounts of THC, you can benefit from full spectrum CBD for greater benefits, though as mentioned above, this type of CBD oil will likely stop being sold in the UK from the 1st of April this year due to the Novel Foods act. Therefore, CBD broad spectrum is probably your best bet if you’re looking for a CBD oil that can produce heightened effects. 

Whether you pick broad spectrum or isolates, CBD oil supplements are not an all-size-fits-all sort of thing, so sometimes you might have to do a bit of trial and error and see what works best for you. This also applies to finding your optimal CBD dosage.

If you’d like to get up to date with the latest laws on CBD regulation and legality, make sure to read our CBD legality in the UK article for 2021. You can also find multiple blog posts about all things related to our CBD on our learn articles section.

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