The coloring of CBD oil

Have you ever wondered why CBD oil drops can be different colors?

You may even have noticed color differences between dyes from the same brand. The color of CBD oils can indeed range from transparent or slightly golden to dark brown, or even almost black.

Although the color alone does not mean that the concentrate will be more effective than another, it can tell you a lot about the product and how it was made.

Several factors determine the color of the finished product.

These include hemp extract type, extraction method, carrier, and additional ingredient components.

In this article, we offer to help you understand how each of them affects the color.

The type of hemp extract

Pure Cannabidiol isolate in its raw form is a white, almost powdery substance.

When combined with a carrier oil (see below), it dissolves and imparts little to no color. This is why most Cannabidiol isolate tinctures are usually colorless.

In contrast, full-spectrum hemp extract is usually dark green or brown. This extract contains all cannabinoids, natural terpenes and other plant raw materials. Its dark color is therefore a reflection of the hemp plant from which it comes.

Therefore, both Full Spectrum and Broad Spectrum CBD oil drops tend to be golden to dark brown in color. The more concentrated the hemp extract, the darker the color of the finished product.

Carrier oils

All CBD oils are made by diluting hemp extract in a carrier oil. Without the carrier, the raw hemp extract would be too thick and difficult to consume in the form of drops.

The most common carriers used to make CBD oils are MCT coconut, hemp seed, or olive oil.

The liquid in your bottle is therefore a combination of hemp extract, which contains the active molecules, and a more or less significant amount of carrier oil. The type, quantity and color of the support used therefore have a strong impact on the color of the finished product.

MCT coconut oil is almost colorless or transparent. Hemp seed and olive oil are usually golden in color with a hint of green.

As a result, products that use hemp seed oil or olive oil as a carrier tend to be darker in color than those containing a coconut MCT carrier. To learn more about the possible health benefits of MCT oil here is a summary of several studies (in English).

The extraction method

In order to obtain the hemp extract that goes into making a cannabidiol-containing product, the manufacturer must go through an extraction process. This means separating the useful hemp extract from the rest of the plant raw material. The two most common processes used by companies that manufacture CBD products are ethanol extraction and CO2 extraction.

The ethanol extraction process also causes elements such as chlorophyll to be extracted, unlike CO2 extraction. Read a study on the topic

Chlorophyll tends to give a green tint to the finished product. It can be filtered but its presence is often desired because it is a natural component of hemp.

The color of CBD oil turning green therefore generally corresponds to the presence of chlorophyll, obtained by the method of extraction with ethanol.