Hemp seed oil and CBD oil are different products. Hemp seed oil is pressed from the seeds and contains almost no CBD: in a German test of 30 hemp seed oils, total cannabinoids were at most 0.03% (Lindekamp et al., 2024). CBD oil is a hemp extract, rich in CBD, dissolved in a carrier oil, and its label states the CBD content in % and mg. The words "hemp oil" can mean either, so check the CBD content on the label. Formula Swiss CBD Oil in Hemp Seed Oil combines both: CBD extract from 3% to 30% in hemp seed oil.
Key facts
- Hemp seed oil
- Pressed from hemp seeds. A plant oil with almost no CBD, used in food and skincare.
- CBD oil
- A hemp extract rich in CBD, dissolved in a carrier oil such as hemp seed, olive or MCT oil
- Cannabinoids in hemp seed oil
- 9 to 279 mg per kg in 30 tested oils, that is 0.03% or less (Lindekamp et al., 2024)
- Cannabinoids in a 5% CBD oil
- 5% CBD, about 50 mg per ml. That is more than 150 times the highest hemp seed oil result.
- How to tell them apart
- Look for the CBD content in % or mg on the label. Hemp seed oil alone does not state one.
- In our range
- CBD Oil in Hemp Seed Oil: hemp extract in hemp seed oil, 3% to 30% CBD, full spectrum or THC-free
What is hemp seed oil?
Hemp seed oil is pressed from the seeds of the hemp plant, much like sunflower or linseed oil. The seeds themselves make almost no cannabinoids. The small amounts that turn up in hemp seed oil come mainly from plant material that touches the seeds during harvest and pressing.
Hemp seed oil is valued for its fatty acids. A Croatian study of hemp seed oils on the market found them a good source of polyunsaturated fatty acids, including gamma-linolenic and stearidonic acid (Petrović et al., 2015). It is used in food, and in skincare its ingredient name (INCI) is Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil.
What is CBD oil?
CBD oil starts with an extract of the hemp plant. The extract is rich in cannabidiol (CBD), and in full-spectrum and broad-spectrum oils it also contains smaller amounts of other cannabinoids such as CBG and CBC. The extract is then dissolved in a carrier oil, and the strength is set by how much extract goes into each bottle.
The carrier can be any suitable plant oil. Hemp seed oil is a natural choice, but olive oil and MCT oil (from coconut) are just as common. For the different extract types, see our guide to full spectrum, broad spectrum and isolate.
Hemp seed oil vs CBD oil at a glance
| Hemp seed oil | CBD oil | |
|---|---|---|
| Made from | Pressed hemp seeds | Hemp extract dissolved in a carrier oil |
| CBD content | Almost none (all cannabinoids together 0.03% or less in a German test) | Stated on the label, typically 3% to 30% |
| Other cannabinoids | Traces only | CBG, CBC and others in full-spectrum and broad-spectrum oils |
| THC | Traces; in the EU, hemp seed oil sold as food has a legal maximum of 7.5 mg Δ9-THC equivalents per kg | Full spectrum: small amounts (ours: under 0.2%). Broad spectrum and isolate: none. |
| Typical use | Cooking oil, salad oil, skincare ingredient | Depends on how the product is notified. Ours are cosmetics for use on the skin. |
| Ingredient name (INCI) in cosmetics | Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil | Cannabidiol, or a hemp extract, listed alongside the carrier oil |
Why are the two so often confused?
The main reason is the name. "Hemp oil" is used for cold-pressed hemp seed oil, but some shops also use it for CBD oil. On marketplaces, a bottle called "hemp oil" with a large number such as "50,000 mg" on the front is usually hemp seed oil: the number refers to the amount of oil, not to CBD.
Labels are not always accurate either. When researchers bought 84 CBD extracts online and tested them, only 31% contained an amount of CBD within 10% of the label. 43% contained less and 26% contained more (Bonn-Miller et al., 2017). Buy from a producer that tests every batch and prints the CBD content on the label.
How to check which oil you have
- Find the CBD content. A CBD oil states it as a percentage, in mg per bottle, or both. Hemp seed oil on its own states none.
- Read the ingredient list. "Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil" alone means hemp seed oil. A CBD oil also lists cannabidiol or a hemp extract.
- Check the batch number. Every batch of a CBD oil should have a certificate of analysis showing its cannabinoid content. Our guide explains how to read a certificate of analysis.
From our production
We use hemp seed oil as one of three carriers for our classic CBD oils, next to olive oil and MCT oil. The CBD comes from the extract, not from the seed oil. Our hemp is grown in Switzerland following organic principles, the extract is made with CO₂ extraction only, and every production batch is tested. The label shows the batch number and the CBD and THC content to two decimal places, so you can see exactly what is in the bottle.
Which carrier oil should you choose?
The carrier does not change how much CBD is in the bottle. It changes the texture, the scent and how the oil feels on the skin. Hemp seed oil has a nutty, green aroma. Olive oil is a familiar, slightly heavier oil. MCT oil is light and almost odourless, which is why our flavoured oils use it. All our classic carriers come in the same strengths, full spectrum or THC-free. Read more about choosing a carrier oil.
Frequently asked questions
Is hemp oil the same as CBD oil?
Not always. Hemp seed oil is pressed from the seeds and contains almost no CBD. CBD oil is a CBD-rich hemp extract in a carrier oil. Because "hemp oil" can mean either, check the label for the CBD content in % or mg.
Does hemp seed oil contain CBD?
Only traces. In a German study of 30 hemp seed oils, all cannabinoids together made up 9 to 279 mg per kg, which is 0.03% or less. A 5% CBD oil contains 5% CBD.
Does hemp seed oil contain THC?
It can contain traces from plant material that touches the seeds. In the EU, hemp seed oil sold as food has a legal maximum of 7.5 mg Δ9-THC equivalents per kg.
Why does a "hemp oil" say 50,000 mg on the bottle?
On many marketplace products, the number refers to hemp seed oil or the total amount of extract, not to CBD. A CBD oil states its CBD content clearly, for example "10% CBD, 1,000 mg".
What is the carrier oil in CBD oil for?
The carrier dissolves the hemp extract so that it can be measured in drops. The carrier changes the texture and scent, not the amount of CBD. Hemp seed, olive and MCT oil are the most common carriers.
How do I know how much CBD my oil contains?
Look at the label: it should state the CBD content in % or mg and carry a batch number. The certificate of analysis for that batch shows the measured result. Our labels show CBD and THC to two decimal places.
Related guides
Formula Swiss CBD oils are sold as cosmetics for use on the skin. They are not food supplements or medicines and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This article is general information.
Last reviewed:
Sources
- Lindekamp N, Triesch N, Rohn S, Weigel S. Quantification of sixteen cannabinoids in hemp seed edible oils and the influence of thermal processing on cannabinoid contents and profiles. Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A 2024;41(5):550–562. doi:10.1080/19440049.2024.2319270
- Petrović M, Debeljak Ž, Kezić N, Džidara P. Relationship between cannabinoids content and composition of fatty acids in hempseed oils. Food Chemistry 2015;170:218–225. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.08.039
- Bonn-Miller MO, Loflin MJE, Thomas BF, et al. Labeling accuracy of cannabidiol extracts sold online. JAMA 2017;318(17):1708–1709. doi:10.1001/jama.2017.11909
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/1393 of 11 August 2022 amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 as regards maximum levels of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) in hemp seeds and products derived therefrom. EUR-Lex
- Formula Swiss. Product information for CBD Oil in Hemp Seed Oil and our published certificates of analysis.
