CBD Oil Drops: CBD Tinctures & Water Solubles [The Ultimate Guide]

CBD oil drops are a simple and effective way to get a dose of CBD.

With a variety of dose strengths, flavors, and types to choose from, you can find CBD drops that make getting CBD’s benefits easy and enjoyable.

What Are CBD Drops, Anyway?

CBD drops are an ingestible, liquid form of CBD. The drops contain an extract of the cannabinoid cannabidiol (that’s our friend CBD). Depending on the type of CBD drops, they could also contain some other compounds — but more on that later.

The CBD drops fam includes CBD tinctures and other CBD extracts in liquid form. Basically, if it contains CBD and comes in a dropper bottle, it falls under the CBD drops umbrella.

How CBD Drops Work In The Body

This really depends on the way you take your CBD drops:

• When taken orally, CBD drops are digested and absorbed into the body.
• When taken sublingually(under the tongue), the CBD has a chance to be absorbed into the bloodstream, which is more efficient than going through digestion first.
• When used topically (e.g., added to your favorite lotion/shampoo/massage oil), the CBD is absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream.

However it’s consumed, the CBD then acts on the body’s endocannabinoid system to deliver CBD’s properties which can help to relieve pain, reduce stress, and support wellness in many ways for humans, cats, and dogs.

Most CBD drops are made from industrial hemp, which is federally legal. That means you can buy CBD tincture in all 50 states. CBD drops made from industrial hemp are completely or virtually THC-free, so they don’t cause a high.

Why Take CBD Drops?

Drops and tinctures are some of the most popular CBD products, and it’s easy to see why! They usually have fewer ingredients than other CBD products. That means no sugar or fillers. And they yield results quickly.

Folks embrace CBD drops and tinctures for lots of reasons. Here are some of the popular ones:

• It’s great for those who want to carefully control their dose.
• They’re super easy to swallow — no pills, chews, or water required!
• You can add CBD drops to food and drinks for people and pets.
• Flavored drops make the whole CBD experience more enjoyable.

They also offer flexibility in doses. You’ll commonly find 600mg tinctures, 1000mg tinctures, and sometimes even 3000mg drops — plus potencies in between those numbers. That means you can increase or decrease your CBD based on your goals.

CBD Drops: Terms You Need To Know

Now we’re going to get into the nitty-gritty of some terminology in the CBD oil drops world. Because, after all, this is your ultimate guide to CBD drops of all kinds!

CBD Drops vs CBD Tinctures

Let’s start with drops versus tinctures. You’ve probably heard both when describing liquid CBD. Which isn’t flat-out wrong, but there is a bit more nuance to it.

A tincture is a solution made by steeping a plant in a liquid (usually alcohol) to extract compounds in the plant. The resulting fluid is highly concentrated. In the case of CBD tincture, that means the whole hemp plant is steeped to get CBD extract. And that’s it! The tincture is ready for further processing into CBD products, like consumer-useable CBD tinctures (which are actually a diluted version of the concentrated extract tincture).

What separates drops from tinctures lies in the extraction process. At Pure Craft, we lean into some proprietary techniques to do a cutting-edge CO₂ extraction. It extracts CBD and other compounds from hemp without alcohol or other solvents for a more palatable and consistent final CBD product.

The resulting CBD is then refined and blended with a carrier oil (e.g., coconut-derived MCT oil) and flavorings. In the end, you get pure and highly absorbable CBD drops.

As you can see, our advanced process is different and more involved than the simple, age-old tincture process. While Pure Craft technically makes nano CBD oil drops, we often use the terms CBD tincture or CBD oil tincture interchangeably with CBD dropsor CBD oil drops.

Which brings us to our next vocab lesson.

Water Soluble CBD vs CBD Oil Drops

If you’ve never used CBD drops before, terms like water-solublecan seem pretty wishy-washy. Hang tight though, because there’s a couple of substantial differences between water-soluble CBD drops and your standard CBD oil drops.

1. Bioavailability. Bioavailability is a fancy word that refers to how easy it is for the body to absorb something. Water-soluble CBD is more bioavailable than regular CBD oil.(1) Which means faster results for you! (And your drops give you more bang for the buck.)
2. Dissolvability. Aka solubility. Aka how easily something can be dissolved. Water-soluble CBD oil can be dissolved into beverages, which might matter if you prefer to take your CBD in food and drinks. It’s handy for pets, too. Add pet-formulated drops to their water bowl and they’re good to go.

Which To Choose When

Water-soluble CBD drops sound pretty great. So, why would someone want to use CBD oil drops that aren’t water-soluble? Well:

• Considering that water-soluble CBD drops can work faster than CBD oil, you might have a use for both at different times. For example, you might take CBD oil for daily maintenance, and use water-soluble CBD drops when you need on-demand relief.
• CBD oil drops don’t contain an emulsifier. The emulsifier helps water-soluble CBD dissolve in liquid. While emulsifiers aren’t inherently bad, it’s something to consider if you’re really trying to go minimal on CBD ingredients.
• CBD oil can be better in some cooking applications if you want an oil consistency instead of water consistency, like in salad dressings.

At Pure Craft, we use nanotechnology to optimize the bioavailability of all of our CBD. So you’ll get the best and quickest possible results whether you use our water-soluble CBD drops or CBD oil tinctures.

Full-Spectrum, Broad-Spectrum & Isolate CBD Drops

Once you’ve learned the pros and cons of drops made with full-spectrum CBD, broad-spectrum CBD, and isolate CBD, you’ll be able to talk about CBD drops with Olympic skill and confidence.

So let’s dive in for the gold!

• Full-spectrum CBD tinctures can be made from marijuana or federally-legal hemp. A key perk of full-spectrum is that it’s the least processed of the CBD types, so it contains beneficial compounds — like terpenes and flavonoids. That also means, depending on the origin (hemp or marijuana), full-spectrum CBD might contain more than the legal limit of THC. If you live in a cannabis-friendly state and don’t have to worry about failing a drug test, that may not be an issue.
• Broad-spectrum CBD drops can also be made from industrial hemp or marijuana, but it’s processed to keep the THC at or under the federal limit of 0.3%. You still get the terpenes and flavonoids, which means max benefit without the risks associated with full-spectrum CBD drops.
• Isolate CBD tinctures are the most processed of the bunch. All THC is stripped out, so it has the least likelihood of causing a failed drug test. But all that processing means it could also lose some beneficial compounds and the entourage effect.

These terms aren’t always super regulated, so you’ll wanna do your due diligence and research any CBD drops before you buy.

What Are CBD Oil Drops Used For?

CBD has many researched benefits. Drops and tinctures deliver those potential wellness gains with every squirt. Some of the clinically-backed uses for CBD include:(2)

• Relief of pain and inflammation
• Improved sleep
• Reduction of anxiety, depression, and symptoms of mental disorders
• Neuroprotective properties
• Reduction of acne
• Anti-nausea

Scientists continue to study CBD’s benefits and uses, and anecdotal evidence suggests there’s a whole lot more to CBD than we know now. If you’re considering natural, plant-based solutions for your health and well-being, CBD drops could be a helpful part of your regimen.

Where Can I Buy CBD Drops?

As one of the most popular forms of CBD, it’s pretty easy to find CBD drops at brick-and-mortar stores and online.

You might spot CBD drops at your local health food store, pharmacy, farmers’ market, or dispensary. But not all CBD drops are created equal. Make sure you ask about the purity of the product and read the label to confirm there aren’t any unsavory ingredients.

Of course, you can always save yourself a trip and the hassle of GWS (Googling while shopping) and hit the virtual CBD emporiums. With a world of CBD drops at your fingertips, you can hone in on the specs of products and browse around without breaking a sweat (or wasting gas...or combing your hair…).

Where To Buy CBD Drops Online

If you’re feeling limited by your local options for CBD pure oil drops, the world wide web is at your service. You won’t be disappointed at the selection of water-soluble CBD drops, CBD oil, and CBD tinctures. After you add to cart and checkout, they’ll appear at your doorstep!

Here are our top tips for shopping for CBD drops with confidence.

• Look for products made from organically-cultivated American hemp.
• Check out the ingredients. Make sure there aren’t any weird chemicals, ingredients, or additives that don’t mesh with your vegan lifestyle or dietary restrictions.
• Scope out the reviews to make sure real people have seen real results.
• Take a peek at the product’s certificate of analysis (COA). The COA shows — among other things — the THC and CBD contents, so you can make sure you’re getting what you’re paying for.

Using CBD Drops For Maximum Effectiveness

CBD drops are versatile, but there are ways to get more out of every drop. Here’s what you need to know about sourcing, consuming, and storing high-quality CBD drops.

Buy Pure CBD Drops Optimized For Absorption

Purity matters, especially when it comes to CBD. And that means choosing CBD made from organically-grown hemp. CBD made from hemp that isn’t organically cultivated could have traces of toxic agricultural chemicals. Remember, your body is going to be absorbing and assimilating everything in your CBD drops. Our rule of thumb: Go organic or don’t go there at all. Plus, the more natural your CBD product, the easier it is for your body to draw it in and utilize it.

CBD drops are a small investment, and we’re guessing you want that investment to pay off. So don’t mess around with CBD that doesn’t produce results. We’re superfans of nanotechnology because it makes CBD far more absorbable than regular CBD. You’ll see all of our products have been nano-fied for your benefit.

Down The Hatch: How To Take Edible CBD Oil Drops

There are two main ways to take CBD drops:

1. Orally, by dropping the CBD into your mouth and swallowing it immediately or adding it to food or beverages.
2. Sublingually, which means dropping it under your tongue. It’s recommended that you hold it there for around 30 seconds before swallowing. Sublingual administration is the best route if you want fast results because the CBD is absorbed directly into your bloodstream.

However you decide to take your CBD drops, keep in mind that CBD is fat-soluble. So, taking CBD with food can help improve its absorption.

You can also use CBD drops topically. It’s as simple as adding CBD oil drops to your non-infused personal and beauty care items. (We have other blog posts that give you some ideas on how to DIY your self/skin/hair care products — check’em out!). Or you can get a ready-to-rub topical CBD cream for those on-the-spot situations and save your CBD drops for oral and sublingual purposes.

Pro tip for CBD newbies: Start with a low dose. Once you get a feel for how your body responds, you can easily adjust your dose.

CBD Side Effects

CBD rarely causes side effects, but higher potency CBD drops can increase the risk. Discontinue use if you experience dry mouth, diarrhea, reduced appetite, or drowsiness.

Storing CBD Drops

Packaging and storage are super important for preserving the properties of your CBD drops. Exposure to light, heat, and air can degrade the quality and effectiveness of your CBD.(3)

CBD drops should come in an opaque bottle. Always close the lid tightly when you’re finished using it. Store your CBD drops in a cool, dry place.

CBD Tinctures: Good To The Last Drop

With minimalist formulations and a diverse range of product strengths and types to choose from, CBD drops are a great way to customize your CBD routine.

Water-soluble CBD tinctures are great for adding to food and drinks, and for when you want the fastest results possible. And, pet-specific versions are ideal for your beloved animals, too.

CBD oil tinctures are a simple, natural choice for taking CBD sublingually and in certain culinary applications.

Whatever type of CBD drops you choose, look for one made with organic and natural ingredients. Last but not least, be sure to store your bottle of drops properly to protect the properties of your CBD.

TO THE CBD TINCTURES & WATER SOLUBLE DROPS!

References

1. Newton, G. (2021). Water-soluble CBD benefits: your body is made of water. Chiropractic Economics. https://www.chiroeco.com/water-soluble-cbd/
2. Kubala, J. (2018). 7 Benefits and Uses of CBD Oil (Plus Side Effects). Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cbd-oil-benefits
3. Fairbairn, JW, et al. (1976). The stability of cannabis and its preparations on storage. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-7158.1976.tb04014.x