There are a variety of CBD products that are rapidly gaining popularity, and tinctures are among them. While many customers may know what they want in a CBD tincture, they may not know to make CBD tincture – let alone how they are extracted. In this article, we will discuss two extraction methods used to make CBD distillate and isolate tinctures to determine which is best for making these popular products.

What Is A CBD Tincture?

The CBD industry has a wide range of ingestible, beneficial products, with tinctures ranking highly among them. Consumers may be aware of tinctures; however, this article will shed more light on exactly what tinctures are, how to make CBD tincture from isolate, and its different uses.

A tincture is a liquid CBD product that usually comes in a glass bottle, along with a dropper. Tinctures are more flexible than other CBD products, because of the versatility and how simple it is to control the dosage.

The eyedropper component allows customers to have a clearer idea on their own threshold levels and potency of that particular product. Tinctures continue to rise in popularity due to its accessibility.

There are three primary types of tinctures, with CBD isolate tinctures having the strongest potency.

CBD Isolate Tincture

In CBD isolate tinctures, medicinal properties are commonly extracted with ethanol or CO2 to produce an easier-to-digest CBD product. Ethanol extraction allows for relatively high potency while also containing a high number of other plant compounds due to the high solvation power of the ethanol itself.

This aids in potency, but also results in the need for more extensive distillation after the extraction process. This is because ethanol extraction will also extract plant chlorophylls and other compounds that can diminish desirable flavor.

Producers will combat this by adding natural additives during product formulation to improve upon the flavor of the end product.

The CO2 isolate tincture method uses CO2 in its supercritical state to separate desired cannabinoids and terpenes from the hemp plant.

In this method, more of the natural components are preserved in terms of flavor and potency in an effective, natural way.

This is often a preferred method for consumers who are already looking to use CBD as a natural product knowing that a CO2 extraction method will fulfill that naurality.

To fully understand the difference between the two methods, ask for a live demo.

Full and Broad-Spectrum vs. Isolate Tincture

Full-Spectrum tinctures contain most compounds that are naturally occurring in hemp, but not all – including Delta 9.

In contrast, Broad-Spectrum tinctures include less compounds from the original hemp plant and excludes Delta-9. These tinctures contain no THC at all, lessening the effects.

Isolate tinctures contain specific cannabinoids and other compounds that are deliberately added without containing all of the plant compounds.

This allows for a highly potent CBD tincture with total control of added terpenes and other compounds making it highly selective as well.

Each of these tinctures have their own benefits and should be considered accordingly to decide what’s best for each individual consumer.

How to Make CBD Tincture from Isolate

One reason a customer may choose to make CBD tincture from isolate is to know exactly what ingredients are going into their product.

This process allows the consumer to have their choice of organic ingredients and varying flavor profiles. An isolated cannabinoid is the result of remediating all other cannabinoids and other plant components to create a 99-100% pure product.

Before beginning the process of making CBD isolate tincture, it is important to consider if you would like your product’s features to include (full-spectrum) or exclude (broad-spectrum) Delta-9 in your approach.

Then, choose a set of flavors that would suit your palate best. Use organic flavors to get the most health benefits.

Making CBD Tincture from Isolate: Ethanol Method

There are two main methods to making CBD tincture: ethanol extraction and CO2 extraction. Ethanol is an industrial alcohol used to extract certain compounds from the plant.

Because of its high solvation power, it is an effective solvent for this process; however, it does tend to be less selective, often stripping chlorophylls and other undesirable compounds in the extract as well.

The ethanol is introduced to the ground hemp biomass in a column where it will strip the plant compounds from the plant before evaporating off and creating a cannabinoid rich crude oil.

From there the oil can be introduced to distillation methods to create a final isolated CBD product.

Making CBD Tincture from Isolate: CO2 Method

For the CO2 extraction method, an extractor forces the CO2 into a supercritical state by implementing heat and pressure.

Essentially, this allows its gas and liquid properties to work in tandem. This is the same essential process to create a crude oil as ethanol extraction but tends to be more selective leaving less need for higher remediation procedures to remove unwanted materials in a final product.

The method of making CBD tincture from isolate after supercritical CO2 extraction preserves terpenes and other desired plant compounds that may otherwise be damaged or stripped via ethanol extraction. Get machine specifications to allow for the most accurate calibration before beginning the CO2 extraction method process.

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What Are the Different Uses of CBD Tincture and its Advantages?

Since tinctures are in liquid form and have droppers to distribute the dosage, this is one of the most accessible types of CBD products. If applying directly under the tongue (sublingually), usually 30ml will result in a noticeable effect though dosage does vary in each tincture formulation.

Threshold levels depend on the individual, so it is best to experiment with less tincture at first to gage effects. Let the tincture sit under the tongue for roughly 30 seconds to 1 minute and wait approximately fifteen minutes for the effects to begin.

Alternatively, the CBD tincture can also be added to the consumer’s food or drink of choice as a preferred method of use.

Advantages of CBD Tincture

CBD products generally target pain, inflammation and anxiety in the body. Neurotransmitters bind to cannabinoid receptors that can target general pain or more specific, chronic physical illnesses.

However, the benefits are not merely physical. Consumers have also reported positive effects and changes regarding brain, neurological, and mental ailments.

Anxiety issues can also be aided by CBD tinctures by producing calming effects for the individual. Also, recent research revealed that CBD can also be used to treat acne.

In these cases, the CBD reduces the sebum production of glands to reduce skin inflammation and breakouts.

Consider possible factors such as: severity of illness, tolerance levels of CBD, diet, metabolism, weight, and potency before consuming and making CBD tincture.

Overall, the outcomes of taking CBD tincture are primarily positive. With CBD being used to aid in a variety of illnesses, the consumer is left with a well-rounded product that is not only versatile, but affordable.

Other topical or oral treatments may cost more, have less variety, and there may be a longer wait period to see any results.

CBD tinctures are a great hemp based product with a range of benefits for consumers. Talk to an expert today to discover which CBD tincture and method is right for you.

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How To Make CBD Tincture With Ethanol or CO2

In the CBD market, tinctures have become the tried and true staple product for producers and consumers. The sublingual use of tinctures has the second fastest bioavailability (absorption of CBD) in the body compared to inhalation of smoke or vapor. However, many turn to tinctures to mitigate the potential risks of inhaled CBD products, making it a safe, effective option for everyone interested in CBD use.

That being said, producers have needed to adapt to the market of CBD products – including tinctures – in order to maintain profitability and quality reputation. One major factor when considering how to make CBD tincture is the extraction method by which they create their products – among the major methods being ethanol and CO2 extraction. The fact of the matter is that these extraction methods vary in their efficiency to create quality tinctures.

CBD Distillate and Isolate Product Formulation:

When considering the best extraction method for how to make CBD tinctures, it is important to define the specific product formulation you intend to create first. Here are some questions that will help you to define your product:

  1. Is your product going to be THC-ND? If so, you will need to use CBD isolate for this product.
  2. Is your product going to be full-spectrum, meaning it will include delta 9? You will be using CBD distillate for this product.
  3. Is your product going to be broad spectrum meaning it will exclude delta 9? You will be using CBD broad spectrum for this.
  4. Do you have a desired flavor profile? Hopefully you will be using natural terpenes rather than synthetic terpenes.
  5. What are your taste and texture goals for the CBD tincture? Hopefully you will have a great tasting tincture that has desirable texture free from solids from your hemp.

CBD vape cartridge, tincture and isolate held in hands

Terpenes can be formulated into a variety of cannabis derived products like vapes, tinctures and isolates.

How to Make CBD Tincture With Ethanol Extraction:

When considering how to make CBD tincture with ethanol, removal of the ethanol is a process that requires a significant amount of heat over a long period of time. This heat exposure will degrade the terpenes significantly. Many of the terpenes during this process are co-distilled or are destroyed in the process. The oil from this process is typically dark black and does not taste very good. The aroma profile is also not very desirable due to the breakdown of the terpene profile. The use of a crude extract for the tincture it’s not desirable because it doesn’t taste very good, doesn’t smell very good, and it also may contain too much delta 9.

Once the ethanol has been removed from the ethanol extract, the oil typically is introduced to a distillation process which removes the remaining terpenes. If your intent is to use distillate for your tincture, then you will have to find a way to add some terpenes to that tincture. The only resort is to purchase synthetic terpenes. you will also need to figure out how to reduce the amount of delta 9.

One other thing that needs to be considered is that if you do not distill the ethanol extract, it is very likely that you will have a significant amount of chemical contaminants in your extract. This is especially true if you are using denatured ethanol for your extraction process.

Process of distillation does not necessarily remove all of the denaturants from the extract. It may remove the vast majority of the solvent contaminant but there are always trace residuals remaining in the distillate.

It is always desirable to start with organic hemp biomass so there is little risk of those contaminants making their way into the tincture

How to Make CBD Tincture With CO2 Extraction:

If you use a supercritical CO2 process, you will have the option to start by harvesting the terpenes before CO2 extraction. This preserves many of the low boiling-point terpenes that are unique and significant to the strain of hemp that you are extracting.

You may also use a subcritical CO2 extraction in order to produce soupy mixtures of terpenes, cannabinoids and waxes. These “terpy” mixtures are typically very desirable for vapor pens but are not very desirable for the purpose of formulation. Because they have cannabinoids and waxes in them, using them as a way to introduce terpenes to a formulation is much more difficult to do and reproduce in practice.

The CO2 extraction also avoids the issues related to chemical contaminants that come from the use of denatured ethanol.

CO2 extraction is much less expensive to produce a kilogram of oil compared to ethanol extraction. For example, CO2 is 4 cents a pound compared to ethanol which is greater than $4 per pound. Solvent losses with ethanol extraction are a key cost contributor and drive a major increase in operating cost compared to CO2 extraction.

In summary, both CO2 extraction and ethanol extraction can produce desirable tinctures. However, CO2 extraction has an edge over ethanol extraction due to preservation of the terpene profiles and the avoidance of risk related to chemical contaminants. Finally, CO2 extraction is much less expensive than ethanol extraction. For those reasons CO2 is a better extraction method.

Find the Best CBD Distillate and Isolate Tinctures on the Market

When it comes to finding quality CBD products today, it can feel like finding a needle in a haystack. It can be hard to find third party test results, certificates of analysis, or any evidence of what extraction method was used to create a CBD distillate derived tincture. Luckily, there are clean, tranparent CBD companies like holus dedicated to providing the highest quality tinctures, topicals and edibles in the CBD industry.

Holus tinctures in the snow