Best CBD Oils

What is CBD Hemp Oil? A Refresher

In case you’re coming to this page first, here’s a quick summary of CBD, otherwise known as Cannabidiol. CBD is an active compound that is found in plants of the cannabis family, including hemp. It is one of the best known of many cannabinoids in hemp, alongside THC. CBD is thought to have many beneficial effects and, unlike THC, lacks the intoxicating effects common with THC consumption.

CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system that we all possess as part of our nervous system. Although more research is needed, and the FDA has not recognized CBD as medicinal, there are many users who swear by the benefits. Some of these possible therapeutic benefits being explored include:

• Pain relief
• Anti-depressant, anti-anxiety
• Anti-inflammatory properties
• Reduction of seizures
• Antioxidant

When CBD is extracted from hemp, one of the most popular ways to consume it is to mix it into an oil “carrier”, creating full spectrum CBD oil that can be swallowed. These CBD hemp oils, or CBD tinctures, are taken under the tongue by using an included dropper and are made by many brands.

A Brief History of CBD Tinctures

Dating back hundreds of years, hemp and marijuana – collectively, Cannabis – have been believed to have restorative benefits. While potentially restorative, the psychoactive effects of marijuana led many to frown upon the use of cannabis plants in any form. Years of societal rejection of cannabis and the outlawing of its use created a stigma around cannabis up until very recently. Unfortunately, the hemp plant, which is a cousin of marijuana and rich source of non-psychoactive compounds such as CBD, was lumped into the discussion and subject to similar societal restrictions.

It was only a few short decades ago that researchers started to ignore the long-held societal stigma around the cannabis family and started researching the potential benefits of cannabis. CBD, among many cannabinoids found in cannabis, became a focal point for exploration.  With that, the seeds of the CBD revolution were planted.

As many of our readers will be aware, numerous states have since begun to loosen their restrictions and allow the growing, sale, and use of hemp products. CBD use slowly began to spread in the last eight to ten years as a result. In late 2018, congress passed the Farm Bill, specifically legalizing hemp cultivation and use. The floodgates opened.

Today, one of the most popular ways to take advantage of these loosened restrictions is through the use of CBD hemp oil and CBD tinctures, which are consumed. The best CBD oils and brands have created a cultural phenomenon, delivering quick relief to many – one drop at a time.

Why CBD Oils?

Once CBD is extracted from the hemp plant, there has to be a means to deliver it to users. One easy solution was to mix the CBD in an oil “carrier” that could be taken sublingually for absorption into the user’s system. Hemp seed oil, coconut oil, and MCT oils are frequently used as carriers.

Although there are numerous ways to ingest or apply CBD, oils have proven to be the most popular method. Perhaps it’s the quick absorption, or the familiar concept of taking supplements orally. Maybe it’s just that full spectrum CBD oils are the most common CBD product available. Whatever the reasons, there is a flood of CBD oils available to choose from. So how does one find the best CBD oils?

Finding the Best CBD Oils

When selecting a CBD oil product, as with any product that has an impact on one’s mind and wallet, it is a good idea to do your research. If you look at manufacturer websites, every one of them tells you they’re the best CBD tincture company around! Ignore that and look deeper. What is the company’s mission, source of the hemp, extraction method, testing processes, etc.

You will end up doing a lot of reading, and you may still find it hard to sort it all out and determine which are the best CBD oils. Instead, we propose to you the CBDtop10 shortcut:

CBDtop10 and CBD Hemp Oil Reviews

You guessed it!  The CBDtop10 team has done the research for you. We have done the reading of course, but beyond that we have tried hundreds of CBD oils. By applying our testing criteria objectively across all reviews, our goal is to narrow down the best CBD oils overall. We talk to the CBD brands making the products. We read customer reviews and engage in user forums.

Our selection process starts before we even purchase, or accept a CBD oil or CBD tincture for review.  In order to be considered for a review by the CBDtop10 team, we insist that the CBD oil meets three fundamental requirements:

• Hemp from what we believe is a reliable North American or European source
• Supercritical CO2 extraction (or similar non-toxic method) of CBD
• Independent testing and availability of test results

When a brand has met the above criteria and we have researched enough to know the company is a legitimate, quality-focused brand, we accept one or more oils to be considered in our search for the best CBD oils.

Our Scoring Metrics

Once we accept a qualified CBD oil for review, our process involves multiple members of our review team trying the oil and recording their impressions. We score the CBD hemp oil on five criteria:

• Taste – of course, we analyze how pleasant or unpleasant the taste is. Some oils are flavored, some are not. Sweetness of flavored oils is not necessarily a high-ranking factor. Some are full spectrum CBD oils, while others are made some CBD isolate. In full spectrum CBD oils, there is a grassy taste from the hemp plant. Aftertaste also comes into play.
• Delivery – is the oil smooth and clear, is it thick and dark? What sort of delivery method is used; eye dropper, spray, oral syringe? Is the recommended dosage indicated and, if a dropper is used, does it have volume markings on it?
• Potency – We look at the concentration of CBD per volume of oil. Most oils come in 15 milliliter or 30 milliliter bottles, so the concentration is easy to determine. Beyond that, how does the CBD land relative to its concentration level? Some oils are intended to have low concentrations for specific purposes, others are intended to pack a high-concentration punch.
• Effect – this is a subjective value that we discuss among ourselves to see how each team member “felt” the CBD. We don’t claim any medical solutions from CBD, but we consider how we feel in body and mind, how we sleep, etc.
• Price– This is easy enough to explain. We look at the price of oils in cents per milligram of CBD. Typically, this value ranges from about five cents to 15 cents per milligram, but we’ve seen higher and lower numbers. Surprisingly, some very high-quality oils have come in at the low end of this range, so it is possible to find great value.

In addition to these five criteria, we look at the practices and intangible values of each CBD brand to get a better feel for their mission. What we find during our digging can sway our opinions, and are often pointed out in our “Initial Thoughts” section.

The Best CBD Oils

And now…the big reveal! This is our latest list of the best CBD oils that we have reviewed. Please remember, this list can and will change as we review more and more CBD oils, so check back to stay current.

It is also worth pointing out that we do not claim to have tried every CBD oil out there. Between full spectrum CBD oils, CBD tinctures, CBD oils from isolate and many other variants – there are a LOT of oils to try.  Of the ones we have reviewed, here is our list of the top 10 best CBD oils:

CBD Oil                               Score (1-10)

CBDistillery 1000 mg Full Spectrum CBD Oil                        8.8

CBDistillery has excellent branding, a passionate staff and quality CBD. This oil is super smooth with only the lightest of hemp oil tastes and a mild aftertaste. It’s not the highest CBD potency on the market, but it’s pretty close to perfect for us. It could quickly become a daily ritual. Read our review here, or go to CBDistillery to shop, and use code CBDTOP10 for 20% off.

Medterra 1000 mg CBD Oil                                                      8.8

Medterra employs a strict “seed to table” process that results in products that earn awards. With organic hemp grown on their own Kentucky hemp farm and stringent third party testing, Medterra has earned the U.S. Hemp Authority quality certification. Read our review here, or go to Medterra to shop, and use code CBDTOP10 for 15% off.

HealthSmart Broad Spectrum 1500mg CBD Oil                   8.7

HealthSmart’s mission is to make terpene-infused CBD that, in their words, “provide natural solutions for optimal wellness”. We love to see the variations that CBD brands can devise with targeted terpenes, and so we took a look at their 1500 mg peppermint oil and loved what we found.  Read our review here, or go to HealthSmart to shop, and use code CBDTOP10 for 15% off.

Green Roads 50 mg Broad Spectrum CBD Oil                      8.7

Award-winning Green Roads is another industry leader known for quality products. This oil has a nice flavor, good CBD effects, and we love the oral syringe instead of an eye dropper. Read our review here, or go to Green Roads to shop, and use code CBDTOP1010 for 10% off.

Charlotte’s Web Original Formula Hemp Extract                  8.6

Charlotte’s Web is considered one of the founding fathers of the CBD industry. It has maintained that leadership role with innovative, quality products. This subtle tasting oil became a favorite of our reviewers. Read our review here, or go to Charlotte’s Web to shop, and use code CBDTOP10 for 10% off.

Bluebird Botanicals THC Free CBD Oil                                   8.6

Kat’s Naturals Heal Peppermint Hemp Oil                            8.6

Kat’s Naturals oils are formulated to address specific needs and goals; in this case the Heal is formulated to address physical ailments. Heal gave us calm, focused days and peaceful, untroubled sleep. At an incredibly low price, this oil is a bargain. Read our review here, or go to Kat’s Naturals to shop, and use code CBDTOP10 for 15% off.

Joy Organics 500 mg CBD Oil Tincture                                  8.6

This Colorado Company is a family business with a collection of diverse talents contributing to the process. Joy herself started the business out of her search for relief that led to her own CBD oils. The nano-emulsion technology in this oil delivers the CBD goodness quickly and effectively. Read our review here, or go to Joy Organics to shop, and use CBDTOP10 for 15% off.

Care Division Everyday 2000 mg Unflavored Oil                 8.6

We love this family-run, female-owned company and their products. From hemp grown on their own farm to their unique formulations adding herbs and nootropics, this is an impressive brand, and this oil proves it. Read our review here, or go to Care Division to shop, and use CBDTOP10 for 10% off.

Bluebird Botanicals Hemp Classic 6X CBD Oil                    8.5

Bluebird Botanicals offers a range of CBD concentrations across its line of products. The Classic 6X oil has been a solid favorite of customers and CBDtop10 reviewers. Subtle taste, pleasing effect, and reasonable pricing make this one a winner. Read our review here, or go to Bluebird Botanicals to shop.

All of the products we review have met our quality standards, but don’t think that these ten oils are your only acceptable choices. Most of the oils we have tried tend to cluster around the same scores (within a few tenths of a point), so there are a number of other oils on our site that are scored very close to these ten – do some exploring!

The Final Word on CBD Hemp Oil

The final word on these 10 best CBD oils is that there is no final word! This list is subject to frequent change. A number of oils have impressed our reviewers and scored well. So well, in fact, that they are either tied with or right on the heels of these 10 oils. As these and other new oils are evaluated or reevaluated, our list will definitely see some shuffling of positions.

We are always reviewing new CBD oils, and CBD brands are constantly launching innovative, high quality new CBD oils. We will keep an eye on these products as closely as we can. It’s a task that we love to do, and that we take seriously.

We are usually notified of new oils by the CBD companies, but we know we don’t catch them all. If you are using a CBD oil that you think could and should be one of our best CBD oils, please let us know! This is a communal undertaking and we look forward to conversations about our selections and opinions.