Developing and perfecting a process that complements the cannabis biomass and the product you wish to create involves precise extraction processes and can leave you with a potent final product. To make these products ready for consumption, it is essential that these compounds are suspended in a non-harmful suspension—typically through the use of carrier oils.
Carrier oils are oils that do not come from the cannabis plant directly but instead a source such as coconuts, avocados, or arnica. Due to their composition, fat solubility, and non-irritating properties, these oils make for simple and straightforward bases that allow cannabinoid delivery with greater comfort—not to mention other benefits such as anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, or moisturizing properties already present in the oil itself.
When you consider the profound aromatic properties of essential oils, you can appreciate how blending with a more common oil may prove to be gentler on the body. This ease of application is tied to both oral and topical forms of cannabis ingestion. Today’s blog will focus on the importance of selecting a complimentary carrier oil for making high-quality CBD products and what you should consider when purchasing products for personal use.
Common Carrier Oils
Let’s examine a few common carrier oils and how they complement CBD blends.
Unrefined MCT Oil (Coconut):
Coconut MCT oil is typically regarded as one of the best carrier oils available to product developers. MCT oil absorbs better than most other oils and has a higher CBD bioavailability. Additionally, MCT offers properties related to skin health and protection from bacteria.
Hemp Seed Oil:
Hemp seed oil, like hemp seeds, is regarded as a superfood due to the high concentration of vital fatty acids. This hemp-based oil has been connected to a number of health advantages, including reduced inflammation, reduced risk of heart disease, and antioxidant properties. As a carrier oil, it is relatively neutral in flavor, offers high CBD availability, and helps improve sustainability goals through using the entire cannabis (hemp) plant.
Avocado Oil:
This cooking ingredient can also be used as a carrier oil. For our purposes today, organic avocado oil (high in lutein) aids in the absorption of nutrients into the skin and is an excellent carrier oil for CBD skin products. For your mind and body, avocado oil also offers moisture, vitamin A and E, as well as oleic acid.
Why We Blend
We blend cannabis extraction with carrier oils for several reasons. Chiefly, because carrier oils become a simple and highly bioavailable canvas that we can use to deliver CBD experiences. These oils are easily absorbed by the body and allow for consistent dosing of CBD to taste in terms of flavor, aroma, and potency.
Potency would become much more difficult to measure without a carrier oil to dilute the finished product. Likewise, the aroma and concentration of skincare benefits would be lost—leaving only a highly psychoactive ingredient with a less pleasant means of entering the body.
Finding a balance between the characteristics of the CBD isolate, the aromatic additions, and the balance of health benefits from essential oils, carrier oils, and the CBD isolate is what makes the process of discovery and product creation so unique.
Like trying new foods, a greater palate to draw from makes for a more fulfilling experience and final product.
Abundant Labs is committed to elevating cannabis and experiences. Through thoughtful methods and complementary formulations, we create products that bring you closer to your wellness goals while maintaining the purity and comprehensive effects of the full-spectrum extraction.
Explore our product offerings here, or contact us for more information on the role of carrier oils in the cannabis process.