Last Updated: April 24th, 2024

Hemp oil and cannabidiol (CBD) oil come from the same plant species (Cannabis sativa), but they aren’t the same product. Their chemical composition and manufacturing processes are different, and they don’t offer all of the same health benefits.

In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into hemp and CBD, shedding some light as to why there’s so much confusion between the two, and what the key differences are.

The Difference Between Hemp and CBD

Hemp and CBD are often used to refer to the same product, but they are not the same. Hemp seed oil or hemp oil is the extracted from the seeds of the Cannabis sativa plant, which does not contain CBD, whereas CBD oil uses the stalks, leaves, and flowers of the hemp plant which is rich in the compound.

Although hemp seeds do not contain CBD, they still have a rich profile of nutrients, fatty acids, and useful bioactive compounds that can have health benefits.

What is Hemp Oil?

Hemp seed oil is similar to other oils (like sunflower seed oil and jojoba oil) and is extracted via hemp seed cold pressing techniques.  It is high in omega fatty acids, including omega-3 and omega-6, as well as gamma-linolenic acid, vitamins E, B and D, and other antioxidant minerals.

Since the oil comes from the seeds and not the leaves, flowers or the stem of the cannabis plant, hemp seed oil does not contain CBD or THC.

Hemp Seed Oil Benefits

The benefits of hemp seed oil lie in its nutritional properties: it’s an excellent source of protein, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and antioxidants. It’s also commonly used to help treat dry skin conditions, such as eczema, and may reduce symptoms of inflammation. 

Hemp seed oil is often added to nutritional products — such as snack bars and yoghurt — or drizzled on vegetables or salads because it provides a high source of nutrients, but it’s moisturising and skin softening-properties make it a popular beauty and skincare ingredient too.

Hemp seed oil also has a variety of industrial uses, such as paints, varnishes and other coating materials, due to its drying properties.

Research suggests that hemp seed oil can help maintain cardiovascular health, but it can also help with:

• Relieving constipation.
• Lowering blood pressure.
• Iimproving skin conditions.
• Reducing pain and inflammation.
• Helping gastrointestinal conditions.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is extracted from the flowers, stalks and leaves of the industrial hemp plant. CBD oil has a more complex extraction process, as the CBD needs to be “pulled” from the plant, while leaving behind any unwanted plant material.

From there it is added to a carrier oil, such as coconut oil or hemp seed oil. Additional ingredients can be added to the oil depending on its intended use, such as rose hip seed oil. It can then be made into a variety of different products, from oils and edibles to skin and haircare products.

CBD is a non-psychoactive compound of the plant and therefore does not induce the “high” or other intoxication symptoms often associated with cannabis. Instead, it is associated with an array of health benefits.

CBD Oil Benefits

CBD offers many health benefits that are currently the subject of ongoing scientific studies, including the following areas:

• Inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
• Seizures due to epilepsy and related conditions.
• Chronic and acute pain, such as migraines and back pain.
• Stress, anxiety and depression and related symptoms, including insomnia and digestive disorders.
• Cardiovascular conditions, such as hypertension, heart disease and stroke.
• Addiction, including alcohol use disorder.
• Pre- and post-workout by speeding up recovery times. 
• Skin health.
• Cancer.

Why Is There Confusion Between Hemp and CBD?

Although hemp seed oil and CBD come from the same plant, they come from different parts of the plant. If you see a cannabis leaf on a hemp oil bottle when you’re browsing at your local health store, it won’t come as a big surprise that many people mistake one for the other.

There are also brands that intentionally take advantage of this overlap. Hemp seed oil is a much more affordable product, so many brands have chosen to add hemp seed oil to an existing food supplement or beauty product to take advantage of the current CBD trend.

Additionally, because CBD is still a banned substance on many online retail and advertising platforms (such as Google Ads, Facebook Ads and Amazon), brands may choose to advertise their products as hemp oil when, in fact, it’s actually CBD oil.

Both products offer essential health and wellness-supporting benefits, but if you’ve bought hemp seed oil thinking that it’s CBD, you’re not going to get the benefits, and you might conclude that that CBD isn’t effective.

I Want to Buy CBD, What Should I Look For?

Unfortunately, with so much misinformation on the web, and unscrupulous companies looking to make a quick profit, it can be tricky to make an informed decision. The CBD industry has little in the way of regulatory oversight which leaves CBD newbies open to making poor choices.

Here are two checks you can do:

1. Clear Labelling

There are definitely companies selling hemp oil but labelling it in such a way as to confuse the end consumer. Some make patently false claims, while others use vague wording to mislead the customer.

To avoid falling into these traps, you need to check the product label carefully. If you are looking to purchase CBD oil, the label should clearly reflect the concentration of CBD. It may be referred to as cannabidiol, hemp CBD, phytocannabinoid-rich hemp oil, full-spectrum hemp, hemp oil or PCR hemp extract.

If the label refers to Cannabis Sativa (hemp) seed oil, hemp oil or virgin hemp oil, then you are most likely looking at a hemp seed oil product.

2. A Reputable Brand

There are thousands of CBD products on the market, and a quick trip to your local health store will give you more options than you could ever need. So, how do you choose? The best place to start is with a reputable brand that has a strong track record and an unwavering commitment to quality.

At Purity Hemp Co, for example, we have built our company on the pillars of trust, transparency, integrity and confidence and these pillars inform everything that we do. We take the trust that our clients place in us seriously and are committed to ensuring that every product contains the highest quality ingredients and offer full transparency from seed to shelf.

The benefits of using a product from a reputable brand are countless. It means that you don’t have to do as much homework, you can ask for information and get advice you can trust. You have access to the data you need from where the hemp is sourced through to how the products are tested in third-party labs.

CBD and hemp oil are entirely different, and if you mistakenly purchase hemp oil thinking that it is CBD, you won’t get the results you’re looking for, and it may lead you to conclude that CBD doesn’t work for you. To ensure that you get the right oil, and are able to experience the full effects, it’s vital that you do your homework and find a reputable brand, then make sure you read the label and check the third-party lab reports before you purchase.

Conclusion

In summary, while hemp oil and CBD oil both originate from the Cannabis sativa plant, they are distinct products with unique properties and benefits. Hemp seed oil is rich in nutrients and beneficial for skin and overall health but does not contain CBD. On the other hand, CBD oil offers a range of potential therapeutic benefits due to its content of cannabidiol and other cannabinoids, without inducing any psychoactive effects.

Need additional help? Take our CBD Quiz for product recommendations in minutes or get in contact with our expert team – we’d love to hear from you.

We are Purity Hemp, the UK’s #1 Online CBD provider. Backed by science, and built on the principles of traceability, transparency & trust, we are dedicated to improving the health & wellness of people around the world. We are proud to be one of the only companies to guarantee full traceability from seed to shelf with our premium range of CBD products, tested by third-party, independent quality control analysts.