Last updated: October 2026
For most UK buyers, broad spectrum is the one to choose. Full spectrum contains everything from the hemp plant, including THC, a controlled drug in the UK. Broad spectrum keeps the other cannabinoids and terpenes but removes the THC. Isolate is pure CBD and nothing else: choose it if you want no taste or CBD only.
This guide compares all three side by side, clears up the “0.2% THC” myth, looks at what the entourage effect research really shows, and helps you choose.
Full spectrum vs broad spectrum vs isolate at a glance
| Full spectrum | Broad spectrum | Isolate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBD | Yes | Yes | Yes, 99%+ pure |
| Other cannabinoids (CBG, CBN, CBC) | Yes | Yes | No |
| Terpenes and flavonoids | Yes | Yes, some may be added back | No |
| THC | Yes, in small amounts | Removed (should test as not detected) | No |
| UK legal position for consumer products | A Class B controlled drug unless it meets the Home Office exempt product test (no more than 1mg THC per container) | Can be sold as a food supplement with THC not detected and a link to the FSA public list | Can be sold as a food supplement with THC not detected and a link to the FSA public list |
| Drug test risk | Higher | Very low | Lowest |
| Taste | Earthy, “hempy” | Mildly earthy | Neutral |
| Typical use | People who want every plant compound and aren’t tested | Most people in the UK | Zero tolerance for other compounds, or neutral taste |
Our pick
CBD Oil Broad Spectrum
Broad Spectrum CBD Oil is just broad spectrum CBD and coconut MCT oil, in 500mg, 1,000mg or 2,000mg. Half a pipette is 0.35ml; about 0.2ml on the 500mg (0.1ml on the 1,000mg) gives 10mg.
Add Broad Spectrum CBD Oil 500mg to bag or choose another strength
Broad spectrum with 0% THC, every batch third-party lab tested, made in the UK. For adults only. We don’t recommend our products during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Free UK delivery over £45.
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View productWhat is full spectrum CBD?
Full spectrum CBD keeps the hemp plant’s natural mix of compounds: CBD, minor cannabinoids such as CBG and CBN, terpenes, flavonoids and a small amount of THC. It is common in the US, but in the UK THC is a Class B controlled drug, which makes full spectrum a legal grey area (see below). For the detail, including how much THC it can contain, read our guide to what full spectrum CBD is.
What is broad spectrum CBD?
Broad spectrum starts as a full plant extract, then the THC is removed, usually by chromatography or distillation. The result keeps CBD alongside other cannabinoids and terpenes, but with THC at levels a lab can’t detect. Some brands add selected terpenes back for flavour or to shape the blend.
That makes broad spectrum the middle ground: a wider plant profile than isolate, without the THC. Our Flow, Sleep, Relief and Broad Spectrum CBD oils and our Broad Spectrum CBD Capsules are broad spectrum with 0% THC, while our Evolabs flavoured oils are made with high-quality, tested CBD. Our Sleep and Flow oils also add terpene blends and botanicals.
What is CBD isolate?
CBD isolate is CBD on its own, refined into a white crystalline powder that is usually 99% pure or more. Everything else from the plant is removed. Isolate has no taste or smell, which makes it popular for edibles, drinks and flavoured oils. It is the simplest option if you want CBD and nothing else. Read more in what is CBD isolate? and what is CBD distillate?
Is full spectrum CBD legal in the UK?
Only in narrow circumstances. You will often read that CBD is legal in the UK “with up to 0.2% THC”. That is a myth: the 0.2% figure relates to licences for growing hemp, not to finished products.
According to the Home Office, any CBD product containing a controlled cannabinoid such as THC is itself a Class B controlled drug, unless it meets the “exempt product” definition. One of the conditions is that it contains no more than 1mg of each controlled cannabinoid in the whole container, not per dose, and that it isn’t designed to deliver THC. Many full spectrum oils sold online can’t show that they meet this test.
CBD food supplements also need to be linked to an application on the FSA public list. Broad spectrum and isolate products with THC “not detected” avoid the THC question altogether. See is CBD legal in the UK? and the FSA’s CBD decision explained.
The entourage effect: what the evidence says
The “entourage effect” is the idea that the compounds in hemp work better together than CBD does alone. It is the main argument for full and broad spectrum over isolate.
- The theory: a widely cited 2011 review argued that terpenes and minor cannabinoids could add to or shape CBD’s effects.
- The best-known human data: a 2018 review of observational studies in people with hard-to-treat epilepsy found those using CBD-rich plant extracts reported improvement at lower doses than those using purified CBD. But on the standard measure of response, there was no difference, and the authors worked for an extracts company.
- What’s missing: there are no good head-to-head trials comparing full spectrum, broad spectrum and isolate for everyday use.
So the entourage effect is plausible and many people prefer whole-plant products, but it isn’t proven. We choose broad spectrum because it keeps the wider plant profile without THC. Read more: the entourage effect explained, what are terpenes? and cannabinoids guide.
Which type is best for you?
| If you… | Choose |
|---|---|
| Are drug tested at work, drive for a living or play competitive sport | Broad spectrum or isolate with THC “not detected”. See CBD and drug tests |
| Want the wider plant profile without THC | Broad spectrum |
| Want no taste, or CBD only | Isolate |
| Want an evening routine | Broad spectrum with calming terpenes. See best CBD oil for sleep |
| Want daytime support for stress | Broad spectrum, perhaps with adaptogens. See best CBD oil for anxiety |
| Are new to CBD | Broad spectrum at a low strength. See CBD dosage |
Whichever type you choose, the amount of CBD you take matters more than the spectrum. The FSA’s 10mg a day figure is precautionary advice rather than a legal limit, set while longer-term safety research continues. At Evopure we think it is a very cautious figure, and many adults use more. If you go above it, increase slowly, and check with your GP or pharmacist first if you take any medication.
How to check what you’re really buying
Labels aren’t always accurate. Independent testing of CBD products sold in the UK has found many don’t contain the amount of CBD stated, and some labelled THC-free contain THC. Before you buy:
- Read the lab report (certificate of analysis). It should be from an independent lab, match the batch number on your bottle, and show THC as “ND” (not detected) for broad spectrum and isolate.
- Check the cannabinoid profile. A broad spectrum product should show other non-controlled cannabinoids such as CBG or CBC, not just CBD, with THC (and CBN, which is also controlled in the UK) not detected.
- Look for the FSA public list. The product should be linked to an application on it.
- Check the strength in mg per bottle and per drop, not just the percentage.
See how to read CBD lab reports and our own batch lab reports.
Types of CBD products
The spectrum describes what is in the extract. The product type describes how you take it.
| Product | How you take it | Usually felt | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil (drops) | Under the tongue for about 60 seconds | 15 to 45 minutes | Flexible dosing, the most popular choice |
| Capsules | Swallowed like a vitamin | 1 to 2 hours | Exact dose, no taste |
| Balms and creams | Massaged into the skin | Locally | Targeted massage after exercise |
| Gummies and drinks | Eaten or drunk | 1 to 2 hours | Convenience, often made with isolate |
Compare formats in CBD capsules vs oil and how to use CBD balm.
For capsules, see best CBD capsules UK.
Ready to buy? Use our checklist for choosing the best CBD oil in the UK.
Video: isolate, full spectrum and broad spectrum CBD
A short explainer comparing the three main types of CBD extract.
Related guides
- THC, not CBD, is the cannabinoid best known for raising heart rate. See can CBD cause heart palpitations for why the type of CBD matters.
- How CBD is extracted from hemp, step by step.
- CBC (cannabichromene), one of the minor cannabinoids in broad spectrum oil.
- Is CBD oil halal or haram?, where the type of CBD makes a big difference.
- Which athletes use CBD and what drug-tested athletes should choose.
- For how each type tastes, see what does CBD oil taste like?
- Delta 8 UK guide: the law, risks and drug tests.
- Worried about THC traces? Our guide to whether CBD oil makes you feel high covers what is safe to expect.
- Drivers should read CBD and driving: roadside tests and the THC limit before choosing a full spectrum oil.
- Travelling? Many countries are strict about THC, so check is CBD legal in my country before you pack any CBD.
- For how THC content and dose affect what you might feel, see CBD side effects explained.
- All three types are extracted from hemp, the low-THC type of cannabis; see is hemp the same as weed?
- For what CBN is and why it is controlled, see CBD vs CBN explained.
- Before blaming the spectrum, check the other common reasons CBD is not working.
- For other label terms such as distillate, COA and CBDA, see our CBD glossary of common terms.
- Spectrum is one choice; format is another. See CBD oil vs gummies vs capsules.
- Spectrum and strength are separate choices: for mg per drop and the strongest oils in the UK, see our CBD oil strength guide.
- Is Love Hemp CBD oil full spectrum?
- Some brands sell both types: see how Orange County CBD oil splits its full and broad spectrum range.
- For how long CBD itself lingers, and why trace THC matters more for testing, read how long does CBD stay in your system?
- Does full spectrum feel different from broad spectrum? See what CBD feels like.
- For a worked example of one brand selling both types, see Blessed CBD broad and full spectrum oils.
- See how one brand sells both styles in CBD Brothers’ whole plant and THC free oils.
- For a full guide to choosing one, see broad spectrum CBD oil: what it contains, how to check it is THC-free and mg per drop.
- Not every minor cannabinoid is legal on its own in the UK: read what THCV is and why it is controlled.
- Thinking about a stronger bottle? See full spectrum and broad spectrum 2000mg CBD oil and the 1mg THC rule.
- Every oil and capsule in our CBD Black Friday sale is broad spectrum and THC free, from 27 to 30 November.
- Some brands sell both types side by side; our Bristol CBD guide shows how its broad spectrum and full spectrum oils differ.
- For a full spectrum example, see Provacan CBD oil: drops per 10mg and THC.
- Another full spectrum example: Cibdol CBD oil, drops per 10mg and THC.
- For an example of a UK full spectrum brand and what it says about THC, see our Hempine CBD guide.
- Some brands sell both: Love CBD calls its Entourage range full spectrum and its Dutch and Gold oils broad spectrum.
Sources 4
- Home Office. Drug licensing factsheet: cannabis, CBD and other cannabinoids.
- Food Standards Agency. Cannabidiol (CBD) guidance for businesses.
- Russo EB (2011). Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects. British Journal of Pharmacology.
- Pamplona FA et al (2018). Potential clinical benefits of CBD-rich cannabis extracts over purified CBD in treatment-resistant epilepsy: observational data meta-analysis. Frontiers in Neurology.
This guide is general information, not legal or medical advice. Evopure makes broad spectrum CBD products.
