Last updated: October 2026
Hemp oil and CBD oil aren’t the same. Hemp oil (hemp seed oil) is pressed from seeds and contains little or no CBD. CBD oil is made from the flowers and leaves, and contains a stated amount of CBD in mg. If a label shows no CBD in mg, it’s almost certainly hemp seed oil.
Below: a side-by-side comparison, how much CBD is really in hemp seed oil, how to read labels (including “hemp extract” and big mg numbers), UK rules, and which to choose.
Hemp oil vs CBD oil at a glance
| Hemp oil (hemp seed oil) | CBD oil | |
|---|---|---|
| Made from | Cold-pressed hemp seeds | Extract from hemp flowers and leaves, diluted in a carrier oil |
| CBD | Little or none | Stated in mg per bottle and per drop |
| Main content | Omega-6 and omega-3 fats, vitamin E | CBD plus the carrier oil (often MCT) |
| Taste and colour | Nutty, green | Depends on the extract and carrier |
| Typical use | Cooking, dressings, skincare | A few drops a day as a food supplement |
| Price | Cheap, like other cooking oils | Higher, because of extraction, testing and compliance |
| UK status | Ordinary food | Novel food; must be on the FSA public list |
How much CBD is in hemp seed oil?
Seeds contain almost no cannabinoids; traces come from contact with the plant’s flowers during harvest. A 2024 German study of hemp seed oils found total cannabinoids of 9 to 279mg per kg of oil. That’s roughly 0.1 to 2.5mg in a whole 10ml bottle, compared with 500mg or more in a typical 10ml CBD oil.
So hemp seed oil can be a healthy food, but it isn’t a way to take CBD.
How to tell them apart on a label
| Label says | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| “Cannabidiol” or “CBD” with an mg amount | CBD oil |
| “Cannabis sativa seed oil” | Hemp seed oil (common on cosmetics) |
| “Hemp oil 50,000mg” with no CBD figure | Usually the weight of hemp seed oil, not CBD |
| “Hemp extract” or “full plant hemp” | Could be either; look for mg of CBD and a lab report |
| Cannabis leaf picture, no lab report | Treat with caution |
Marketplace listings with huge mg numbers and low prices are the most common source of confusion. See how to avoid CBD scams and CBD oil strengths explained.
What each is used for
- Hemp seed oil: drizzled on salads or stirred into food (it doesn’t suit high-heat cooking), and as a moisturising oil in skincare. Like other seed oils, it’s a source of polyunsaturated fats.
- CBD oil: taken in measured drops, often as part of a daily or evening routine. See how to take CBD oil and what CBD feels like.
Some CBD oils use hemp seed oil as the carrier instead of MCT. See best carrier oil for CBD.
UK rules: why they’re treated differently
Hemp seeds and hemp seed oil have a long history as food, so they can be sold like any other cooking oil. CBD extracts are classed as a novel food: CBD food products must be linked to an application on the FSA’s public list, and must contain no more than tiny traces of THC. See is CBD legal in the UK? and hemp vs marijuana.
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.
Which should you choose?
- Want CBD? Choose a CBD oil with the CBD amount in mg, a batch lab report and an FSA public list listing.
- Want a nutritious oil for food or skin? Hemp seed oil is a good, inexpensive option.
- Want to avoid THC? Choose broad spectrum or isolate CBD. See full spectrum vs broad spectrum.
Our Broad Spectrum CBD Oil contains broad spectrum CBD in organic MCT oil, with the CBD content stated on the label, and batch lab reports available on request. We don’t recommend our products during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
See what is CBD? for everything a beginner needs to know.
FAQs
Is hemp oil the same as CBD oil?
No. Hemp oil is pressed from seeds and contains little or no CBD. CBD oil is made from flowers and leaves and contains a stated amount of CBD.
Does hemp oil contain CBD?
Only traces. Testing of hemp seed oils found about 0.1 to 2.5mg of cannabinoids in a whole 10ml bottle.
Why is hemp oil so much cheaper than CBD oil?
It’s a simple pressed seed oil. CBD oil needs extraction, testing and UK novel food compliance.
Is hemp oil on Amazon real CBD?
Often not. Big mg numbers without a CBD figure usually refer to hemp seed oil. Check for mg of CBD and a lab report.
Can hemp oil make you fail a drug test?
It’s very unlikely, as it contains only traces of cannabinoids, but no hemp product can be guaranteed THC-free. See our drug test guide.
Which is better, hemp oil or CBD oil?
They do different jobs. Hemp seed oil is a food and skincare oil; CBD oil is how you take CBD.
Sources
- Lindekamp N et al. Quantification of sixteen cannabinoids in hemp seed edible oils. Food Addit Contam Part A, 2024.
- Citti C et al. Analysis of cannabinoids in commercial hemp seed oil. J Pharm Biomed Anal, 2018.
- FSA. Cannabidiol (CBD) guidance.
- FSA. CBD products list.
