How to use CBD: formats and daily rituals

Sublingual oils

Placed under the tongue for 60 to 90 seconds before swallowing, oil remains the market's historical format. It offers a dosage adjustable drop by drop and a relatively fast absorption (15 to 45 minutes). Oils sold as food supplements have nonetheless been withdrawn from the French market since 15 May 2026, for lack of Novel Food authorisation. Several brands are reformulating their ranges as "external-use cosmetic oils" so as to remain marketable.

Ingested products: gummies, capsules, infusions

The oral route offers precise, consistent dosing, with a later effect (60 to 120 minutes) but a longer-lasting one. Since 15 May 2026, these products too have been withdrawn from the market without Novel Food validation. Only infusions of hemp leaves without buds remain marketable; see our guide to preparing hemp herbal tea to get the dosage right.

Topical cosmetics

Creams, balms, cooling gels and roll-ons make up the segment that is legally the most stable: pure cannabidiol has been listed in the CosIng database since February 2021. The action remains local, without significant systemic passage, and the authorised vocabulary is limited to skin comfort.

E-liquids for electronic cigarettes

CBD e-liquids fall under the European TPD directive, with bottles limited to 10 mL, prior ANSES declaration and a ban on sales to minors. Strictly to be avoided: vaporising a sublingual oil, formulated for the oral route, in a vaping device. The risk here is lipoid pneumonia.

A few pointers to help you find your way:

• Beginner: a cream or a balm applied to a specific area, with no complex dosing to manage.
• Regular user seeking precision: Novel Food-compliant capsules or gummies, or an external-use cosmetic oil.
• Targeted application after sport: a balm or cooling gel.
• Vaper: a dedicated CBD e-liquid, never a sublingual oil.
• Athlete subject to anti-doping testing: an isolate certified THC-free, with a "sport-tested" label.

Regular use counts for more than one-off use. Set a precise moment in the day, combine the product with other wellness practices (physical activity, sleep hygiene, breathing), and keep a logbook over two to four weeks to observe how you feel. Frequently changing brand or spectrum makes that observation harder.

CBD remains inadvisable for pregnant or breastfeeding women, women of childbearing age, minors and people on medical treatment, because of documented interactions (anticoagulants, antiepileptics, immunosuppressants). In March 2025 the ANSES proposed classifying CBD as "presumed toxic to human reproduction" on the basis of animal studies. In addition, a full-spectrum oil can lead to a positive saliva test for THC at the wheel, regardless of the legality of the product consumed.

CBD is not a medicine. If you have medical symptoms, consult a healthcare professional.

Which format should you choose to start with?

A topical cream or balm is the simplest option: no complex dosing, and skin tolerance observable within a few days. The sublingual route calls for more rigour and follow-up over several weeks.

Can you combine several CBD formats?

Yes, but keep an eye on the total quantity absorbed systemically, in light of the provisionally safe daily dose set by the EFSA at 0.0275 mg/kg/day for isolates.

Is vaping CBD less risky than smoking it?

Vaping avoids combustion, and therefore tar and carbon monoxide. The long-term effects nonetheless remain to be documented, and no sublingual oil should ever be vaporised.

Which format is best when travelling?

Cosmetics in bottles of less than 100 mL are the easiest to carry in the cabin within the European Union. Outside the EU, always check the regulations of the destination country before you leave.

• Conseil d'État, 29 Dec. 2022, no. 444887 (flowers/leaves) — primary
• EFSA Journal 2026 — Update statement CBD novel food — primary
• ANSES — Proposal to classify CBD as a presumed reproductive toxicant (21 March 2025) — primary
• Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 Novel Food — EUR-Lex — primary