What is CBD oil? Definition, formats and uses

A CBD oil consists of two elements. First, a hemp extract, generally obtained by supercritical CO2 extraction, more rarely with ethanol or other solvents. Second, a carrier oil (coconut-derived MCT oil, hemp oil, olive oil), which provides the dilution and helps the fat-soluble cannabinoids be taken up.

The concentration is expressed in milligrams of CBD per bottle or as a percentage. A 10 mL bottle labelled « 10 % » contains 1,000 mg of CBD, or roughly 4 mg per drop. That figure determines how much is used: someone taking 15 mg a day will use four to five drops of a 10 % oil, against ten drops of a 5 % oil.

The oils sold in France are distinguished by their cannabinoid profile.

• Full spectrum : contains the full range of cannabinoids naturally present in the plant (CBD, CBG, CBN, CBC, traces of THC ≤ 0.30 %), together with the terpenes and flavonoids. This is the format closest to the original plant matrix.
• Broad spectrum : keeps most of the cannabinoids and terpenes, but the THC is removed by filtration or chromatography. A rich cannabinoid profile, with stricter « THC-free » compliance.
• Isolate : CBD purified to 99 % and above, with no other plant compound. No flavour, no smell, no entourage effect.

The entourage effect refers to the hypothesis that cannabinoids and terpenes act in synergy. That hypothesis, put forward by Raphael Mechoulam in the 1990s, remains debated in the scientific literature and has not been validated by the European health authorities.

Until the spring of 2026, CBD oils were mostly sold under the status of food supplements. That classification placed them within the scope of the European Novel Food regulation (EU 2015/2283), which requires prior authorisation for any food not consumed to a significant degree before 1997 in the European Union.

On 9 February 2026 the EFSA published a provisionally safe daily dose of 0.0275 mg per kg of body weight per day, i.e. around 2 mg a day for a 70 kg adult. For comparison, a commonly used amount (10 to 25 mg of CBD per day) far exceeds that threshold. The consequence: from 15 May 2026, the DGAL applies the regulation strictly and has oils sold as food supplements without validated Novel Food authorisation withdrawn.

Several brands are reformulating their ranges as « cosmetic oils » or « external-use wellness oils » to escape the food regime. Oils explicitly presented for external use may still be sold, but the sublingual use many consumers make of them then falls outside the framework the manufacturer intended.

A product that complies with the French framework carries several key particulars.

• Hemp variety used and origin (ideally European, with documented traceability).
• CBD concentration in mg or as a percentage, with the total quantity in the bottle.
• Batch number and a link to a certificate of analysis (CoA) issued by an independent laboratory.
• THC content measured in the finished product, attesting that the 0.30 % threshold is respected.
• Ingredient list including the carrier oil.
• Legal notices: not advised for pregnant or breastfeeding women, minors, or people under medical treatment.

The absence of these elements should be a warning sign. In 2024 the DGCCRF recorded around 15 % non-compliance across more than 1,200 inspections, relating in particular to misleading claims and the presence of prohibited cannabinoids (HHC, H4CBD, THCP, classified as narcotics since June 2024).

The sublingual route is the most common: place the drops under the tongue and wait 60 to 90 seconds before swallowing. Absorption takes place through the mucous membranes, without passing through the liver. Any sensation felt comes on within 15 to 45 minutes.

The usual practice is to start with a small amount (5 to 10 mg of CBD once or twice a day) for two to three weeks, then adjust according to how it is tolerated. The sensations users report (relaxation, calm) are subjective and vary from one individual to another.

Using CBD oil remains not advised for pregnant or breastfeeding women, minors and people under medical treatment (possible interactions with anticoagulants, antiepileptics, immunosuppressants). Medical advice is recommended where the two are taken together.

In 2024 ANSES reported some twenty alerts to the poison control centres concerning contaminated CBD products (synthetic cannabinoids, THC contents above 0.3 %). Vigilance about the origin and the batch analyses remains essential.

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

• A CBD oil = a hemp extract diluted in a vegetable carrier oil.
• Three formats: full spectrum (rich, traces of THC), broad spectrum (THC-free), isolate (pure CBD).
• Since 15 May 2026, oils sold as food supplements are withdrawn unless Novel Food authorisation has been validated.
• Check on the label: variety, concentration, batch, CoA, THC content, legal notices.
• Not advised for pregnant or breastfeeding women, minors, or people under treatment.

• Conseil d'État, 29 Dec. 2022, no. 444887 (flowers/leaves) — primary
• EFSA Journal 2026 — Update statement CBD novel food — primary
• ANSES — Press release 19 June 2025 on the reprotoxic classification of CBD (PDF) — primary