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If you want to buy CBD oil, you have to choose between 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% or even 30%. But what exactly do these different concentrations mean for CBD oil? The concentration determines how much cannabidiol is contained in one drop and how strong the oil is, without making any medical healing claims. This article explains in a simple way how the common CBD strengths differ and which concentration is suitable for which situation.
What does the CBD concentration actually mean?
The concentration of a CBD oil indicates how much cannabidiol is contained in relation to the total amount of liquid. As mentioned above, the typical values are 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 30%.
Example: A 10% oil with 10 ml content contains about 1000 mg CBD, while a 5% oil with the same amount contains approx. 500 mg CBD.
It’s important to know: The higher the concentration, the more CBD there is in each drop.
That doesn’t mean that a stronger oil is automatically “better” – it just makes dosing easier, because you take in a higher amount of CBD with fewer drops. That can be useful for different types of use.
Areas of use for CBD oil
What CBD oil is well suited for
CBD oil is mainly made to be taken orally – ideal for anyone who wants to integrate cannabidiol into their everyday life flexibly and without much effort. Using it under the tongue is quick, and if you prefer it milder, you just mix a few drops into tea, yogurt or other foods. The oil is also occasionally used in homemade CBD cosmetics, for example in simple balms or oil blends where you can experiment a bit without much effort. Anyone who produces CBD cosmetics on a larger scale tends to use CBD isolates and distillates instead. In short: it’s suitable everywhere a simple, individually dosable application is needed.
- For oral use – easy and flexible to dose.
- For mixing into drinks or food.
- For small DIY cosmetic projects (non-professional)
- Ideal for quick, uncomplicated use
What CBD oil is less suited for
For vaping in vapes or vaporizers, CBD oil is not suitable – there are specially formulated CBD Liquids liquids for that. It also hardly plays a role in professional cosmetic production, because the carrier oil can easily throw formulas off balance. Likewise, it shouldn’t be seen as a replacement for medical treatments or diagnoses. CBD oil has its place – but not in every type of application.
- Not suitable for vaping (for that there are CBD Liquids liquids).
- Unsuitable for professional cosmetics, as the carrier oil can destabilize formulas.
- No replacement for medical treatments or diagnoses.
Use in DIY cosmetic projects
For DIY cosmetics you can use very different CBD concentrations – the key factor is how intense you want your final product to be and how much additional oil your formula can still handle. As a rough rule of thumb: The higher the concentration, the easier it is to dose the desired amount of CBD without your cream or ointment ending up too oily or too thin. This way you keep control over texture and strength without unnecessarily changing the base recipe. A concentration below 5% or above 30% is not suitable, as this affects the consistency of the ointments too much.
Practical tip: If you’re making CBD creams or ointments, a concentration between 10 and 20% is usually enough, because it offers a good balance between dose control and cosmetic stability.
CBD at 5% – the mild starter concentration
Let’s take a closer look at 5% CBD oil. With the low amount of active ingredient per drop, it’s easy to slowly increase the dose and test your individual tolerance. For anyone who wants to use CBD in small amounts at first, this is an ideal starting point. A 5% oil is a good option if:
- you want to try CBD for the first time,
- you react particularly sensitively to new substances,
- you want to carefully find your optimal dosage.
5–10% CBD oil in DIY cosmetics
CBD oil with a concentration of 5–10% is well suited for light DIY cosmetics like lip balm, body lotion or simple massage oils. At this strength you can easily work in a few more drops without affecting the consistency of your recipe.
CBD at 10% – the balanced all-rounder
Many users switch from 5% to a 10% CBD oil after a test phase, once they feel more comfortable with taking it. A 10% CBD oil is one of the most popular strengths because it offers a good middle ground between mild and concentrated. It’s suitable for people who:
- have already gained some experience with CBD,
- want a regular and moderate CBD intake,
- are looking for a sensible balance between dose control and efficiency.
CBD at 15% – for advanced users
15% oils are also a kind of “transition range” and sit between moderate and strong concentration. They offer flexibility, since they can be used at both low and higher doses – depending on individual needs. They offer a noticeably higher amount of CBD per drop and are suitable for people who:
- already have experience with CBD,
- have reached their limits with lower concentrations,
- prefer fewer drops per intake.
15 - 20 % in DIY cosmetics
It’s especially suitable for creams, ointments and other skin care products where you want a higher CBD density. Thanks to the 15–20 % in the CBD oil, just a few drops are enough, which keeps the consistency of your formula stable and makes dosing pleasantly easy.
CBD at 20% – for a clearly higher CBD requirement
With 20 %, you can reach your desired daily amount of CBD with just a few drops. This makes taking it easier and the bottle lasts longer. Oils in this strength are just right if you:
- have already been using CBD regularly for a longer time,
- need a higher amount per drop,
- want a concentrated product.
CBD at 30% – highly concentrated for experienced users
30 % oils are among the strongest concentrations available over the counter. Because of the high density, these oils should only be used by experienced users who already know how they tolerate CBD. They’re suitable for everyone who:
- knows very well how their body reacts to CBD,
- needs the maximum active ingredient content per drop,
- wants a product that lasts particularly long.
30 % for DIY cosmetics
This strength is mainly used for very concentrated DIY products, such as balms or spot applications. The high strength of 30 % CBD oil allows precise dosing with just a few drops, but it should be used carefully so that the ratio of oils in the recipe stays balanced.
Why higher concentrations aren’t automatically “better”
A high concentration simply means that there is more CBD per drop. This often lets you reach the desired amount faster, the bottle may last longer, and taking it overall becomes more straightforward because you need fewer drops.
For people who have no experience with CBD yet, a high concentration doesn’t automatically mean more control – quite often it’s the opposite, because it’s harder to make fine adjustments to the dose. That’s why it makes sense to start with a lower concentration first and increase it step by step if needed.
How do I find the right concentration?
The right CBD concentration depends on several factors:
-
Experience with CBD:
Beginners are better off with 5–10 %,
intermediate users with 15–20 %, and experts with 30 %. -
Desired dosing steps
Lower concentrations allow for finer adjustments. -
Regular or occasional use
If you use CBD daily, you’ll often go for 10 % or 15 %.
If you want to dose very concentrated, you’ll go for 20 % or 30 %. -
Body weight and personal perception
Everyone reacts differently to cannabinoids.
There’s no one-size-fits-all recommendation.
These differences also apply to DIY cosmetics. The right concentration depends on how intense you want the final product to be and how sensitive the desired texture is to additional amounts of oil. Anyone who makes creams, balms or oil blends themselves benefits from a suitable strength:
- 5–10 %: Easy to incorporate into light cosmetics without changing the texture.
- 15–20 %: Just a few drops are enough, which is ideal for ointments and creams.
- 25–30 %: Should only be used sparingly, as it significantly affects the ratio of oils.
Overview of CBD concentrations compared
5 % CBD
- mild strength
- ideal for beginners
- allows fine dosing
10 % CBD
- balanced
- popular for regular use
- good for users with initial experience
15 % CBD
- medium to high strength
- saves drops
- useful when demand has increased
20 % CBD
- noticeably concentrated
- fewer drops needed
- for experienced users
30 % CBD
- maximum active ingredient density
- very concentrated
- only suitable for practiced users
Lab analyses and quality for CBD oil
Regardless of the concentration, a high-quality CBD oil should always come from verified sources. Only then can you be sure that the chosen concentration really matches the stated values. Important quality features are:
- lab-tested cannabinoid levels
- produced from EU-certified industrial hemp
- clearly declared THC content (below 0.3 %)
- transparent information on the extraction method
- certificates confirming purity and safety
So which CBD concentration is the best?
There’s no universal answer, because the right concentration for high-quality CBD oils depends both on your personal needs and your previous experience. If you’re just starting out, it’s best to begin with lower strengths and slowly work your way up. More advanced users often go for higher concentrations, because they can get the same amount of CBD with fewer drops.
This doesn’t just apply to taking it, but also to DIY cosmetics: light formulas benefit more from 5–10 %, while concentrated creams or balms work well with 15–20 %. Very high strengths from 25 % upwards should be used sparingly so they don’t throw the texture off balance.
Since CBD is perceived differently by everyone, a slow start always makes sense – both when taking it and when experimenting with cosmetic formulations. Patience, small adjustments and paying attention to your own reaction help you find the right concentration for your desired use.
