Some CBD users are more regular than others. If it’s been weeks or months since you used your product, you might wonder if your CBD oil can expire. Just like milk, there are clear ways to tell if your CBD oil is in good condition, about to expire, or past its expiration date.
How Long Does CBD Oil Last For?
There isn’t a uniform answer since every CBD product is different. There are several factors that influence the CBD oil shelf life.
However, many infrequent CBD users will still finish their product before expiration. A single serving size of our High Potency tinctures offers 50mg of CBD. A small bottle contains 750mg of CBD, or 15 serving sizes. The bottle will be consumed before any compound breakdowns if a serving size is taken every three weeks. If you are wondering, "Does CBD go bad?" you have come to the right place. In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about the shelf life of a CBD tincture.
Firstly, many factors affect the shelf life of your CBD oil. These are some of the most significant ones that affect its shelf life:
Quality of Ingredients - Much like other products, the higher quality ingredients you use, the longer the product tends to last. So it's no surprise high-quality CBD oil lasts longer than lower-quality oil.
That all boils down to how the hemp plant was grown and cared for, if it was grown organically, and more. Certain things like flavorings also impact the shelf life of a CBD product. For example, CBD gummies don't last as long as oils do because food spoils faster. Ingredients added to a CBD product, like a carrier oil such as MCT oil, can either make the CBD oil last longer or have a shorter CBD shelf life.
Extraction Process - At Lazarus Naturals, we employ cold ethanol extraction for our CBD oil. Ethanol is plant-derived and thus can be certified organic; many other hemp plant solvent options are synthetic or difficult to procure organically. There are numerous extraction methods, but ethanol is an ideal solvent for extracting hemp at our production scale—especially when factoring in things like safety, associated equipment, and process scalability, and cost. Further, the polarity of ethanol can be somewhat modulated by temperature. It's been noted by the FDA as "one of the safest methods for pharmaceutical and food grade processes.”
Another pure CBD oil extraction process is the carbon dioxide extraction (supercritical carbon dioxide), or CO2 extraction method. This method is the same one high-end perfumeries use to draw out essential oils from plants and flowers to make perfumes. It is a popular and efficient method that helps ensure that the product's CBD and other cannabinoids (like in full spectrum CBD and broad spectrum CBD) are extracted. It also yields a stable compound.
Packaging - There's a reason why CBD oil comes in amber or dark green glass bottles. They're specifically chosen to protect the fragile oil from sun and air damage. Clear glass bottles expose the oil to sunlight and heat from the sun which can cause the oil to oxidize at a faster rate leading to CBD oil expiration.
Storage - Studies have shown that light and heat can affect the decay and shelf life of CBD, causing it to degrade much faster. Proper storage and keeping the oil away from any direct light or heat sources allow it to keep its potency and viability—ensuring a longer shelf life.
Overall, CBD products typically last for one to two years before expiring. When this happens, the compound breaks down and becomes less potent over time.
Is it Bad to Take Expired CBD Oil?
Do you have expired CBD in your cabinet? If you are worried about your CBD oil tincture, just know that you will not get sick if you take expired CBD hemp oil. In fact, the product will most likely just lose its potency. Taking old CBD oil simply means you're not reaping the benefits that a normal CBD oil may provide.
Signs That CBD Oil Has Expired
Similar to many foods, taste and smell can determine if your CBD oil has expired. Bad oil will change significantly in texture and color from when you purchased it.
Here are a few telltale signs that your CBD oil has expired or lost potency:
Appearance - Look for cloudy or foggy oil as a sign that you should throw the product away. Consuming it in this form is ill-advised and potentially dangerous.
Smell - An old-fashioned smell test will also do the trick. If it smells different from when you first purchased it, it's likely a sign the product has expired.
Change In Texture - If you notice your CBD oil has changed from a thicker consistency to runny, that’s a sign that it may be expired.
Making CBD Oil Last
Don’t know how to store CBD oil? Our experts can help. CBD oil is a sensitive compound, which means it requires a specific environment for it to stay as fresh as possible. When storing your CBD oil, be aware that these products are sensitive to changes in light, oxygen, and temperature. When shopping for a product, look for a dark glass bottle to help with temperature control. It should be in an airtight container to prevent oxygen and contaminants from entering the glass bottle. Store your CBD oil in a cool, dry place like a pantry. Keep the product away from the sun, strong humidity, or extreme cold to maintain peak potency. That way, you’ll be enjoying the benefits of your CBD oil for a long time.
You should also keep the product in its original packaging. This will prevent direct exposure to air or light and keep the cannabinoids from breaking down.
Choose the CBD Product for You
Now that you know everything there is to know about your CBD oil shelf life, it's time to put these tips into action! If you're looking for a new CBD oil tincture, CBD topical, or CBD softgels, we’ve got you covered.
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