Two very different customers come to me for CBD: the one who just wants drops to take in the evening, and the one who asks "do you have crystals?" without really knowing what they'll do with them. Both products contain CBD, but they're clearly not for the same use.
Crystals: the raw material
Crystals are CBD that's over 99% pure, in the form of a white crystalline powder, with no dilution or additives. No taste, no smell, no colour. It's the base you can then add yourself to whatever you like: a homemade oil, a cream, a bake, or even vaporize directly with the right equipment. It needs a minimum of gear – in particular a milligram-precision scale, because dosing by eye with such a concentrated product makes no sense.
Classic oil: ready to use
Classic oil is already diluted in a vegetable oil (often hemp or MCT oil) at a known concentration written on the label. One drop is a precise, repeatable dose, with no maths. Most of our oils are broad or full spectrum, so you get the entourage effect too. It's the simplest format for a daily dose under the tongue, with no equipment or calculation.
Price: a question of scale
Per milligram of pure CBD, crystals are generally cheaper, because production stops at extraction and purification, without the dilution and ready-to-use bottling steps. Classic oil costs more per milligram, but you're paying for the dilution work, precise dosing and ease of use. For occasional use, the difference hardly affects your budget. For a heavy user who makes their own products, crystals quickly become more economical.
When crystals make sense
If you like making your own products – creams, custom oils at the exact strength you want, or recipes – crystals are the right choice. They also suit those who want zero taste, zero smell and total control over what they consume, without terpenes or other cannabinoids.
When classic oil is still the right choice
If you just want to add CBD to your routine without thinking about it, with no scale or preparation, a ready-to-use oil is by far the simplest choice. It's also the format I almost always recommend to beginners, because it takes no technical knowledge to dose well.
A customer bought crystals to make his own after-sport balm with melted coconut oil. He comes back regularly to tell me about his attempts, sometimes failed, sometimes successful. His partner simply takes our classic oil every evening, without ever touching the crystals.
My straight advice
Don't go for crystals just because they seem "purer" or more technical. If you don't have a specific homemade project in mind, classic oil will do the job perfectly, with no complications. Keep crystals for the day you really have a recipe or specific use in mind. Browse our CBD oils and isolates.
