Have you purchased or made your own CBD oil? If so, you know it can be expensive and a labor of love! So of course you are you wondering how long it will last, and what you can do to keep it good for as long as possible. Here you will more about how to store CBD oil so it doesn’t go bad, so you can enjoy it for months to come.

A hand holding a dropper for CBD.

Article Features

  • Do’s and don’ts of storing CBD oil at home
  • Tips and tricks to preserve your favorite product
  • Want to make it easy? Have my premium CBD products delivered directly to your door – now shipping across the US!
A picture of Emily Kyles CBD product line.

Why You Will Love This Guide

You’ve done the research and finally purchased or made your own CBD oil products; congratulations!

But, you know they can be expensive, and now you’re left wondering: can CBD oil go bad?

After all, nothing would be worse than reaching for your favorite bottle of CBD oil and finding out it is no good anymore.

Thankfully, my Well With Cannabis Community members knows precisely how to store their CBD oil for long-term use.

In this guide, I will share those tips and tricks with you so you can extend the shelf life of CBD oil and your other favorite CBD products.

Does CBD Oil Go Bad?

While it is not common, the short answer is that, yes, CBD oil can go bad if not stored properly, especially over a long time.

There are a few reasons CBD oil may go bad.

It could be due to the type of CBD extract used to infuse the product, the carrier oil used, other ingredients used, or environmental factors.

From there, the most important factors that can influence CBD oil’s shelf life include:

  • temperature
  • humidity
  • oxygen levels
  • UV light exposure

This means that if we control these factors, we can have a longer shelf life for our favorite CBD oil tinctures.

A bottle of Emily Kyles CBD Oil.

Homemade CBD Oil

The type of CBD used to produce the final product you’re consuming will significantly affect the shelf life.

If you use CBD flower to make homemade CBD oil, you have a higher chance of your oil going bad more quickly.

This is because there is more room for error in an at-home kitchen, and the extraction process is not quite the same as in a lab.

Of course, this is not to discourage you, making your own edibles with CBD oil at home is a great option.

If you’re new to the process learn more abut how to decarb CBD flower and make CBD edibles here.

Storebought CBD Oil

When CBD products are produced in a controlled environment like a lab, there is more control over the process and less room for error.

To produce the CBD used in my high-quality products, we use the gold standard in extraction methods, CO2 extraction.

The supercritical CO2 extraction method allows us to eliminate many variables that cause the product to go bad, leaving behind just the CBD molecules and other compounds we want.

This produces a superior full-spectrum CBD oil with the longest shelf life possible.

This also allows us to provide a CBD oil expiration date printed on the bottle and accurate serving sizes verified by a certificate of analysis. Just scan the QR code on the bottle to check!

Carrier Oils Gone Bad

Carrier oils like MCT oil, coconut oil, olive oil, and hemp seed oil all have the potential to go rancid – with or without cannabis.

Each oil has its own shelf life determined by what it is made from, how it was refined, and how it has been stored.

While you may not notice any visual changes like mold, you will likely know when your oil has gone rancid because it has a terrible taste and smell, one of the telltale signs that the oil has gone bad.

Rancidity can be caused by exposure to light, heat, water, certain microbes, and even the air we breathe.

The good news? We can attempt to control many of these factors at home and reduce the chance of spoilage.

Additional Ingredients

If there are any organic compounds or added ingredients aside from CBD or hemp extract and a carrier oil, there is the additional potential for spoilage.

Ingredients like extracts and essential oils may affect the quality of the product.

If you’re turning your pure CBD oil product into food products, like CBD gummies, you will have an entirely different shelf life.

How to Store CBD Oil

Proper storage can make all the difference in preserving your high-quality CBD oil product.

The storage goal is to reduce the chance of exposure to the main factors responsible for spoilage or degradation: light, heat, water, microbes, and air.

Here are a few ways to extend the CBD oil shelf life for the best results:

Do:

  • Store in a dark place, eliminate any light source
  • Store in a dry place
  • Store in a cool place – room temperature or cold temperatures
  • Store in an airtight container
  • Store in a sanitized, new bottle if made at home. Dark bottles, like these amber glass bottles, are best.
  • Check the expiration date for each product

Do not:

  • Store in direct sunlight or near UV light
  • Store in a damp or humid space
  • Store in a very hot place or near intense heat
  • Store in an unclean bottle

Notes and Expert Tips

  • Storing your CBD oil bottle in a kitchen cupboard or medicine cabinet should be enough to keep your product safe.
  • The smell is a good indication of whether or not the fatty acids in the oil have gone rancid. No smell is a good sign!
  • Don’t ignore your topicals! Your favorite CBD creams and salves should be stored according to the rules above.
  • Always err on the side of caution. If you think it may be bad, throw it out!
  • Know that the type of CBD doesn’t matter, it still has the chance to go bad, and it’s still important to follow proper procedures to ensure a long shelf life
A hand holding a dropper for CBD.

How to Store CBD Oil

5 from 2 votes
Learn more about how to store CBD oil, so it doesn't go bad, and you can enjoy it for months to come.

Equipment

What You Need  

Instructions 

DO:

  • Store in a dark place, eliminate any light source
  • Store in a dry place
  • Store in a cool place – room temperature or cold temperatures
  • Store in an airtight container
  • Store in a sanitized, new bottle if made at home. Dark bottles, like these amber glass bottles, are best.
  • Check the expiration date for each product

DO NOT:

  • Store in direct sunlight or near UV light
  • Store in a damp or humid space
  • Store in a very hot place or near intense heat
  • Store in an unclean bottle
Do you have a question or need help?Join hundreds of members inside private Well With Cannabis Community for help, support, and to share your edible creations!

Frequently Asked Questions

When does CBD oil expire?

It’s a good idea to check the exact product’s expiration date printed on the label, as each product’s amount of time is unique.

What to do with expired CBD oil?

No need to waste an entire bottle of old CBD oil. If you’re concerned about consuming it, you can turn an old bottle of expired CBD oil into your favorite topical recipes, like CBD lip balm or a cannabis salve.

What else should I look for?

Check out my guide to buying a safe CBD product. The hemp plant is a bioaccumulator; you want to watch for heavy metals, pesticides, mycotoxins, and more.

What can CBD help with?

As a general rule, CBD is often used for general health and wellness as it interacts with our endocannabinoid system. If you want help managing your chronic pain or other severe conditions, contact your .

Is CBD oil the same as hemp seed oil?

No, hemp seed oil is nutritious but it doesn’t contain CBD. You can learn about the important differences in CBD oil vs. hemp seed oil here.

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About Emily

Hi, I’m Emily Kyle and I teach people just like you how to use cannabis to find joy, enhance productivity, improve relationships, and naturally support your overall health and wellness.

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