Your first CBD oil: what to check before you buy
The label and the batch report tell you more than any advert. Here is what to look for.
Written by The shop's editorial team · Texts checked against the cited sources
Published on 20 September 2026 · 6 min read
First: what kind of product it is
On the Romanian market, CBD oils are usually sold as cosmetics. A cosmetic follows Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, is notified in the EU CPNP portal before it goes on sale and has its directions for use written on the label. CBD added to food and supplements is novel food and, as of October 2026, still has no EU authorisation.
So the first question is not “how strong is it” but “what does the pack say”. The label tells you what kind of product you are holding and how it is used, and the mandatory information must also be in Romanian (OG 21/1992).
The way to use it and the amount are those on the product label; we give no other directions. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medicines, ask your doctor or pharmacist first.
Full spectrum, broad spectrum or isolate
The type of extract tells you what else is in the bottle besides CBD. The choice comes down mostly to one thing: whether you accept traces of THC.
THC stays a controlled substance in Romania (Law 143/2000), and the law sets no threshold for the finished product. If you want to avoid any trace — say, because you take drug tests at work — choose broad spectrum or isolate and check that the report shows THC as “not detected”.
- Full spectrum: CBD together with the other hemp compounds — minor cannabinoids, terpenes — and possible traces of THC. It has a strong plant smell and aroma.
- Broad spectrum: the same plant compounds, but with the THC removed.
- Isolate: purified CBD, without the other plant compounds. Almost odourless.
Milligrams say more than the percentage
The percentage shows concentration, not quantity. A 10 ml bottle at 10 % and a 30 ml bottle at 10 % have the same concentration, but the second holds three times as much CBD. Look on the label for the milligrams in the whole bottle and the volume: without them you have nothing to compare.
For a first oil, a small bottle lets you find out whether the smell, the dropper and the carrier oil suit you before you buy a large one. How to turn percentages into milligrams and how to compare an oil with a box of capsules is in our guide to mg and percentages.
The lab report for your batch
Quality does not show in the percentage, nor in the price. It shows in the report of an independent lab, made on the batch your bottle comes from. A serious seller publishes it on the product page; how to read it step by step is on our Lab reports page.
- The batch number in the report is the same as on the bottle.
- The measured CBD matches the label, within a small margin, usually ±10 %.
- THC is “not detected” or present only in traces.
- There are results for heavy metals, pesticides and residual solvents.
- The lab's name, the method and the date of the analysis are shown.
The oil the CBD is dissolved in
CBD is dissolved in a carrier oil, which gives it its colour, its smell and the way it flows. On a cosmetic you find it in the ingredients list under its INCI name — the standard name used across the EU, which you can look up in the EU CosIng database.
Watch out for a common mix-up: “Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil” is hemp seed oil, which contains practically no CBD. CBD appears in the list as “Cannabidiol” or as a hemp extract, and its amount is shown by the milligrams on the label and by the lab report.
If the oil is flavoured, for example with lavender or mint, the essential oils are listed too, and fragrance allergens such as linalool or limonene are named separately.
| Carrier oil | In the ingredients (INCI) | What you notice |
|---|---|---|
| MCT oil (from coconut) | Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride | Thin, almost odourless, keeps well. |
| Hemp seed oil | Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil | Greenish, with a nutty, grassy smell; oxidises faster, so keep it cool and dark. |
| Olive oil | Olea Europaea Fruit Oil | Familiar smell, thicker. |
Who sells it and who is responsible for it
An online shop in Romania must show its details: name, tax ID (CUI), trade register number, registered office, phone and e-mail (Law 365/2002). If you cannot find them, you have no one to turn to when something goes wrong. Ours are on the About us page.
On the pack of a cosmetic you should also find the name and address of the responsible person in the EU, the batch number, the nominal content and either the expiry date or the open-jar symbol showing how many months the product can be used after opening (Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Art. 19). A sealed bottle can be returned within 14 days of delivery, an opened one cannot — the details are on the Returns page.
