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How to Make Your Own CBD Topicals

By now, most of us are familiar with the unique enjoyment that we can get from using Cannabidiol (CBD) in topical form.  CBD and other compounds are actually very capable of binding to cannabinoid receptors in the skin, joints and muscles when applied directly to the problem area.  That being said, the hemp market offers a rich array of topicals these days, in all kinds of formulas, milligram strengths, consistencies and more.

But, if you’re the DIY type, then you might want to try making a topical of your own.  This allows you to really customize the recipe according to what it is that you want out of a topical formula.  And, the good news is that it’s actually easier than it sounds.

Which One to Go With?

First, you’ll want to decide whether you want to make a topical with flower or CBD oil.  Flower has the advantage of letting you pick from a wide variety of strains, but CBD oil has the advantage of being easier to work with.  We will give you a moment to choose…

With Flower:

Should you go the flower power route, the good news is that it’s still not a difficult process.

First, You Will Want to Make a Hemp Flower Infusion

  1. Start by lining a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Sprinkle an even layer of raw flower buds – about 3.5 grams.
  3. Bake at 250 degrees for 20 minutes.
  4. Then grind them up coarsely.

Next, You Will Make Your Infusion

  1. Choose an oil that you know works with your skin type, such as jojoba oil or olive oil.
  2. Pour about 2 cups of this oil into a saucepan.
  3. Now, add the coarsely ground flower.
  4. Simmer on low for about 2 and a half hours, and make sure that the mixture never boils, as this can degrade the compounds and make them useless.

Now, you have your own homemade hemp extract that can be used just like the hemp extracts that companies put into a CBD oil formula. Because you used 3.5 grams to make this oil, you now have a 3500mg strength extract.

With CBD Oil:

If you want to skip the whole step of making your own CBD oil, just use a bottle of CBD oil that contains only pure hemp extract and a carrier oil.  It’s completely usable as a topical as long as it doesn’t contain any flavoring ingredients that can irritate the skin or leave behind a sticky residue from their sugar content.
But, we do recommend that in this case, you go with a higher-than-average milligram strength – at least 2500mg – because as we’ll discuss more in the next section, to make, say, a 1000mg topical, you would end up needing to use an entire 30ml bottle of a 1000mg tincture.  With a higher strength, you can use less oil and get the same strength, to leave room for the other ingredients.

Determine the Desired Milligram Strength

Now that you have the main component of the topical, the CBD extract, ready to go, let’s talk a little bit about dosing.  How much of your extract that you use, whether it be a homemade flower extract or a bottled CBD oil, depends on how potent you want the topical formula to be.

To compare, most topical formulas on the market contain 500 to 1000mg per ounce.  So, consider the amount of hemp in each dropper of your pre-bought CBD oil, if that’s what you’re using, to reach somewhere around this amount of milligrams in the total product.  Or, if using your 3500mg homemade extract, simply use, say, a 7th of that oil to make your topical for a 500mg strength, or 2/7th to make a 1000mg formula.

Determine the Type of Formula 

Next, decide what kind of topical you’d like to make.  There are plenty of online recipes for salves, body butters, creams, lotions, massage oils and what have you, and all of them contain some type of natural oil in them.  Simply switch out a portion of the oil for your CBD oil to get the desired consistency and the desired milligram strength of cannabidiol.

Add Additional Active Ingredients (Optional)

From there, you can decide whether you wish to add additional active ingredients, such as a menthol extract that can cool the muscles and joints, or lidocaine that offers a numbing effect.  With most of these ingredients, a little goes a long way, so don’t overdo it.

Add Fragrance (Optional)

Finally, you can add the fragrance of your choice, if you want your topical to have a pleasant aroma.  We recommend using about 10-20 drops of your favorite essential oil blend.

Voila! Now You Can Use Your DIY CBD Topical

Now, you have your very own CBD topical that can be used as needed for all kinds of external purposes.  And, each time you use it, you can enjoy a sense of pride that comes with being a DIY hemp guru.  Feel free to experiment with different topical formulas, milligram strengths and fragrances to make your own collection at home.

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