MCT oil and olive oil both work as carrier oils for CBD and are popular choices, because CBD dissolves in fat. However, they are slightly different fats: MCT oil is made of medium-chain triglycerides, usually from coconut, and olive oil is made mostly of long-chain oleic acid. We use organic MCT oil in our Orange CBD tincture and organic extra virgin olive oil in our Peppermint CBD tincture, and we chose these for each flavor because of taste, feel, and having a coconut-free option.
1. MCT Oil vs. Olive Oil: The Differences
Hemp extract is lipophilic, meaning it is fat-loving, so it needs a carrier oil as the fat for the CBD to be dissolved in. CBD is far more soluble in fat than in water, which is why tinctures are made with an oil base. Here is how the two oils we use compare.
*Fatty acid makeup and cold behavior describe these oils in general. Individual products vary.
Your body handles the two fats differently. Medium-chain fatty acids are absorbed into the portal vein and travel to the liver. Long-chain fats are packed into particles called chylomicrons and enter the lymphatic system first. That difference is why you will hear that MCT oil is fast and olive oil is slow. It is a reasonable inference from how our bodies process the different fats, but all of my research indicates that it is just a guess at this point. I have not found a human study that compares the two as CBD carriers in terms of bioavailability.
The one direct comparison of the two oils I found tested them as extraction solvents for cannabis flower, not as carriers for an existing CBD extract: in a 2020 study of medical cannabis oils, MCT oil pulled out and held onto more terpenes than olive oil over three months of refrigerated storage, while cannabinoid levels followed the same trend in both.
2. What the Research Says
I started my career as a biologist and environmental scientist and read many papers as part of my undergraduate degree in biology. I contributed to research papers on endangered species like the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher as a USGS field biologist, and I read a great many more to decide whether the data supported the conclusion. That habit is why I check three things before I trust a result: what or who was studied, how many, and whether it measured what the headline claims. The published work on CBD and dietary fat is limited, and most of it is not about the oils in our tinctures. This is what I was able to find, and it is not a systematic review.
The research supports the idea that fat matters for CBD but I could not find any significant human research that shows that MCT oil is faster or that olive oil is slower or that one is better than the other. So, at the end of the day it comes down to personal preference for both the carrier oil as well as the flavor.
3. Why We Use Both
Our Orange tincture uses organic MCT oil. MCT is nearly flavorless and thin, so the organic orange essential oil comes through cleanly. Our Peppermint tincture uses organic extra virgin olive oil. It has a richer feel, and it gives people who avoid coconut a tincture made without MCT oil. You can read more about that tincture in our peppermint CBD oil guide. Both carriers are USDA certified organic, which restricts synthetic pesticides and fertilizers on the crops they come from.
I chose extra virgin olive oil for our Peppermint because I wanted people who avoid coconut to have a choice. Wellness should always come with a choice.
4. FAQ: Choosing a Carrier Oil
Is olive oil an MCT oil?
No. MCT oil is made of medium-chain triglycerides, and olive oil is made mostly of long-chain fats, mainly oleic acid. Olive oil does not contain MCT in meaningful amounts, so it is not an MCT oil.
Can you use olive oil as a carrier oil for CBD?
Yes. CBD dissolves in fat, and olive oil is a fat, so it works as a carrier. Our Peppermint tincture uses organic extra virgin olive oil. Olive oil has a distinct taste, one I like, but this is purely a personal preference.
Which carrier oil is best for CBD?
I have not found published research that names one best carrier oil for people. Studies show that fat affects CBD absorption, and they do not show that MCT oil or olive oil is faster or slower. Choose based on taste, feel, and whether you avoid coconut, and take your CBD the same way each time so you can judge how it works for you.
Is MCT oil better than olive oil for CBD absorption?
Not that I can show. In an animal study, adding MCT to sesame oil improved how CBD dispersed in a lab digestion model, but pure sesame oil still gave better CBD absorption in the animals. I have not found a human study comparing MCT oil and olive oil for CBD.
What if I have a coconut allergy?
MCT oil is usually made from coconut, so ask your allergist before using an MCT product. In January 2025 FDA removed coconut from its list of tree nuts for allergen labeling guidance, and coconut allergy is less common than most food allergies, but coconut must still be listed in the ingredients. Our Peppermint tincture uses olive oil instead of MCT oil. Check the ingredient list and talk with your allergist before choosing any product.
Shop the carriers: Orange CBD tincture with organic MCT oil or Peppermint CBD tincture with organic extra virgin olive oil.
