# Hemp oil vs CBD oil — same plant, completely different products

> Hemp oil is pressed from the seeds and is a food. CBD oil is a flower extract classified as a non-authorised novel food in the EU. Here is the difference, line by line.

**Källa:** https://helsama.se/en/kunskap/hampaolja-vs-cbd-olja/

**Kategori:** grunderna · **Publicerad:** 2026-06-11 · **Uppdaterad:** 2026-07-13

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Hemp oil and CBD oil come from the same plant but are completely different products. **Hemp oil (hempseed oil) is pressed from the seeds**, contains essentially no CBD and is a legal food. **CBD oil is an extract from hemp's flowers and leaves** containing cannabidiol, classified as a non-authorised "novel food" in the EU. The mix-up is common because both are colloquially called "hemp oil".

## The difference, line by line

| | Hemp oil (seed oil) | CBD oil |
| --- | --- | --- |

| Raw material | Hemp seeds | Flower and leaves |

| Production | Cold pressing | Extraction (CO₂ or ethanol) |

| Main content | Polyunsaturated fats (omega 3 & 6) | Cannabidiol (CBD) |

| CBD content | Trace amounts | High |

| Taste | Nutty, green | Depends on carrier oil & extract |

| Legal status in EU | Food (established use) | Non-authorised novel food |

| Common use | Food — dressing, cold use | Sold as drops/supplement |

## Why are they mixed up?

Both are often sold under the name "hemp oil". But the plant part is what determines the product and how it is regulated: seed versus flower/leaf.

**Hempseed oil** counts as a regular food. The seeds are essentially free of cannabinoids and have long historical food use. See Sweden's Food Agency Kontrollwiki, article 664. Read more in [what is hemp oil](/kunskap/vad-ar-hampaolja) — and learn why it shouldn't be used for frying in [can you fry in hemp oil](/kunskap/kan-man-steka-i-hampaolja).

**CBD oil** is an extract that falls under the EU novel food rules, Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, and is currently not authorised as a food in the EU. If the product also contains THC, Swedish narcotics legislation may apply (cf. Supreme Court B 177-19). See our guides [can you buy CBD/hemp in Sweden](/kunskap/far-man-kopa-cbd-hampa-sverige), [is CBD legal in Sweden](/kunskap/ar-cbd-lagligt-sverige-regelverket-2026) and [full spectrum, broad spectrum or isolate](/kunskap/fullspektrum-bredspektrum-isolat).

## FAQ

### Are hemp oil and CBD oil the same thing?

No. Hemp oil is pressed from the seeds and is a food; CBD oil is a flower extract with cannabidiol classified as a non-authorised novel food in the EU.

### Does hemp oil contain CBD?

Only trace amounts. The cannabinoids sit in the flower and leaves, not in the seeds.

### Is hemp oil legal in Sweden?

Yes, hempseed oil is an established food.

### Is CBD oil legal in Sweden?

CBD oil is not authorised as a food in the EU (novel food), and products containing THC may fall under narcotics legislation.

### Further reading

- [What is hemp oil?](/kunskap/vad-ar-hampaolja)

- [Is CBD legal in Sweden? The 2026 regulations](/kunskap/ar-cbd-lagligt-sverige-regelverket-2026)

- [Can you fry in hemp oil?](/kunskap/kan-man-steka-i-hampaolja)

**Continue reading:** For the full picture, see the overview [Is CBD Legal in Sweden in 2026? Yes — Here's the Rule](/en/kunskap/ar-cbd-lagligt-sverige-regelverket-2026). Related questions: [Vad är hampaolja?](/en/kunskap/vad-ar-hampaolja) and [Vad är hampans blompulver? (och varför det inte är CBD-olja)](/en/kunskap/vad-ar-hampans-blompulver).

**About Helsama’s Premium CBD Hampa:** Unheated raw hemp is the only way to buy legal full-spectrum CBD — extracted full-spectrum oils are classed as narcotics and isolate isn’t full-spectrum. Helsama’s Premium CBD Hampa is exactly that: unheated, milled raw hemp grown on Gotland, and we’re the only ones selling the CBD hemp varieties grown in Scandinavia. The Nordic summer’s long light — up to 18 hours of daylight — makes the hemp special: our third-party analyses show 8.83% CBDA versus 6.64% for the same seed grown in Italy. [Read more about our hemp](/en/premium-cbd).


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*Helsama OÜ — högkvalitativa hampaprodukter. https://helsama.se/en/kunskap/hampaolja-vs-cbd-olja/*