There are more CBD vapes on the market than ever, and they differ more than you might think. Some have an aroma close to real cannabis, others are fruity and discreet. Some are built on clean distillate and good hardware, others are thinned down with cheap additives.
This guide is not a ranking of every vape out there. Instead we look at what separates a good CBD vape from a poor one, what research says about additives and labelling, and which of our own vapes suit different preferences. We sell vapes ourselves, so read this as a guide from a shop and feel free to check the lab reports yourself.
Key facts
- Start with the distillate. It should be clean and free from thinning agents such as PG, VG or MCT oil.
- Live terpenes (CDT) come from cannabis and give an aroma close to the flower. Botanical terpenes come from other plants and give clean, fruity profiles.
- Hardware matters. Ceramic heating elements and a battery set to a low voltage give smoother vapour and less risk of burning the terpenes.
- Labels are not always accurate. In a US study, vape liquids were the product type most often mislabelled.
- A cartridge suits you if you vape often, a disposable suits you if you want to try a profile or need something simple for travelling.
What makes a CBD vape good?
Before we look at individual products, it helps to know what to look for. Three things decide most of it: the distillate, the terpenes and the hardware.
The distillate
The base of a CBD vape is a distillate of cannabinoids from hemp. A good distillate is thick, golden and contains no thinning agents. Some manufacturers dilute the distillate with propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerine (VG) or MCT oil to cut costs or make the liquid runnier. You then get fewer cannabinoids per cartridge, and some additives are not suitable for heating and inhaling.
The clearest example of why additives matter came from the US in 2019, when thousands of people suffered lung injuries after vaping. Investigators linked the injuries to vitamin E acetate, a thickener that had been added to illicit THC cartridges. It has nothing to do with ordinary CBD vapes, but it shows why you should choose a vape where you know exactly what is in the cartridge. None of our vapes contain PG, VG, MCT oil or other additives, only distillate and terpenes.
The terpenes
Terpenes give a vape its aroma and flavour, and there are two main routes. Botanical terpenes are extracted from plants other than cannabis, such as citrus, pine and black pepper, and blended into a profile that resembles a particular strain. They are clean, consistent from batch to batch and affordable.
Live terpenes, or cannabis-derived terpenes (CDT), are extracted directly from cannabis plants. They keep the same proportions as the strain they come from, so the aroma gets closer to the real flower. The downside is the price and that they are hard to find in Europe. You can read more in our article on botanical terpenes and live terpenes.
The hardware
The cartridge and battery matter more than many people think. Cheap hardware can leak, clog or overheat the distillate so that it tastes burnt. Cartridges with ceramic heating elements and well-designed airflow give smoother vapour. CCell is one of the best-known brands of hardware for oil cartridges, and if a manufacturer will not tell you which hardware it uses, that is often a bad sign.
Temperature matters too. Research on cannabis vapes shows that terpenes can break down into other compounds when they are heated strongly. A lower voltage protects the terpenes and gives a softer vapour, while a high voltage gives bigger clouds but also a harsher taste.
Live terpene vapes: closest to the real flower
If you have tried a vape that claims to smell like a certain cannabis strain but does not quite get there, it is often because it uses botanical terpenes. They can capture the main notes but rarely the full complexity. Research has also shown that part of the typical cannabis aroma comes from sulphur compounds and other substances that are not terpenes, and these come along when terpenes are extracted from cannabis.
Our live terpene vapes combine CDT from California with CBD and CBN. These are the current profiles.
Gelato 33 (new)
Gelato 33 is an indica hybrid and the newest strain in the range. The profile is based on the cross between Sunset Sherbet and Thin Mint GSC: fruity citrus and soft vanilla up front, with an earthy cannabis base, a touch of pepper and a subtle diesel note underneath.
Biscotti
Biscotti is an indica with a sweet profile reminiscent of cookies, buttery vanilla and a light nuttiness. Beneath the sweetness lies an earthy, spicy cannabis base with a subtle hint of diesel.
Lemon Cherry Gelato
An indica hybrid where cherry and tangy citrus meet earthy, slightly piney notes. It is fruity without being candy-like, and that kind of complexity is exactly what is hard to recreate with botanical terpenes.
Zkittles
Zkittles is an indica with a sweet, fruity profile of berries and citrus, a soft floral touch and a clean cannabis base with herbal and earthy notes. A good choice if you want something that clearly smells of cannabis but is still sweet and easy to like.
Sherbanger
A hybrid where sweetness and citrus are balanced by earthy, slightly spicy notes and a subtle diesel note. Sherbanger sits between the sweet and the heavier profiles.
Live terpenes cost more to produce, but if you want your vape to resemble a real flower, that is the difference you will notice. Read more about why in our article on cannabis-derived terpenes in vapes.
Botanical terpene vapes: fruity and discreet
Not everyone wants their vape to smell of cannabis. Sometimes you want something fruity and discreet that is less noticeable in the room. That is where vapes with botanical terpenes come in, combining terpenes from citrus, berries, herbs and other plants into clean, distinct profiles.
Our botanical vapes contain over 70% cannabinoids, including CBD, CBG, CBN and CBC, and the terpene profiles are developed together with the Swedish company Nordic Terpenes. They contain no thinning agents such as PG, VG or MCT oil. There are around twenty profiles. Here are four of the most popular.
Blue Cheese
Blue Cheese has one of the most distinctive profiles in the cannabis world: a sharp, cheesy note against the sweetness of berries, with earthy and spicy nuances. The botanical version keeps the sweet and savoury balance without getting too heavy.
Girl Scout Cookies
A classic with notes of kush, mint and lemon in a smooth, balanced profile. It is not overpowering, which makes it easy to like.
Pineapple Express
Sweet and tropical with pineapple and a hint of cedar. A fresh, approachable profile for anyone who is not after a strong cannabis aroma.
Sunset Sherbert
Fruity, buttery and slightly creamy with a dessert-like character. It is not as complex as a live terpene vape, but it does not need to be.
Botanical terpenes do not give the authentic cannabis aroma, and they are not meant to. They are consistent, clean and suit you if you want a clear flavour profile at a lower price.
Cartridge or disposable?
All our vapes come both as a cartridge and as a disposable. The contents are the same, the difference is how you use them.
Cartridge
A cartridge screws onto a reusable battery with a 510 thread. When the cartridge is empty you swap it for a new one, while the battery lasts a long time if you look after it.
- Lower cost over time: A cartridge is slightly cheaper than a disposable.
- Less waste: You only replace the cartridge, not the battery.
- Easy to switch: You can change between profiles whenever you like.
- Needs a battery: If you do not already have one, you need to buy one and remember to charge it.
Disposable
A disposable has a built-in battery and is ready to use straight away.
- No hassle: No charging or settings.
- Good for trying: An easy way to test a new profile or take one with you when travelling.
- More waste: The battery is thrown away with the vape and should go to electronics recycling.
- Slightly more expensive per ml than a cartridge.
If you vape often, it pays to get a battery and buy cartridges. Choose a battery with adjustable voltage so you can keep the temperature down and protect the terpenes. If you want something simple to try a new strain, a disposable works well.
How to choose the right vape for you
Four questions will help you choose.
- Do you want a cannabis aroma or something discreet? Choose live terpenes if you want the vape to smell like a real flower. The vapour smells of cannabis when you exhale but fades quickly and does not cling to clothes like smoke. Choose botanical terpenes if you want a fruity profile without the cannabis aroma.
- Which profile appeals to you? Sweet, fruity strains such as Zkittles and Pineapple Express are easy to like. Gelato 33, Biscotti and Blue Cheese are fuller and more distinctive.
- How often do you vape? Often: battery and cartridges. Now and then or when travelling: a disposable.
- What is your budget? Live terpenes cost a little more because CDT is expensive to produce. Botanical vapes are cheaper and still high quality.
THC-free and lab reports
All the vapes in this guide are THC-free and nicotine-free. They are based on distillate with the THC removed, so you get CBD together with other cannabinoids such as CBN and CBG. The rules for CBD vapes differ from country to country in Europe, and we go through them in our article on whether CBD vapes are legal.
Always check the lab report before you buy. When researchers tested 84 CBD products sold online, vape liquids were the product type most likely to differ from the label. Reputable manufacturers have an independent lab test every batch and publish the results. If a company shows no lab reports, it is best to shop elsewhere.
The bottom line
The best CBD vape is the one that matches what you are looking for. If you want an aroma close to the real flower and are prepared to pay a little more, live terpenes are the right choice. If you prefer clean, fruity profiles at a lower price, botanical terpenes are the way to go.
Whichever you choose, look for clean distillate without thinning agents, good hardware and published lab reports. You will find the full range among our CBD vapes.
What is the difference between live terpenes and botanical terpenes?
Live terpenes (CDT) are extracted from cannabis plants and give an aroma close to the strain they come from. Botanical terpenes are extracted from other plants, such as citrus and pine, and blended into profiles that are clean, fruity and cheaper.
Are CBD vapes THC-free?
Our vapes are THC-free and nicotine-free. Always check the lab report for the vape you buy, as the contents differ between manufacturers.
Can a CBD vape show up on a drug test?
A vape that is completely free from THC should not give a positive result for THC, but we cannot promise anything about individual tests. One study found that pure CBD did not produce positive urine tests, while CBD-rich cannabis with low levels of THC did in some participants. Choose products with lab reports showing they are free from THC.
Will the cartridges fit my battery?
Our cartridges have a 510 thread, which fits most batteries for oil cartridges. A battery with adjustable voltage gives you the best control over the temperature.
What voltage should I use?
A lower voltage, roughly 2.8 to 3.2 V, protects the terpenes and gives a softer vapour. A higher voltage gives bigger clouds but can give a burnt or harsh taste.
How long does a CBD vape last?
That depends on how often you use it. Store cartridges upright, somewhere cool and dark, and the distillate and terpenes will keep longer.
How do I dispose of a disposable vape?
A disposable vape contains a battery and should be taken to electronics recycling, not thrown in household waste.
This article is general information about CBD vapes and what they contain. Raw Hemp sells the vapes mentioned. No claims are made that CBD has medical effects. Vaping is not risk-free, and the products are intended for adults only.
Sources
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- Blount BC, Karwowski MP, Shields PG et al. (2020). Vitamin E Acetate in Bronchoalveolar-Lavage Fluid Associated with EVALI. New England Journal of Medicine, 382(8), 697-705.
- Meehan-Atrash J, Luo W, McWhirter KJ, Strongin RM. (2019). Aerosol Gas-Phase Components from Cannabis E-Cigarettes and Dabbing: Mechanistic Insight and Quantitative Risk Analysis. ACS Omega, 4(14), 16111-16120.
- Oswald IWH, Ojeda MA, Pobanz RJ et al. (2021). Identification of a New Family of Prenylated Volatile Sulfur Compounds in Cannabis Revealed by Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography. ACS Omega, 6(47), 31667-31676.
- Spindle TR, Cone EJ, Kuntz D et al. (2020). Urinary Pharmacokinetic Profile of Cannabinoids Following Administration of Vaporized and Oral Cannabidiol and Vaporized CBD-Dominant Cannabis. Journal of Analytical Toxicology, 44(2), 109-125.
