Making a CBD tincture at home is simple: dissolve pure CBD isolate into a carrier oil (MCT works best), then measure your dose with a dropper. You need just two ingredients and a few minutes. It costs roughly $0.006/mg when done right — versus $0.10–0.15/mg for a store-bought bottle.
Here's the honest shortcut: the fiddliest part of DIY — weighing powder and getting the math right — is exactly what our Concentrate removes. It's pre-dissolved isolate in a measure-and-pour bottle: add your own MCT oil and you have 8 × 1,000mg tinctures for $49. The guide below shows you the full DIY route from scratch.
What you need
- CBD isolate — 99%+ pure CBD powder (this is the active ingredient).
- Carrier oil — MCT oil is the top choice (see the table below).
- A dropper bottle — any amber glass bottle with a dropper top.
- A small scale (optional) — accurate to 0.01g if you're measuring raw powder.
- Gentle heat — a warm water bath helps the isolate dissolve faster.
Step-by-step
- Pick your strength. Decide how many mg of CBD you want per full dropper. A common target is 1,000mg per 30ml bottle.
- Weigh your isolate. For a 1,000mg bottle, you need 1 gram (1,000mg) of isolate.
- Measure your oil. Pour 30ml of MCT oil into the bottle.
- Add and dissolve. Drop in the isolate and warm the bottle in a water bath, shaking until it fully dissolves. Isolate dissolves cleanly into oil.
- Label and dose. 30ml of oil with 1,000mg of CBD means each 1ml dropper holds about 33mg.
The math
| Route | Cost per 1,000mg | Cost per mg | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Store-bought tincture | $50–90 | $0.10–0.15 | None (you pay for it) |
| DIY with raw isolate | $5–20 | $0.005–0.02 | Weigh + dissolve |
| DIY with Simple Tinctures Concentrate | ~$7 | $0.006 | Add oil only |
Best carrier oil for a CBD tincture
| Oil | How well it dissolves isolate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MCT oil | Excellent | Thin, tasteless, dissolves isolate fast. The industry standard. |
| Hemp seed oil | Good | Nutty taste, adds its own plant flavor. |
| Olive oil | Good | Fine option, slightly thicker. |
| Veg glycerin | Poor | Isolate dissolves poorly; avoid for oil tinctures. |
FAQ
Do I need a scale to make my own tincture?
Only if you're working with raw isolate powder. A 0.01g-accurate scale removes the guesswork. Pre-dissolved concentrate removes the need for a scale entirely — the measuring is done for you.
Can I just dissolve CBD isolate in any oil?
Isolate dissolves well in fats like MCT, olive, and hemp seed oil. It does not dissolve well in water or glycerin. Warm oil dissolves it faster and more completely.
How long does a homemade tincture last?
Stored in a cool, dark place in an amber bottle, a CBD oil tincture typically lasts months. Isolate is stable in oil and doesn't go bad the way raw plant material does.
Is making my own really cheaper?
Yes. Store tinctures run $0.10–0.15/mg. Making your own from isolate runs about $0.006/mg — an 80–90% savings for a few minutes of work.