This Charlotte’s Web review has been medically reviewed by Gavin Van De Walle, MS, RD and was written by the team at CBDStudy, a CBD research publication.
Charlotte’s Web is one of the best-recognized CBD brands around. They have been in business for six years now, and are continuing to grow. Charlotte’s Web products can be found in grocery stores across the country.
CBDStudy’s Top 5 Brands
1. Penguin CBD – EDITOR’S CHOICE (Best CBD Oil Out of 50+ Lab Tests)
2. NuLeaf Naturals
3. Ananda Hemp
4. Lazarus Naturals
5. cbdMD
Charlotte’s Web Overview
Charlotte’s Web was founded by the seven Stanley brothers after they helped a little girl named Charlotte Figi. Charlotte found relief from her uncontrollable and debilitating seizures because of the formula created by the Stanley brothers. Charlotte’s Web was created soon after to make their formula available to everyone who needs it.
The brand has an extensive product portfolio, with something for everyone. The full-spectrum extract is used in basically every product they make, though there is an isolate formula available in some of them, too. Charlotte’s Web believes that their full-spectrum extract is one of the best on the market today. It is a decent cannabinoid profile, but there are some things we have concerns about. We’ll get into those later on.
The Good:
- Lots of experience and knowledge
- Formula uses the whole plant
- Informational blog
The Bad:
- Inaccurate labeling
- Only one product made with the isolate formula
- Really expensive
- Lab results on the website are from Charlotte’s Web, not a third-party lab
Who Is Charlotte’s Web?
Charlotte Figi had a rare form of epilepsy called Dravett’s syndrome, which caused her to have dozens of seizures per day. The Stanley brothers worked to create a strain of hemp containing the right concentrations of cannabinoids until they found one that worked for her. This was in 2011, and Charlotte’s seizures were subsequently significantly reduced.[1] In 2014, Charlotte’s Web was born. The seven brothers set out on a mission to change as many people’s lives as possible with this powerful plant.
It has since become one of the most trusted and famous brands on the market. The CEO of Charlotte’s Web, Joel Stanley, now collaborates with advocacy campaigns that work to change cannabis policy and make cannabis more accessible to those who need it.
Charlotte’s Web has farms in Colorado, Kentucky and Oregon. Charlotte’s Web uses strains that are bred for the kinds of soil on their farms in different areas of the country. The company does not use traditional farming methods; instead, they tend to each plant by hand. We definitely appreciate that personal touch and level of oversight from such a large company. It shows they care. They use a CO2 method of extraction for most of their products, though their original formula is made with an alcohol extraction process.
Their Approach
We were not able to access any third-party lab results on the website. There are labs from the company itself, but this is not unbiased data. If you purchase a product, you can see your individualized lab results by entering a number.
We definitely wish they aimed for a higher sense of transparency in this department. People deserve to know what is in their products before buying them, and from an independent source.
Charlotte’s Web: Product Highlights
While Charlotte’s Web offers a lot of different products, they stay within a few core categories. This does make the product portfolio more streamlined and less disorganized.
Many CBD brands will have a huge list of products, some of which may be obscure, just to say they offer anything a person would need and can cater to anyone. We don’t believe that is a very good approach, and think a brand does better when they have a more focused product line. That aside, Charlotte’s Web offers oils, capsules, topicals (both skincare and for therapeutic purposes), gummies and pet products. There are plenty of choices within this category for every individual’s needs.
CBD Oils
Choosing your CBD oil is easy, because the concentrations are right on the bottle for you to pick from. We have reviewed many companies where we have to hunt down important details like the concentration, so we appreciate that being easy for us.
A lot of Charlotte’s Web’s concentrations also come in a sample size, so you can try before you buy. It is generally recommended to give CBD 30 to 60 consistent days before deciding that it doesn’t work for you, so don’t base your whole experience with CBD on a sample size of a product.
The full-spectrum CBD oil starts at $24.99 and goes up to $239.96. The full-spectrum oil can be purchased in a few different concentrations, starting at seven milligrams and going up to 60 milligrams. You can also choose what size bottle you want, which is a nice feature. The larger bottles (30 mL and 100 mL) come in four flavors, including orange blossom, lemon twist, mint chocolate and olive oil. The 10 mL bottle only comes in olive oil. Keep in mind that every concentration is not available in every flavor.
The original formula is the one that launched the company—the flagship product for Charlotte’s Web. It is made with an alcohol extraction that leaves the final product with a more potent cannabinoid profile. You can choose between 30 mL and 100 mL, and you can select olive oil or mint chocolate flavors. The original formula starts at $49.99 and goes up to $119.99. This is definitely more expensive than we are used to seeing, but one could argue that their experience and knowledge justify some of that pricing.
CBD Capsules
Capsules are a favorite of those who cannot tolerate CBD oil, or who like to have their CBD on the go. They only offer one kind of gel cap, and we would have loved to see a little more diversity in this category. The gel capsules start at $39.99 and go up to $169.99. They are kosher, vegan and allergen free. They come in 15 milligram and 25 milligram strengths. You can order bottles of 30, 60 or 90 capsules.
CBD Gummies
Gummies have skyrocketed in popularity recently. Their fun colors and delicious taste make them a favorite in many CBD-loving households. The gummies Charlotte’s Web has to offer come in just one strength, 10 milligrams of CBD per every 2 gummies, and you can choose between 30 and 60 gummies. Even though they only carry one concentration, they offer three formulas.
The Calm gummies include additional ingredients like lemon balm and L-theanine, as well as the brand’s traditional full-spectrum extract. The Calm gummies start at $29.99 and go up to $44.99. The formula for these gummies is designed to keep you calm and balanced all day long.
The Recovery gummies are designed for muscle and joint support. They include ingredients like ginger and turmeric to boost the anti-inflammatory benefits.[3,4] This product starts at $29.99 and goes up to $44.99. The Sleep CBD gummies are formulated to improve your sleep. These gummies start at $29.99 and go up to $44.99. They contain melatonin in addition to their full-spectrum extract, and it is all infused into a raspberry-flavored gummy.
CBD Topicals
Topicals are a great choice for people looking for localized relief, either on the muscles or the skin itself. The product list at Charlotte’s Web is extensive, so we will just look at a few of the most popular options.
The company’s hemp-infused balm starts at $14.99 and goes up to $29.99. It has 450 milligrams of full-spectrum CBD, along with ingredients like peppermint oil, turmeric oil, menthol and ginger oil. These additional ingredients add to the cooling and anti-inflammatory properties that CBD already provides.
The CBD roll-on by Charlotte’s Web comes in two different formulas, and they both retail for $39.99. One formula is infused with a relaxing blend of ingredients like lavender, bergamot and chamomile, while the other features more cooling ingredients like peppermint oil and menthol.
CBD Pet Products
The CBD pet products offered by Charlotte’s Web come in the form of oils, treats and balms. The pet drops contain 17 milligrams of CBD per dose to help your pets feel their best. They come in either chicken or unflavored, and can be added to food or water, or administered directly into your pet’s mouth. The hemp-infused pet balm is great for dogs with sensitive skin, as well as helping to ease inflammation. The balm retails for $24.99 and has 450 milligrams of CBD per container.
The CBD chews have 2.5 milligrams of CBD in each chew. They are chicken-flavored, and come in three different formulas to help your pet with whatever issue they might be facing. The hip and joint formula features ingredients like turmeric and glucosamine to encourage mobility and flexibility.[5] The CBD chews for seniors help to keep your pet’s mind sharp, and have ingredients like vitamin E, DHA and elderberry. The price begins at $19.99 and goes up to $34.99. You can choose between 30 and 60 chews per container.
Our Lab Findings
We believe in the importance of thorough and honest reviews. We never take a brand’s word for it when it comes to testing, and always have the product third-party tested for ourselves. We sent off a sample of Charlotte’s Web’s 17 milligram per 1 mL CBD oil to an independent lab. Unfortunately, we were not impressed with the results.
Thankfully, the products passed the solvents and pesticides test. It did not, however, match up with the label on the bottle. While a little bit of extra CBD is not usually something to complain about, a nearly 20 percent variance is considered unacceptable, and that is what Charlotte’s Web has.
Anything falling within a 10 percent difference is deemed acceptable, but this product was way over the limit. There is supposed to be 510 milligrams of CBD in this bottle; however, our labs tested 606 milligrams. This makes accurate dosing nearly impossible.
We definitely think Charlotte’s Web needs to get that true concentration down, or at the very least change their label to accurately reflect what is inside. The cannabinoid profile certainly could use a little work as well. While there are at least some cannabinoids other than CBD, the overall profile could be a bit more robust.
Shipping and Returns
Charlotte’s Web offers free ground shipping for all orders over $74.99. The company claims that this method of shipping should take seven or fewer business days. For any orders under this amount, shipping has a flat fee of $8.99. You can also order your products for next-day air or second-day delivery if you pay an additional fee.
Orders can be shipped anywhere in the U.S., as well as Canada. Charlotte’s Web also has distributors in lots of other countries, like Argentina, Italy, the Philippines, Spain and the U.K. Charlotte’s Web does ship to more countries than we listed, so if you are in a country we didn’t mention, check the company’s website to see if they will ship to you.
We place our orders the same way a customer would, and use standard shipping whenever given the chance. We ordered our product on a Tuesday to avoid weekend delays. Charlotte’s Web sent our package out the very next day and we got our order in the mail three days after that. We were pretty satisfied with our shipping experience.
The company does offer a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. You can simply return the unused portion of your product for a full refund. They also make an additional guarantee to ship your product free of damage; they just ask that you contact them within 48 hours if you have a damaged product.
Our Verdict on Charlotte’s Web
Overall, Charlotte’s Web is not a bad company. They have a lot of experience in the industry, and that alone makes them a company to keep tabs on. We do feel that their prices are a little high, especially when the CBD content is not accurately labeled. We also never heard back from their customer-service team after filling out their contact form.
We know they must get many inquiries a day, but we feel that is unacceptable for a brand of their caliber and status. The cannabinoid profile, while on the weaker side, is one of the best we have come across, so that is definitely a perk to the company’s formula. Ultimately, we feel that the products you receive from this company will be acceptable. It is up to you to decide if they are worth it to you based on the information in this article.
References
[1] CannaTech Team. (2016). WEED – A CNN Special Report by Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Canna-Tech.co. Retrieved from https://www.canna-tech.co/uncategorized/weed-a-cnn-special-report-by-dr-sanjay-gupta/
[2] Metro. (2019). The Changing Views on CBD Oil. Metro.us. Retrieved from https://www.metro.us/the-changing-views-on-cbd-oil/
[3] James W. Daily et al. (2016). Efficacy of Turmeric Extracts and Curcumin for Alleviating the Symptoms of Joint Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. J Med Food. Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27533649/
[4] Nguyen Hoang Anh et al. (2020). Ginger on Human Health: A Comprehensive Systematic Review of 109 Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7019938/
[5] Angel Bhathal et al. (2017). Glucosamine and chondroitin use in canines for osteoarthritis: A review. Open Vet J. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5356289/
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Opinions expressed here are the opinions of the author. Influencive does not endorse or review brands mentioned; does not and can not investigate relationships with brands, products, and people mentioned and is up to the author to disclose. VIP Contributors and Contributors, amongst other accounts and articles, are professional fee-based.
I am a women’s rights activist, running junkie, and eternal marketing student. I help companies market their brand to millennials and gen z. In my spare time, you’ll find playing with my golden retriever and reading the newest business books by my fire.
Published September 27, 2020