Charlotte’s Web CBD Review: A Top-Tier Choice (2024)

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Charlotte’s Web is the largest and one of the oldest American CBD brands. It makes full-spectrum CBD products from its own proprietary varieties of hemp and has played an important role in cannabis reform. I tested its CBD oil, gummies, and topical products, all of which worked well.

Summary

Charlotte’s Web is a pioneer of the CBD industry and remains a top-tier choice today. Its products are sourced from high-quality, USDA-certified organic hemp; the ones I tested had potent effects.

Charlotte’s Web CBD Overview

One of the pioneers of the American CBD industry, Charlotte’s Web was founded in 2014 by the seven Stanley Brothers: Josh, Joel, Jesse, Jon, Jordan, Jared, and J. Austin. 

The Colorado-based brothers developed a proprietary strain of hemp that would become the foundation for the company’s products in 2011. In 2012, they were approached by Paige Figi, who was looking for a natural remedy for her daughter Charlotte’s debilitating seizures.

Their CBD oil significantly improved Charlotte’s seizures, which is how the hemp strain (and the company) got its name. Charlotte’s story was featured on CNN in 2013 and played a big part in expanding the use and acceptance of CBD and cannabis in the US, with many families moving to Colorado to access CBD oil. In that sense, Charlotte’s Web has played a pivotal role in getting CBD where it is today.

Since then, Charlotte’s Web has grown to be the biggest CBD brand in the US by market share and you can find its products in mainstream retail stores like Publix. It’s also expanding into Canada, Israel, the U.K., and even China.

The company controls every step from seed to sale, growing its unique hemp strain on USDA-certified organic farms.

Charlotte’s Web CBD Product Lineup

Charlotte’s Web focuses mostly on full-spectrum CBD oil, gummies, capsules, topical, and pet products. There are also some broad-spectrum (THC-free) options.

For my unbiased review, I tested out the 60 mg/ml CBD oil, CBD cream, back and neck relief ointment, and recovery gummies. 

CBD Oils

CBD Oil

This USDA-certified organic CBD oil is made with CO2 extraction and comes in two strengths and three flavors: orange blossom, lemon twist, and mint chocolate. The third-party test for my batch showed 11.2% minor cannabinoids, which is a good result.

My experience: I tested out the mint chocolate high-potency (60 mg/ml) tincture, taking a full dropper during the day. I felt relaxed with an improved mood within 20 minutes, with the effects lasting for a few hours. The taste was nice as well.

Original Formula CBD Oil

These were the first CBD tinctures offered by Charlotte’s Web. Unlike the regular CBD oils, they’re made in small batches with isopropyl alcohol extraction, which is supposed to retain more terpenes.

They’re available in natural and mint chocolate flavors. Third-party tests show good minor cannabinoid levels (~12%).

My experience: I bought and tested the mint chocolate original tincture. The flavor was a pleasant mix of earthy and minty chocolate, and I felt relaxed and calm within 30 minutes.

THC-Free CBD Oil

This mint chocolate-flavored broad-spectrum (THC-free) CBD oil comes in medium strength.

CBD Capsules

These straightforward full-spectrum capsules are made with vegan ingredients and come in 30, 60, and 90-count bottles. Third-party tests showed an impressive ~13% minor cannabinoids.

My experience: I took three 15 mg capsules during the day. They look like CBD oil swishing inside a translucent shell. About 70 minutes later I started to feel relaxed in the body & mind, with the feeling lasting for a few hours.

CBD Gummies

Nutraceutical Blend Gummies

These vegan gummies combine a small amount of full-spectrum CBD with other active ingredients designed for specific benefits:

• Sleep gummies with added melatonin to help with sleep
• Recovery gummies with added turmeric and ginger to help with recovery from exercise-induced inflammation
• Calm gummies with added lemon balm to help with stress and promote relaxation
• Immunity gummies with added vitamin C, D3, and astragalus to support immune function and overall wellness

The variety is nice, but the price is a bit steep. I’d also like to see higher CBD levels per gummy.

My experience: I tested the recovery gummies since I go to the gym regularly, taking 4-6 pieces for a few days. The texture and taste of the gummies were a little weird but still tasty. It’s tough to say if they did anything different from basic ones, but I did feel more relaxed and less sore. 

Standard CBD Gummies

CW’s gummies are available in full-spectrum (raspberry lime) and THC-free (mango lime) varieties. They’re made with vegan and mostly organic ingredients and natural flavoring. 

CBD Topicals

Charlotte’s Web offers both standard full-spectrum CBD topicals as well as the CBDMEDIC line of products formulated for pain, which are made with pure CBD isolate and contain other active ingredients. 

CBD Cream

CW’s cream is designed to moisturize the skin and support its overall health. It’s infused with aloe vera, coconut oil, sea buckthorn oil, and other skincare ingredients.

My experience: The cream has a nice hempy fragrance and a cooling, moisturizing feeling on the skin. It’s not greasy and feels lightweight. I used it mostly as a moisturizer but also on the knees and other joints to help with workout soreness.

Hemp-Infused Balm With CBD

This balm is designed for joint and muscle relief and contains menthol, peppermint oil, and eucalyptus oil. It’s also available as a stick with two more anti-inflammatory ingredients: turmeric and ginger oil. 

Hemp-Infused Cooling Gel With CBD

The cooling gel has a straightforward formula combining CBD with two popular topical pain relievers: menthol and arnica. 

Lavender Hemp-Infused CBD Roll-On

CW’s roll-on is designed for small areas like temples and wrists. It’s infused with lavender, bergamot, and chamomile oil. 

Back and Neck Pain Relief Ointment

One of CW’s CBDMEDIC products, this ointment contains 10% camphor and 15% menthol alongside CBD and other ingredients. It’s recommended for use on the shoulders, back, and neck area. 

My experience: I applied this cream to my upper back and shoulder area when I was feeling sore. I felt strong cooling and warming relief within minutes, which lasted for a few hours. This was one of the stronger CBD topicals I’ve tried.

Arthritis Aches and Pain Relief Ointment

As the name suggests, this topical is formulated specifically for arthritis relief. You can buy it in ointment or cream form. The ointment carries 10% camphor and menthol, while the water-based cream has 4% menthol. 

Active Sport Pain Relief Stick

Made for active individuals, this stick is designed to relieve minor aches and pains. Similar to the back and neck ointment, it’s infused with 10% camphor and 15% menthol.

Canine Products

Hemp Extract Drops for Dogs

This dog CBD oil comes in unflavored and chicken flavors. I’d prefer to see another higher-potency version for large dog breeds.

Chews for Dogs

CW’s dog chews come in four formulas:

• Calming chews with valerian root, passionflower extract and chamomile, three herbs with calming effects
• Senior dog chews with elderberry, vitamin E, and omega-3 fatty acids for cognitive support
• Hip and joint chews with joint supplements glucosamine, chondroitin, and anti-inflammatory turmeric
• Skin & allergy support with biotin, nettle leaf, burdock root, and marshmallow root

While I like the formulas, the price is a little high. 

Price & Value

The easiest way to compare the value of CBD products is to divide the total cost by the amount of CBD. For example, if you have a 1500 mg CBD oil that costs $100, its price per milligram (mg) of CBD would be 100/1500 = 7 cents. The prices also vary depending on the type of product.

For Charlotte’s Web, here’s what you’re paying per mg:

• CBD oil: 5-12 cents per mg of CBD
• Capsules: 8-9 cents per mg
• Gummies: 9-20 cents per mg
• Topicals: 5-15 cents per mg
• Pet products: 9-27 cents per mg

That’s quite a big range but besides the multi-ingredient gummies and pet chews, most products are priced at about average.

But you’re still getting decent value with Charlotte’s Web because:

• Its hemp is grown on USDA-certified organic farms
• The company is certified by the U.S. Hemp Authority, the leading third-party certification program for the hemp industry
• Most products are rich in minor cannabinoids, making them more effective
• You can get 20% off by subscribing to scheduled deliveries and ~30% off on gummies by buying in bulk

Hemp Source and Production Process

Charlotte’s Web is vertically integrated, which means it controls every part of the production chain. The company grows hemp on USDA-certified organic farms and even tests the soil and water before planting.

The hemp is also tested as it grows to ensure the right cannabinoid/terpene profile before being extracted with carbon dioxide (CO2), the leading method of CBD extraction. The only exception is CW’s original formula CBD oil, which is made through Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) extraction. 

For now, only the full-spectrum CBD oil is USDA-certified organic, since the seal can only be used for products that are not only grown and extracted organically but also contain over 95% organic ingredients. 

Charlotte’s Web is also certified by the U.S. Hemp Authority, the leading hemp industry certification awarded to brands that follow strict guidelines. 

Third-Party Testing

Charlotte’s Web sends its products for third-party potency and contaminant testing to several reputable labs, including Botanacor and Eurofins. 

You can check sample test certificates of analysis (CoAs) or use the lot number at the bottom of your product to look up the specific tests. However, the sample test results are a bit limited.

Third-Party Test Results

I always look at third-party lab test results to confirm that CBD companies sell safe, accurate, and effective products. Specifically, I check for:

• CBD levels, which should be within 10% of the label (3)
• The levels of minor cannabinoids like CBG and CBC
• THC levels
• Terpene levels (if tested)
• Whether the CBD type (full, broad-spectrum, or isolate) is accurate
• Whether there are any contaminants

I checked the available reports for most of Charlotte’s Web products. All show accurate CBD levels and type of extract, as well as relatively high amounts (>10%) of minor cannabinoids.

But I couldn’t find the test results for some products, like the CBDMEDIC line of topicals, even when I tried to use the lot number from my cream. Also, the publicly available test CoAs are quite limited and some are outdated or missing.

I added two CoA screenshots above to give you a quick glimpse:

1. The 1800 mg wellness CBD oil test shows about 64.3 mg/ml (converting 69.9 mg/mg into ml), which is only 7% more than advertised. It also has 11.2% minor cannabinoids, a solid result. 
2. The 5 mg recovery gummies report found 5.5 mg per gummy (10% more) as well as 11.8% minor cannabinoids, another solid result. The tests also measured the levels of curcuminoids and ginger root, the two other active ingredients. They found 51 mg of curcuminoids (only 2% more than labeled) and 28 mg of ginger root (within the advertised level of 25-50 mg). 

All in all, the testing is extensive and the results themselves are impressive, proving that Charlotte’s Web uses high-quality whole-plant hemp extracts for its products. But the company needs to make all test results publicly available.

Shipping & Returns

Charlotte’s Web only ships to the US and offers free shipping on orders over $74. You can return products for a full refund within 30 days. 

Customer Service & Reputation

Charlotte’s Web is one of the most reputable CBD brands out there. It has a long history and seems to be the largest American CBD company by market share. 

It also holds two notable third-party certifications: from the U.S. Hemp Authority, awarded to brands that follow strict hemp industry guidelines, and B Corp, signifying transparency and a focus on the company’s social and environmental impacts. 

The company’s humble beginnings add further authenticity: The Stanley Brothers helped push cannabis reform and used hemp to help people with serious medical issues. On top of that, Charlotte’s Web works with multiple charitable organizations, such as Women’s Bean Project, Adaptive Training Foundation, and Garden to Table. 

The Verdict: Effective Products From a Brand You Can Trust

Charlotte’s Web is a top-tier CBD company. It has an inspiring backstory, a good variety of effective full-spectrum products, uses its own varieties of organic hemp, does everything in-house, and has been around since the beginning of the CBD industry.

All of the products I tried were effective and the third-party tests showed impressive minor cannabinoid levels. 

My major criticism is that the prices are a little high. I understand that making high-quality CBD products costs more but there are a handful of brands that offer similar quality at a lower price point.

It would also be nice to get another extra high potency (80+mg/ml) tincture for people with high dosage requirements. And the latest third-party tests need to be publicly available.