First things first: what actually is CBD?
CBD is short for cannabidiol.
It’s one of many naturally occurring compounds, known as cannabinoids, found in the cannabis plant.
And yes - we are talking about that cannabis plant.
But there’s an important distinction.
CBD isn’t the same thing as THC, the cannabinoid most commonly associated with the intoxicating effects of cannabis. CBD doesn’t produce that same “high”.
CBD, THC, cannabis and hemp are often bundled together in conversation, but they’re not interchangeable - and understanding the difference makes navigating CBD products much easier.
CBD vs THC - what’s the difference?
Both CBD and THC are cannabinoids found in cannabis, but they’re different compounds and interact with the body differently.
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the principal psychoactive compound in cannabis and is responsible for the “high” associated with recreational cannabis.
CBD (cannabidiol) doesn’t produce that same intoxicating effect.
That doesn’t mean every product containing CBD is automatically legal, safe or suitable for sale in the UK, though.
CBD products can contain other cannabinoids, some of which are controlled substances, and different regulations apply depending on what a product is, what it contains and how it’s intended to be used.
It’s also why we’re cautious of one particularly common phrase in wellness:
“But it’s natural…”
Natural can be wonderful. It doesn’t automatically mean safe, effective or suitable for everyone.
And where does hemp come into it?
This is where the terminology can become a little muddled.
Cannabis is a genus of plants. Hemp generally refers to varieties of cannabis cultivated for permitted industrial purposes and is commonly associated with very low levels of THC.
CBD can be derived from cannabis plants, including hemp.
But there’s another ingredient you’ll probably recognise from beauty and wellness products: hemp seed oil.
Despite the similar names, hemp seed oil and CBD oil aren’t the same thing.
Hemp seed oil is produced from the seeds of the hemp plant and is widely used in food and cosmetics. Seeing “hemp seed oil” on an ingredients list doesn’t necessarily mean a product contains CBD.
So if you’re specifically looking for CBD, don’t rely on a cannabis leaf, the word hemp or some beautifully botanical green packaging.
Take a peek at what’s actually inside.
So… what does CBD actually do?
This is probably the question you came here for.
And the most responsible answer is:
We’re still learning.
CBD and other cannabinoids have attracted considerable scientific interest, and research into their interaction with the human body continues.
There are even licensed medicines containing CBD for particular medical conditions.
But that doesn’t mean we can take evidence relating to a particular medicine, dose or method of administration and apply it to every CBD oil, cosmetic, lubricant or wellness product.
You’ll also find thousands of personal stories online from people who love using CBD.
Those experiences matter - but personal experience and clinical evidence aren’t quite the same thing.
At Fleur, we think there’s room for both curiosity and a little healthy scepticism.
CBD doesn’t need a miraculous list of promises to make it interesting.
Why does CBD seem to make so many headlines?
Because there’s something rather irresistible about emerging science.
A study begins with:
“Researchers are investigating…”
A headline turns that into:
“CBD may…”
And somewhere along the way social media transforms it into:
“CBD DOES THIS!”
Those statements can mean very different things.
Research might involve a particular concentration of CBD, a particular formulation, a specific way of using it or a very particular group of people.
That context matters.
So whenever we explore CBD research at Fleur, we’ll try to look beyond the headline.
What did researchers actually study? How was CBD used? How strong was the evidence? And importantly - what can’t that research tell us?
It might not always give us the most sensational answer.
But it will hopefully give you a more useful one.
Is CBD legal in the UK?
You’ll often see the simple statement that “CBD is legal in the UK”.
The reality has a little more nuance.
The rules surrounding a CBD product depend on what the product actually is, what it contains, how it’s sold and what claims are made about it.
CBD foods and food supplements, for example, fall within food regulation, with CBD extracts treated as novel foods. Products marketed for medicinal purposes can fall within medicines regulation.
There are also strict rules surrounding controlled cannabinoids, including THC.
So the letters CBD appearing on a bottle don’t automatically tell you whether a particular product complies with UK regulations.
There’s far too much to unpack here in a couple of paragraphs, so we’ll be giving UK CBD regulation its own Fleur guide.
What about claims around pain, sleep, anxiety and menopause?
This is an area where we’re going to tread particularly carefully.
Search online and you’ll encounter some fairly extraordinary claims about CBD.
You’ll also find people talking openly about their own experiences with it.
We’re interested in those conversations - particularly when it comes to women’s intimate wellness, sex and different stages of life - but we won’t present something as established fact when the evidence doesn’t support us doing so.
In the UK, there are rules around the health and medicinal claims businesses can make about products.
So you won’t find us telling you that a CBD product will cure anxiety, fix your sleep, relieve pain or transform menopause symptoms.
We will explore what scientists are investigating.
We’ll look at emerging research.
We’ll talk about where the evidence appears interesting.
And we’ll be equally open about its limitations.
Because there’s a rather important difference between “this is interesting” and “this has been proven to work.”
What kinds of CBD products are available?
CBD now appears in a surprisingly diverse range of products, including:
- oils and drops
- capsules and gummies
- cosmetics and skincare
- massage and body products
- lubricants and intimate wellness products
And those differences matter.
How CBD is formulated and how a product is intended to be used are important parts of the picture.
Research involving CBD taken orally can’t simply be assumed to tell us what happens when a CBD-containing product is applied to the skin - or used intimately.
And that last category is particularly interesting to us.
Because the crossover between CBD, botanicals and intimate wellness is one of the reasons Fleur exists.
There’s some fascinating research to explore.
There are also some very bold claims being made.
We’ll be looking at both.
Is CBD suitable for everyone?
No ingredient - botanical or otherwise - should be presented as universally suitable.
For CBD consumed as a food or supplement, the UK’s Food Standards Agency has specific guidance about intake and advises against its use by certain groups unless under medical direction, including people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, people trying to conceive, under-18s and people taking medication.
That’s guidance for CBD in food, rather than a blanket rule covering every topical or intimate CBD product, which is another reason it’s important to distinguish between different types of CBD.
Whatever you’re buying, read the product’s own directions, ingredients and warnings.
And if you’re taking medication, have a medical condition or aren’t sure whether a CBD product is appropriate for you, speak to an appropriate healthcare professional.
How do I choose a CBD product?
Rather than beginning with the biggest promise on the packaging, start with the product itself.
Ask:
What’s actually in it?
How much CBD does it contain?
Who made it?
What is it designed to be used for?
Are the ingredients and instructions easy to find and understand?
Does the brand explain its product clearly - or rely on vague wellness language and impressive-sounding claims?
And one of our favourites:
Does this sound a little too good to be true?
Being curious doesn’t mean leaving your critical thinking at the door.
Why we created Fleur
Fleur grew naturally from what we’d already built at Fable & Femme.
We’ve always believed intimate wellness should feel approachable, pleasurable and completely free from shame.
We also believe you deserve to know what you’re putting on - and in - your body.
As we started exploring CBD and botanical intimate products, we realised they deserved a space of their own.
Somewhere we could dig a little deeper.
Somewhere science and pleasure could comfortably sit alongside each other.
Somewhere we could talk about exciting new ingredients without pretending every new ingredient is revolutionary.
And somewhere we could curate products because we genuinely find them interesting - not because CBD happens to be having a moment.
So, Fleur is still very much Fable & Femme.
Still curious.
Still pleasure-positive.
Still carefully curated.
Still happy to talk about the things we’re sometimes told we shouldn’t.
And still absolutely no shame.
We’ve just added a few more botanicals. 🌿
Welcome to Fleur by Fable & Femme
We’ll tell you what the research suggests.
We’ll tell you when the evidence is limited.
We’ll explore the ingredients, formulations and science behind the products we choose.
We’ll ask questions.
And when science doesn’t have the answer yet, we’ll tell you that too.
Because we’d much rather help you make an informed choice than sell you a miracle.
Welcome to Fleur.
Curious by nature. Informed by science. Unapologetically yours.