Before MCT oils and sprays, there were tinctures. 19th and 20th century herbalists macerated plants in strong alcohol to extract liposoluble actives. CBD tinctures resurface today in a more traditional niche.
What we are really talking about
A tincture, strictly, is a plant extract obtained by maceration in high-proof ethanol (often 60-90%). The alcohol dissolves terpenes and cannabinoids; the final solution is taken by drops.
The word has broadened: in the US, many products labelled "tincture" are actually MCT oils. The real alcoholic tincture stays rarer in Europe.
Historical advantages
- Long shelf life — alcohol is an excellent preservative.
- Fast absorption — ethanol helps mucosal passage.
- Potentially high concentrations.
Honest downsides
- Taste — strong alcohol stings the sublingual zone.
- Restricted audience — incompatible with claimed alcohol abstinence, ask a doctor in case of liver issues.
- Not for children.
How to use it
Close to sublingual oil with two tweaks: few drops at a time (concentration often high), and dilution in warm tea to soften the alcoholic bite.
Reading the label
Honest tinctures state CBD mg/ml, alcohol percentage, source hemp, and extraction method.
The Horus stance
In our shops in Boulogne-sur-Gesse and L'Isle-en-Dodon, the tincture is a niche format we present to herbalist-minded customers. Not our first recommendation to beginners — for a first oil, we stay on a clear, soft MCT.
To go further: sublingual oils.
CBD is not a medicine. Sold exclusively to adults (≥ 18), non-medical use. Contains alcohol — not advised during pregnancy or with liver conditions.