An opened bottle of CBD oil keeps for about 6 to 12 months, and an unopened bottle for much longer. For Formula Swiss oils, an unopened bottle keeps for at least 36 months, and the expiry date is printed on every label. CBD oil does go bad eventually: heat, light and air slowly break down the CBD and make the carrier oil rancid. Keep the bottle closed, in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. A fridge is not needed.
Key facts
- Opened bottle
- About 6 to 12 months (Formula Swiss oils)
- Unopened bottle
- At least 36 months (Formula Swiss oils). Follow the expiry date on the label.
- Main enemies
- Heat, light and air (oxidation)
- Best place
- A closed bottle in a cool, dry cupboard away from direct sunlight
- Fridge
- Not needed. The oil may turn thicker in the cold.
- Signs it is past its best
- A rancid or sharp smell, a clearly changed taste or colour, or a date past the expiry date
How long does CBD oil last?
Two things age in a bottle of CBD oil: the cannabinoids and the carrier oil. Both last longest when the bottle stays closed and cool.
| Situation | How long it keeps | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Unopened, stored as directed | At least 36 months | The expiry date on the label applies |
| Opened, stored as directed | About 6 to 12 months | Air gets in each time you open the bottle |
| Opened, kept warm or in sunlight | Shorter | Heat and light speed up the breakdown |
These figures are for our own oils. Other products can differ, depending on the extract, the carrier oil and the bottle, so always check the expiry date on the label.
Why does CBD oil go bad?
CBD is a fairly sensitive molecule. In a laboratory study at the Complutense University of Madrid, CBD in solution broke down noticeably at room temperature, but stayed stable for at least 12 months at 5 °C. It was also sensitive to oxidation and to light (Fraguas-Sánchez et al., 2020). That study used dilute CBD solutions, not finished oils, but it shows what matters: temperature, air and light.
The carrier oil ages too. Plant oils oxidise over time and can turn rancid, which you notice as a sharp or stale smell. Oils rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as hemp seed oil, are more sensitive to oxidation than MCT oil, which consists of saturated fats.
For RAW oils there is one more process: heat and time slowly turn CBDA into CBD (Wang et al., 2016). Our guide to CBDA and RAW CBD oil explains this in detail.
How to store CBD oil so it lasts
| Place | Good choice? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen or bedroom cupboard | Yes | Cool, dry and dark |
| Fridge | Possible, but not needed | Cool and dark, but the oil can turn thicker |
| Bathroom | Not ideal | Warm and humid after showers |
| Windowsill | No | Direct sunlight and warmth |
| Car or bag in summer | No | Temperatures can get very high |
- Close the bottle straight after use, so less air reaches the oil.
- Keep the dropper clean. Wipe it if it touches the skin, and put it straight back in the bottle.
- Keep the oil in its original bottle. The tinted glass protects against light, and the label carries the batch number and expiry date.
- Shake before use, as the label says.
From our production
Every label we print carries the production batch, the expiry date and the CBD and THC content to two decimal places. Our products are stored in Küssnacht am Rigi, Switzerland, before they are shipped, and every production batch is tested. From our own experience, an opened bottle keeps for about 6 to 12 months and an unopened bottle for at least 36 months. You do not need a fridge: a cool cupboard away from the sun is enough.
How to tell if CBD oil has gone bad
- Smell: a rancid, sharp or stale smell, different from when the bottle was new.
- Colour and texture: a clearly changed colour or a cloudy oil at room temperature. Cold can make an oil cloudy or thick for a while, which is normal and disappears at room temperature.
- Date: the expiry date on the label has passed.
If one of these applies, replace the bottle. An oil past its expiry date may contain less CBD than the label states.
Frequently asked questions
How long does CBD oil last once opened?
Our oils keep for about 6 to 12 months after opening when the bottle is closed after each use and stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
Does CBD oil expire?
Yes. Heat, light and air slowly break down the CBD and the carrier oil. Every Formula Swiss label shows an expiry date, and an unopened bottle keeps for at least 36 months.
Does CBD oil need to be refrigerated?
No. A cool, dry cupboard away from direct sunlight is enough. You can keep it in the fridge, but the oil may turn thicker and cloudy until it warms up again.
Can I use CBD oil after the expiry date?
We don't recommend it. After the expiry date, the oil may contain less CBD than the label states, and the carrier oil may have turned rancid.
Why has my CBD oil turned cloudy?
Cold is the most common reason: some oils turn cloudy or thicker at low temperatures. Let the bottle reach room temperature and shake it. If it stays cloudy and smells rancid, replace it.
Does RAW CBD oil last as long as regular CBD oil?
Storage matters more for RAW oil, because heat and time slowly turn its CBDA into CBD. Keep it closed, cool and away from sunlight, and follow the expiry date on the label.
Related guides
Formula Swiss CBD oils are sold as cosmetics for use on the skin. They are not food supplements or medicines and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This article is general information.
Last reviewed:
Sources
- Fraguas-Sánchez AI, Fernández-Carballido A, Martin-Sabroso C, Torres-Suárez AI. Stability characteristics of cannabidiol for the design of pharmacological, biochemical and pharmaceutical studies. Journal of Chromatography B 2020;1150:122188. doi:10.1016/j.jchromb.2020.122188
- Wang M, et al. Decarboxylation study of acidic cannabinoids: a novel approach using ultra-high-performance supercritical fluid chromatography/photodiode array-mass spectrometry. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research 2016. doi:10.1089/can.2016.0020
- Formula Swiss. Quality control: label information (production batch, expiry date, CBD and THC content).
