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When you smoke CBD liquid, you may notice crystals forming in the liquid. You may be worried that it is a defective product or that the quality is poor, but crystallization is not a bad thing. Understand the causes of crystallization and how to dissolve it to enjoy a fun liquid life.
In this article, we will explain how to dissolve it for those who need to take action now, and then explain the reason for those who are interested in the reason.
How to dissolve crystallized e-liquid
Heat with a hair dryer
This is the quickest way to melt it, and it's as simple as holding a hair dryer over the cartridge.
Since you only need to melt the coil part to vape once, it's recommended when you're short on time.
Dissolve in a water bath
If you want to dissolve it completely, you can use this method, which involves sealing it in a bag and dropping it into warm water. It is not recommended to put the cartridge directly into hot water, as water may get into the air holes and cause damage.
Also, make sure to use a bag that can withstand heat of about 100 degrees. If the bag melts and sticks to the cartridge, it will be a huge hassle and may even be harmful to your body.
By the way, CBD melts at 70 to 80 degrees, but if you don't want to bother, you can just turn off the heat of the boiling water and put it in as is. The guideline for 70 degrees is when bubbles start to form on the bottom of the pot (see photo below).
Although it is a little troublesome to prepare hot water for the double boiler, you can heat the entire mixture thoroughly, which ultimately results in a clean melting (see photo below). Once it has been completely melted, it takes a long time for it to crystallize again, so you can save time in the end.
Why crystallization occurs
High concentration
CBD liquid is basically made by dissolving CBD in some kind of base oil (e.g. MCT oil, PG/VG), but each has a limit to how much CBD can dissolve. For example, with MCT oil, the limit is about 40% CBD, and if you put 50% or 60% CBD in MCT oil, it will easily crystallize. The percentage that dissolves here will also change depending on the blend of other cannabinoids (CBG/CBN, etc.) and terpenes.
Skew sells CBD liquid products with a concentration of 60-70% , but we dissolve the CBD liquid at the lowest possible concentration to match the limits of Skew's base oil. Depending on the production batch or the timing of purchase (such as cold seasons), it may be slightly crystallized, but this does not affect the quality. Skew's users are mostly core experts, so we have determined that many of them can handle crystallization, and we prioritize high concentrations.
Temperature changes
Do you think that crystallization increases in winter? That feeling is correct, and as the temperature drops, crystallization becomes more likely. The amount of CBD that dissolves in the base oil mentioned above is proportional to the temperature, and it dissolves more easily when it is warm and less easily when it is cold.
The photo below shows the same CBG liquid, but the one on the left was stored at room temperature, and the one on the right was stored in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. You can see that the one stored in the refrigerator has crystallized.
Try to store liquids that you use regularly at room temperature as much as possible, and only store liquids that you will not be using for long periods of time in the refrigerator or freezer.
Finally: If you really don’t want to bother, choose a lower-concentration CBD liquid.
I've written about crystallization so far, but I hope you understand that it doesn't mean the quality is bad. However, it is true that dissolving it with a hair dryer or in hot water can be a hassle for those who are not used to it. For those people, it is better to choose a product with a relatively low concentration that is less likely to crystallize.
For example, if you use an MCT oil-based liquid, I think it's okay if it's about 30%. If it's a PG/VG-based liquid, it's less likely to crystallize if it's less than 10%. Enjoy your e-liquid life according to your preferences and the occasion!