Softgel

A softgel is a one-piece capsule with a soft, flexible shell made of gelatin or a plant-based alternative, sealed around a liquid or oil-based fill.

Softgels are manufactured by encapsulating the fill between two ribbons of warm gelatin that are pressed together and cut in a rotary die. The shell contains plasticizers such as glycerin to keep it pliable, and it dissolves in the stomach within minutes. Because the fill is liquid, softgels suit oil-soluble ingredients such as fish oil, vitamin D, and cannabinoids dissolved in carrier oil. Vegetarian softgels use starch or carrageenan in place of gelatin.

A CBD softgel holds a measured amount of hemp extract in a carrier oil, giving the same content in every unit without measuring or taste. It follows the oral route, with slower onset and lower bioavailability than sublingual or inhaled products, and exposure is affected by whether it is taken with food. The label should state milligrams per softgel, count per container, extract type, and a batch number linked to a certificate of analysis. Softgels are among the formats used in clinical cannabinoid research.