Sudden holiday panic is rolling in. Relatives are invading your home, kids’ wish lists are racking up and all the holiday parties require you to look presentable. Sounds like time, money and energy. Lovely.
Yes, it’s all merry and bright, but for some of us, the holidays can also kick up stress levels and throw a curve in our sleep schedules. Factor in shorter days and darker nights, and you could get hit with Seasonal Affective Disorder (fittingly called SAD). My previous coping mechanisms: overeat Christmas cookies, run six miles and sip a festive cocktail. That is, until this year, when I discovered how to use CBD — the right way.
As a wellness writer, I’m no stranger to hemp products. I’ve tested several top CBD brands for general mood elevation, but I’ve run into a bit of a dilemma. Most CBD makes me feel good, yet rarely addresses targeted issues like stress, pain or sleep. With some CBD, it’s difficult for me to discern if it’s working at all.
CBDistillery is selling something different. These CBD products are crafted by expert botanists with precise formulations that are meant to deliver specialized benefits. The Shhh Distilled CBN Gummies are designed for sound sleep, while the Ahhh Distilled Gummies are meant for daytime relief and relaxation.
After digging into the brand’s hemp sourcing and rigorous testing process, I got curious enough to try Ahhh Distilled and Shhh Distilled myself. Could either dial down my holiday stress, improve my seasonal sleep issues or maybe even zap a bit of my inner Grinch?
What is CBDistillery?
CBDisillery is a popular brand that sells a range of hemp-derived CBD products, from oils and topicals to gummies, softgels and even pet products. All CBDistillery products are made from non-GMO, U.S.-grown industrial hemp with 100% clean ingredients. That means no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.
Their non-GMO hemp is grown right here in the U.S and expertly crafted by botanists in Colorado. All CBDistillery products are third-party tested to ensure quality and consistency.
If you rely on CBD for long-term needs, chances are you’ll be buying it regularly. CBDistillery offers a subscription program that makes it more affordable. Shoppers can save up to 30% by signing up for recurring deliveries and every subscription order ships free. Frequent buyers can also join the brand’s loyalty program, earning points on purchases that can be redeemed for more exclusive discounts.
As for the products themselves, CBDistillery offers a full range of options: full-spectrum formulas (with less than 0.3% THC), broad-spectrum products (processed to remove trace amounts of THC), and CBD isolate (with 0.0% THC). For this review, we’re focusing on two of CBDistillery’s THC-free products.
CBDistillery Review
CBDistillery Ahhh
Pros:
- For CBD beginners, this is a solid option — I found it relaxing yet mild, with no noticeable side effects
- Delicious, fruit-forward taste, soft and easy to chew
- Turmeric was used for color (no additives)
Cons:
- Ahhh felt milder than Shhh, but was still nice for daytime use without feeling distracted
If you’re new to CBD, it’s smart to start with something mild and designed for rest and relaxation. Ahhh gummies fit the bill, with each serving delivering 30 milligrams of broad-spectrum CBD, which is a lower dose than some other products on the market. I personally needed to take two gummies to feel the full effect.
Not that flavor is the most important thing, but they also genuinely taste delicious. The tropical flavor is refreshing and soft to bite into. I had to stop myself from downing the whole tub. One thing to note: the sugar crystals are tasty, but they do come off on your hands. Fortunately, they do not stick to your teeth.
According to CBDistillery, the recommended daily serving of CBD is 30 to 60 milligrams, though individual results can vary. The brand suggests starting with a smaller dose, waiting three to four hours, and then increasing your dose gradually if needed. After doubling my Ahhh dose, I felt the edge start to come off.
My mind stayed completely clear, but I felt calmer and more at ease — able to knock out housework and send off some emails without stress. Since Ahhh contains no psychoactive ingredients, I felt comfortable taking the gummies during the daytime. I also didn’t experience any unwanted side effects, such as drowsiness or anxiety. This is exactly the kind of CBD I’d recommend to my friends who have never tried CBD.
Servings: 1 gummy | Dose: 30mg CBD
CBDisitllery Shhh
Pros:
- Appreciate the use of CBN isolate as a more targeted sleep aid, rather than CBD
- While I certainly felt the effects of a single gummy, I didn’t experience a ‘hangover’ the next day
- Vegetable juice used for color (no additives)
Cons:
- Cherry wasn’t my favorite flavor, but I didn’t mind this one compared to other cherry flavorings I’ve tried
Now, for Shhhh. About 45 minutes before lights out, I popped one of the cherry-flavored gummies. Cherry isn’t usually my favorite, but thankfully, these didn’t taste like kids’ cough syrup. In fact, I found it more pleasant than most cherry flavors I’ve tried. They’re sweet, but not headache-inducing-sweet.
Flavor aside, the effects kicked in much faster than I had expected. About 30 minutes after taking a 50 milligram gummy, I started yawning and was ready to wind down. Unlike CBD, the Shhhh formula uses CBN (cannabinol) isolate. CBN is mildly psychoactive and known for its sedative properties, which makes it especially effective as a sleep aid. And no, I wasn’t hallucinating or panicking. The only side effect was a bit of drowsiness, so I wouldn’t recommend trying to work out or operate heavy machinery after taking one.
With support from Shhh, I slept through the entire night and woke up feeling refreshed. In the past, CBN gummies have sometimes left me with a groggy “hangover” the next morning, but that wasn’t the case here. Another reviewer even mentioned these gummies gave him some vivid dreams, which I’d consider more of a pleasant side effect.
Servings: 1 gummy | Dose: 50mg CBN
How does CBDistillery compare to other brands?
As mentioned before, I haven’t always been able to feel the targeted effects of CBD. I’ve sampled some excellent gummies from brands I really enjoy — TribeTokes and Lazarus Naturals being a couple of my favorites — and while I liked their CBD offerings, I found that the sleep aid from CBDistillery offered the most pronounced results for me. If you want something targeted, CBDistillery is your place.
Another thing I appreciate about this brand is how clean and streamlined the packaging is. Some CBD products lean into a gimmicky aesthetic, with huge hemp leaves stamped all over the label and big bold text. CBDistillery containers are simple, easy to read and still kid-safe. As my colleague who also tested explained, “It’s great if you don’t want to feel judged or broadcast that you’re taking CBD.”
Final Verdict
At the end of the day, the question was whether these gummies would work for what I needed them to work for: managing seasonal fatigue and stress. On that front, they clearly delivered.
Just a single Shhh gummy was enough to send me into a deep, restful sleep, which is proof enough of their effectiveness. While the Ahhh gummies produced slightly milder results, they still offer reliable mood support and would be ideal if you’re looking for something gentle to take the edge off, especially this time of year. I would also recommend them to anyone new to CBD (trust me, there is nothing scary about them).
While these gummies may not be a cure-all for all your problems or daily annoyances, I’d absolutely consider swapping a cocktail for a gummy — and saving myself a few calories and guilt. They’re tasty, easy to take with you and get the job done. My Christmas miracle.
How We Tested
For this review, I tested CBDistillery’s best-selling Shhh and Ahhh gummies alongside our partnerships manager, Frank Massaro. Together, we evaluated their taste, packaging, effectiveness, dosage and any potential side effects.
- Taste: While taste is subjective, we considered factors like tolerability, sweetness, chewiness and whether the gummies tended to stick to teeth (a common concern for gummy lovers).
- Packaging: For CBD products, packaging is key. We evaluated how durable and child-proof the containers were, how easy it was to read the directions and find the dosage, and the overall look and feel of CBDistillery’s branding.
- Effectiveness: CBDistillery emphasizes targeted formulas. In our testing, we evaluated how effectively the Shhh gummy helped us fall asleep and how well the Ahhh gummy promoted daytime relaxation. We also observed whether there were any surprising benefits (i.e., clearer thinking or more vivid dreams).
- Dosage: Dosage is crucial, especially when factoring in the price you’re paying per gummy. We evaluated the effectiveness of the Ahhh gummy (30 milligram CBD) and Shhh gummy (50 milligram CBN), as well as whether doubling the dose produced noticeable effects.
- Side effects: While CBD side effects are generally mild, it’s possible to experience dry mouth, drowsiness, fatigue, diarrhea, reduced appetite or lightheadedness. We both monitored for any side effects during testing and the morning after testing.
This article was written by Miska Salemann, New York Post Commerce Writer/Reporter. As a health-forward member of Gen Z, Miska seeks out experts to weigh in on the benefits, safety and designs of both trending and tried-and-true fitness equipment, workout clothing, dietary supplements and more. Taking matters into her own hands, Miska intrepidly tests wellness products, ranging from Bryan Johnson’s Blueprint Longevity Mix to home gym elliptical machines to Jennifer Aniston’s favorite workout platform – often with her adorable one-year old daughter by her side. Before joining The Post, Miska covered lifestyle and consumer topics for the U.S. Sun and The Cannon Beach Gazette.
