Where to Buy the Best Essential Oils
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I used to think that essential oils were a scam, but I ended up finding out that they are a great resource for your natural medicine cabinet for issues such as headaches, ear infections, tummy aches, viruses and bacterial infections, and more. But I eventually felt I needed to figure out where to buy essential oils that I could trust and that I could reasonably afford.
I spent a ton of time calling companies, asking questions, sampling oils. Literally, it was a ton. And it was very exhausting.
I've learned a lot with all the time I've spent researching oils companies and I've covered a lot of what I learned here in this essential oils series, some of which I wrote while I was still trying to figure out which company I was going to be using and recommending.
In this post, I'll talk about the company that I decided to purchase our oils from.
It's also the one that I recommend to you as having the best essential oils for the money, with natural healing qualities and no additives or adulterating.
How I Chose Where to Buy Essential Oils for My Family
This all started with my not being happy with the way questions were (or were not) answered by Young Living and doTERRA. So I started contacting a bunch of other essential oils companies and asked a lot of questions.
If you remember, when I started trying to figure out where to buy essential oils, I mentioned the following about Native American Nutritionals (now Rocky Mountain Oils) in Part One of the series.
“Looks like they carry good products, but they are a bit expensive. Their prices, for a number of oils, in fact, are almost identical to the MLMs in this group, Young Living and DoTerra. And I don’t see any difference on the surface in the quality department.”
In this post, you can see that I ended up recommending them, but this was really a surprise for me. After thinking that I was writing them off, I got a call back from the owner of Native American Nutritionals, and I talked with him for a few hours, which turned into many hours after that, and I felt that he really knew his stuff.
I was intrigued by what he had to say about his company and the oils industry in general.
We had countless conversations from March 2012 – January 2013, and I literally grilled him about his company and others to figure out which company I wanted to recommend, and if his, was in fact, good enough for my family and for all of you.
I now can say that I feel very comfortable recommending this company to you and am now using their oils almost exclusively (only because I have a few bottles of other brands left over).
I hope you check them out and I'd love to hear about your experience.
(Disclaimer. I did not choose this company because I was able to become an affiliate for them, but I am one. I decided to work with them and then we made an partnership agreement. I was the first affiliate for the company.)
Why I Chose Rocky Mountain Oils
Please note: since this series was written, Rocky Mountain Oils purchased Native American Nutritionals. Native American Nutritionals was the original company, then the two companies had a partnership. Then Rocky Mountain Oils (RMO) purchased NAN. I am even more confident in the quality of oils now that this all has taken place.
Here are some of the qualities that make Rocky Mountain Oils a solid place to buy your essential oils from.
1. Experience
The owner of Native American Nutritionals Paul Dean, was in the oils industry since 1997, being first introduced to essential oils about 30 years ago. He started his first full-time essential oils business in 1998.
Rocky Mountain Oils was founded in 2004 by two essential oil enthusiasts, Michael and Leah Vincent. With years of experience in essential oils, the acquisition of Native American Nutritionals, and 14 years of company growth, RMO has become one of the leading direct-to-consumer essential oil companies in the world.
2. Purity
Quality Oils – all oils have been third party GC/MS tested.
Certificates are available upon request by easily entering in the batch number from any bottle.
Almost all of the oils come from plants grown in remote locations where no pesticides, herbicides, or harmful chemicals are used and only natural fertilizers are used.
3. Indigenous Plants
All oils come from plants grown in their indigenous locations (where they grow naturally).
4. Oils from Small Farms
Almost all oils from NAN were sourced directly from small farms (many are from third-world countries). Mr. Dean contracted with locals in the countries from where he sourced the oils, finds a quality farm, sets up a distiller, and extracts the oils. The oils are then sent to Native American, then sent for testing, and bottled. The only oils at NAN that are not from small farms are mainly the organic citrus oils.
Since Rocky Mountain Oils purchased Native American Nutritionals, some of the sourcing has changed as the company felt they had to make some changes to put a higher priority on the purity and quality of the oils sold. They source from small farms and also from leading experts in the industry.
5. No Solvents
They use no solvents for distillation except when necessary, as in the case of absolutes like vanilla and jasmine (since the cost of those essential oils is otherwise prohibitive.) Update 2015: they now sell a vanilla extracted with CO2.
6. Affordable Pricing
They have affordable prices (not as expensive as the multi-level marketing companies, but not “too good to be true” either.)
7. Quality Pure Oils
I have a lot of standards for quality and making sure that you are purchasing quality oils. See this post on pure essential oils for that information.
In addition, I prefer buying organic whenever I can, and that includes essential oils. Recently (Nov 2017), Rocky Mountain Oils has included an organic line of oils in their lineup and should be expanding it soon.
8. Transparency
Details for oils are listed clearly on their site (including the Latin name and country of origin).
The company is working on how to indicate the growing method now that they sometimes have a variety of sources for some oils.
9. Reasonable Shipping Costs
Rocky Mountain Oils offers Free Shipping domestically in the U.S. and reasonable shipping internationally, with free shipping over $199.
10. No Adulterating
Oils are not heated, mixed with anything else, or adulterated in any way.
Unless declared on the label, the oils are pure. The only things added would be a carrier oil to make the oil or blend easier to use right out of the bottle.
What About Other Companies?
I often receive inquiries asking me what I think about other essential oils companies.
Please read this post on Essential Oils Testing and Quality and this report on 10 Things You Need to Know About Essential Oils to see if a brand measures up.
There are more and more companies out there on a daily basis. It truly seems that every day there is a new company selling essential oils and many are making claims that they are the only pure oils out there, which is not true.
My standards are high. I don't just want a company that says they are pure. When deciding where to buy essential oils, I want to make SURE I'm getting pure and not just a song and dance.
More Essential Oils Posts
Here are other posts that you might want to check out in this series on essential oils.
I enjoyed reading your findings and like that you took the time to help me finally access your seventh piece. Thank you for your time and efforts, I’ve never bought essential oils before, but wanted to be sure I could have a source of know-how and experience to learn from in the field of essential oil remedies, after finding your blog, I am certain you will be that source for me. I have also never followed a blog, but yours has already kept my attention for more than twice as long as any other bloggers combined. Please know that I will be reading your posts from now on :]
That means so much, Bree. I really am no expert – just learning along w/ the rest of you but I am just blessed that you took the time and that feel that way. I look forward to hearing from you again – blessings!
Thank you so very much for this series of posts. It’s incredibly informative and helpful. I have one question though, in your research, did you find any information about the use of essential oils arounds cats. I received a diffuser and would love to use it at home but have read conflicting information about the possible negative effects they may have on cats and was wondering if you know if it would possibly be a problem for them or not. Thank you again.
Hi there. You’re welcome :). Here is some information on cats from the owner of Native American Nutritionals.
“You will want to be cautious when using them on cats. Cats are highly sensitive and just having them on your own body is usually enough. With that said, the essential oils work wonderful for pets. I see quicker results with using the oils on animals than I do on people. As a rule you want to make sure you use the oil in the appropriate amount when compared to your animal’s size. A 5 lb rabbit will take a lot less oil than a 100 lb Rottweiler.
Use the oils in the same way you would use them on yourself. Because animals are sensitive, when putting the oil on the exposed skin, it is always advisable to use a carrier oil as well. I normally use five drops of Fractionated Coconut Oil to one drop of pure essential oil. I also put them on the pads of their feet, or when I do use the pure oil it normally is just put on the fur and the animal breaths it in.
Cats are more sensitive to the oils so you only want to expose them to the oils in very, very small amounts. So if your just diffusing 15 minutes a day, the cats will be just fine. My cats have been around the oils for many, many years without any problems. ”
Of course, this isn’t to be construed as being medical advice for your cats :).
What were your thoughts on Eden Garden ..didn’t see that
Hi there. I’m sorry but I just can’t comment on oil companies now – but you can read this post to see if they measure up https://wholenewmom.com/health-concerns/toxic-overload-health-concerns/essential-oils-testing-is-it-reliable/
and I just came out w/ this guide to purchasing EOs that you might find interesting: https://wholenewmom.com/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-essential-oils-before-you-buy/
Hope that helps :).
I can say that Helichrysum Italicum is typically the preferred helichrysum and I don’t see them carrying it. I don’t see that their oils are organic and/or wild crafted but I could be missing something. I didn’t choose them for several reasons. Thanks!
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Thanks so much for posting all of this information. I’m really new to essential oils, and am starting to try and figure out what it’s all about. I was going to sign up with YL as I know someone who is a consultant for them, but their prices are so high. I’d heard that they were the best place to go for the best quality oils, but I will be checking out Native American Nutritionals after reading your post.
Hi there. Thanks! I so hope you enjoy them as much as we do!
I started researching essential oils several years ago but the topic of which company to buy from came up again today. I came across your blog and read all the articles, 1-7. I was very impressed with your research, your honesty, and your information. Thanks for some enlightening information! I will be following your blog now.
Thanks so much and welcome!!
Thank you for your diligence in research. I can’t thank you enough for doing my homework for me.
You are so welcome. Could have done a lot more but had to stop at some point :).
Can you use Native American Nutritionals Essential Oils internally?
Hi there. The owner of Native American says you can use their oils internally with caution. And of course, do not use any oils that shouldn’t be taken internally. I have a little more information in this post that might interest you. Good question and I hope to write more about this in the near future: https://wholenewmom.com/health-concerns/essential-oils/
Hi Adrienne,
I came across your blog as I was researching EO companies. I own a wellness company & I am a rep for several lines of MLM products. I would like to add a line of EO. I know that NAN is not MLM. Which of the MLM EO companies is your top pick?
Thank you for your insight!
Carol
Wow. Good question. I don’t know that I would feel comfortable selling any of them. What are you a rep for? I wonder if you might be interested in one company that I just started with. Not at all meaning to pressure you but let me know what you think. They are growing at about 23% per month and are trying to bring safe beauty products to everyone. https://wholenewmom.com/beautycounter/
I wish I could have stayed w/ the MLM oil companies but I couldn’t. I would have to think about that. You can possibly email me if you like.
Hi, I think Edens Garden is great, I was surprised when I checked them out. Please check them out and tell us what you think.. The oils are 100 percent natural, the price is more than reasonable and they help people by giving back. Thank you
Hi there. Sorry but I am unable to evaluate any more companies. Part of it is time part is other concerns. But you can use this post to see if they measure up. https://wholenewmom.com/health-concerns/toxic-overload-health-concerns/essential-oils-testing-is-it-reliable/
Thanks and sorry about that.
I know that when I looked at them I think they only had about 6 oils that were organic. Has that changed?
Thank you for your exhaustive research into essential oils. Your presented in your writing and research with transparency and honesty. You admitted when you did not continue research in certain directions due to time constraints, i.e. full-time job as a Mom! You addressed hostile comments in a professional manner, and provided quotes, links and e-mails that backed up what you wrote.
You also spent a lot of time doing research that I don’t have time to do, but have wanted to do as have been doing the “essential oil scramble” for awhile now.
I also appreciate your transparency regarding commissions you may or may not receive when we click through your site to buy items from another site. That is an uncommon trait in any industry and by many bloggers.
I have migraines, Chiari Malformation, back issues and my list goes on. I am only 45 years old, but sometimes feel much older due to all the pain. I have found essential oils to be a wonderful alternative to conventional Western medicine.
Thank you for providing such detailed information regarding the distillation process and different chemical additives. I was completely unaware of these processes, and the information (and links) have proved useful.
I, too, am a researcher. I dig and dig and dig to find the truth. However, I don’t have the time to research everything! Your 7-part series provided me with a deeper knowledge base, and I have shared it with several family members who have recently entered into the world of essential oils.
Thank you again for your research, your professionalism and your transparency.
Barbara
Hi there. Thanks so much – I did get so overwhelmed and just had to stop. I am sorry to hear about your health issues. I know how hard that is. Have you by chance looked at food issues as triggers for the migraines? I can’t medically advise, but I have been doing so much better as I work on things. I am w/ a new practitioner and so far am really happy.
I wish I had so much more time, but I don’t. Trying to be more efficient but that is hard too :). Hope to see you around again!
You did enough! You also provided plenty of links and information for us, if we want to continue that line of research.
I recently “figured” out my migraine trigger. Barometric pressure changes. Whenever the pressure shifts to a low-pressure/rain system, I get a migraine. The migraine doesn’t feel completely gone until the pressure shifts again. Unfortunately, I live in a very rainy place. Fortunately, I was already making plans to move: high desert/mountain regions or Southern California. I do have a few food triggers: onions, garlic and, if I eat a lot of it at one time, spicy foods (probably cayenne and other peppers.)
The wonderful thing is that after six years of worsening migraines until they occurred daily, I was finally diagnosed a year ago with Chiari Malformation Type 1. Through the exhaustive work of my doctor, I made it into a great neurosurgeon, Dr. Kralick in Anchorage, AK. and underwent a successful decompression surgery in June.
I’m starting physical therapy next week for continued healing from that surgery and bulging discs/degenerative disc disease and arthritis in my cervix, thoracix and lumbar spinal areas. I checked out your recommendation for oils. I love everything I have read on their site. I believe I will start out with their Starter Kit #1 and one of their blends for chronic pain. I have been mixing my own blends for awhile, and am excited about progressing to the next level. Today, I mixed up a migraine blend for a friend of mine.
doTerra has two products that I like: Deep Blue lotion and Past Tense stress reliever. I hope to replace those with similar items from Native American Nutritionals.
I am glad to have found your site as I enjoy and learn from each post I have read so far. I’ll let you know how my journey progresses.
Happy New year.
Barbara
Wow – you’ve been through a lot. Did you see the blend comparison charts on the home page of NAN? You can match up any of the blends with comparable ones.
I so hope they help you!!! Thanks and Happy New Year to you as well.