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’ve been reading your post and doing some of my own research, and the fact that I don’t like to purchase online, but I’d like to know where you would rate, NOW, Acua Caria, and Wyndmere, at this time these are the 3 that I’m using and I look forward to your insight.
Sorry for the delay – I am really unable to comment on individual companies now for legal reasons. Please look at this post and you can see if they measure up . Thanks! wholenewmom.com/health-concerns/toxic-overload-health-concerns/essential-oils-testing-is-it-reliable/
You mentioned Mountain Rose Herbs in your first post. In your opinion, how do their essential oil quality compare to Native American Nutritionals? Is MRH quality suitable for topical application, applying directly to open wounds, and ingesting?
I am a college student on a ridiculously small budget, only just beginning my EO journey.
Thank you so much for all the time and work you put into these posts!
I added some to the first post – hope it helps!
Did you look at Rocky Mountain Essential Oils? Thoughts? I am new at this and trying to read as much as I can …
They have the same oils as Native American. They almost completely merged but are keeping separate for now.
Help! I too am just being introduced to oils and would like to purchase froma good company. My son is suffering from a bone infection, osteomylisis. Can you advise me as to what book to purchase/where to go for help with what he should be taking/putting on. He does not like the smell of the oils, so I would like to give in capsule form. We have one month to help him or the right side of his pelvis will come off. (he has already lost his leg). Can you please make a few suggestions for me. He is on something from Essential living oils, but now at our local health food store, it says some oils should not be taken internally. Help
Ellen Roers
I’ll get right back to you – sorry I missed this comment. Hang in there. I will pray for you.
Here is the response from the owner of Native American. Blessings as you work on this.
This is, of course, not medical advice – please consult your physician before making changes to your diet or supplements.
Thank you for this series. I am just learning about essential oils and have bought some from NAM. Now HOW do I learn how to use them? And if I decided I liked oils enough to sell them would you recommend YL?
There are several books on my site – this book (affiliate link) was recommended by a number of people in the industry. Also at the bottom of most of the posts in this series there are some good resources.
Hi there,
I came to your site, and it is funny, because I arrived at the same company at the end of my research. I have Lyme and co-infections, and I want to treat. I wondered if you might be able to talk to me about these oils and their use generally. I actually wanted to distribute for the company you chose. Is that what you do? Just curious.
Hi there. I am just swamped but there are many books you could try including one that Native American sells. I am an affiliate – they don’t have a distribution option really. I think I am their first affiliate :). Glad to hear you agreed with me. I can email the owner about your issues if you like.
Yes,
I do agree. I am about to order: I have chosen frankincense, thyme, oregano, and potentially the equivalent to “Thieves.” I am concerned about their use. I thought a diffuser would be best. I need it to be economical whatever way I choose. Many in the community put drops straight into capsules and swallow. I would start slowly, and I favor a different route than the stomach. Even if I did, it would be diffused and 1 drop. What exactly is an affiliate? 🙂
If you can contact the owner, that would be great.
Thanks,
Cheryl
What do you mean by the Thieves – the Immune Strength? Did you see I have a DIY version on my blog? They have a great diffuser on their site. Paul (the owner) is very picky about them.
I just emailed him.
Hi there,
I couldn’t find your response, but yes, I was talking about Rocky Mountain’s equivalent to Thieves. I can only afford about 3 or 4 right now of their oils. Likely three. I am wanting to know if any of those can be diffused for internal use, esp. frankincense. I do think inhaling might be best though or skin application with oil. I saw your recipe for “Thieves” replica I think also. Great site!!
Just to be selfish, i assume you are ordering at Native American through my link, correct :)? That really helps me w/ my blog expenses. Thanks for the compliment! Diffusing is for the air so I am confused by your question. thanks! I have heard of folks doing both so I think it’s an and/or thing. I have done more w/ application and internal use personally. Not medical advice :).
Hi again,
I don’t see why I couldn’t order through you. I mean you get a commission. If the prices are the same, it is nothing to me. 🙂 I read that ingestion wasn’t safe and I really think if you are careful, you can ingest small amounts of oil. Also application onto the skin is relatively safe. Is that what you do? I know it is not medical advice also. 🙂 I hear ya. I know the diffusers go in the air and I’ve heard some just inhale from tissue or using something that goes on the bottle.
Thanks. I’ll be around over the next couple days while choosing oils at least.
Cheryl
Hi. If you mean ordering directly through me, I don’t stock oils here. That’s why :). If you order through the link on my blog I should get some kind of commission. I do small amounts of ingesting and topical use mainly. And diffusing but I loaned my diffuser out. Thanks!
What about education? I am a newcomer to essential oils and I can’t find any “education” for a beginner on North American’s website. Do they have any support in that area. And, if not, do you know why not? Or do you know the best place for that information? Thanks for your help!
Are you wanting a book or? They do have a book you can buy which is helpful. There are a few books I mentioned on my site. It is tough b/c they all have different viewpoints. let me know. What are you hoping to learn?
Hi I would really enjoy asking you some questions about your search. Not in a negative way in a curious way. Specifically with YL. With the scandal stuff about Dr. Young I can’t find much else about that. Is it something that effects the quality of their oils? Are they not as high quality as I am lead to believe? I have been using them and they have been working great. I for the most part do not ingest even though I have been told it is safe to do so. I just am not comfortable with that. Are the oils safe/pure just over priced in your opinion? Or do you think they are impure?
Well, I can only say that they smelled like chemicals to me and I felt a bit uneasy about the things said about him and his past but now that isn’t on the web anymore. I even talked w/ another rep who said she felt it was odd how he responded to the accusations – those are just feelings, of course. Many many MLMs just have odd histories that I am not comfortable with and it is hard for me to be at peace w/ it. But I do think that Native American’s pricing is better and that their oils are very very good quality. I think if you dig on the internet you can find the history and you will have to decide how you feel about it. I would have to do my own testing on the oils to see about the purity and I can’t afford that – it’s 100s to test one oil in only one way (the GC/MS testing). Thanks!
I just looked up the ingredient list in young livings toothpaste. There is no titanium anything in it. They also do not dilute or adulterate their oils…
Thank you for all of the hard work you put into this. I found this very helpful for me as I was debating on signing on with one of the MLM companies you discussed to get a better deal. I was looking for more information on essential oil and which essential oils were the best when I found your blog, and I will be checking into the Native American Nutritionals, and I will be following your blog 🙂
Thanks and welcome! Glad to have ya’!