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.
Hi! I own the YL starter kit and, after reading these articles, am considering rounding out my oils with some NAN oils. Thank you for all the wonderful information! My question is this: If you were going to buy one book to use as a reference guide on what oils to use when, what would you buy? I would LOVE a book that is not affiliated with any company, is trustworthy and is safe in their recommendations on what to use (not so conservative that the oils lose their power but not crazy liberal in prescribed usage either). What book do you suggest I purchase?
Hi there. Good question! I have been adding to my wish list and have now linked to books in most of the posts in the series – I have a few more that I am going to put in as I read reviews and put on my wish list. Take a look at the posts and tell me what you think :). I hope to make a list of the ones I like later. Thanks again!
Thanks for all your research. I know how much effort it takes to wade through all the information. I’ve been using oils for over 10 years for personal and professional use (I work at a spa). Through my own research, I have been very pleased with Aromatics International. Just wondering if you did any research on them.
Thanks again
I didn’t I don’t think. I can’t respond about individual companies anymore – sorry. Too much time and for legal reasons. You can check out this post to see if they measure up. Thanks! https://wholenewmom.com/health-concerns/toxic-overload-health-concerns/essential-oils-testing-is-it-reliable/
I don’t think you looked up New Directions Automatics they are THE best! Best prices, all sizes for each kind and every kind you can think of! Also Excellent customer service, and all the information you need on every product, such as uses, warnings, descriptions and origins. They are a wholesaler and have recently implemented a $100 minimum order policy, but I was buying from them only 1-2 times per year anyway so it doesn’t affect me so much.
Hi there. While I can’t go into details about diff companies, I really recommend folks look at this post to see how other co’s measure up. Plus I just came out w/ a guide to oils that might interest you.
I do see that as of this date, it doesn’t appear that New Directions sells organic oils which I would much prefer to buy.
Here is the post: https://wholenewmom.com/health-concerns/toxic-overload-health-concerns/essential-oils-testing-is-it-reliable/
and here is the guide: https://wholenewmom.com/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-essential-oils-before-you-buy/
Hope that helps :).
Did Young Living win the 4 lawsuits against Doterra??
I don’t know but I think that I heard that they did. I don’t know that it matters who won necessarily. Not saying that’s the case here but in many cases the winner still didn’t do the right thing and vice versa. THANKS!
You are so welcome!
I’d like to say “Thank you!” for all of your investigation of this matter of essential oils. I am very new to their use and have made one purchase, so far. They are just about gone and it’s time for more, so I thought I’d take a fresh look into finding the best e o’s. I was delighted to come by your blog post and then especially delighted to see your conclusion, as my first and only purchase has been with Native American Nutritionals! I did like them quite well, but had nothing to compare them to. Going to place another order with them with a little more confidence, I’ll be sure to tell Mr. Dean of your recommendation!
Thanks so much Denise!!
I googled today, (trying to determine about essential oils and where to purchase, for I had a deadline of getting into a special deal with,( guess who), before midnight tonight). I have never thought about essential oil until two days ago and I read an add on I think NaturalNews.com, survival and essential oils. Your site was the first site that I chose to read when searching on google, and it was right on target. Think you for the hard work and effort you have put forth. You have a new follower and I will be looking forward to doing business with NAN. Sorrry doTEERA.
p.s.
Natural news might be helpful. Check out his background….
Thanks and welcome! What do you think Natural News would be helpful about? I read him pretty frequently. Thanks!
Adrienne, I’m new to your site. I was wondering how you use your essential oils in a room dispenser? Do you use an electric diffuser? I ask because I was working out yesterday and someone brought in an electric steam diffuser for the workout room while she worked out. She said she has allergies. I primarily use essential oils in coconut oil and other oils for my skin. I have used peppermint and lavender when I have a headache but haven’t used essential oils in a room dispenser. I love the idea especially for helping with allergies, and other health benefits for the whole family. I would love to hear your option on the best way to use in a room. Also, if you have a recipe sheet that you could post that would be great. Thanks!
I want the diffuser that Native American Nutritionals sells. I have another one from doTERRA but I don’t care for it. What kind of recipe do you mean? Thanks!
How about Aromahead International who have online courses for Aromatherapy Certification, as well as selling oils and more. Called Aromatics International ?
Sorry but I just can’t comment on / evaluate the companies anymore. I’m just swamped plus there might be legal issues. You can check out this post to see what you think and I hope to write more. https://wholenewmom.com/health-concerns/toxic-overload-health-concerns/essential-oils-testing-is-it-reliable/
I have loved this blog series. I too am very passionate about truth and am so happy that you have done all this research for me! I have a lot to ponder at this time.
thanks again
Thanks so much. I know – it’s a lot to think about. I hope to write more.