What Makes a Good Essential Oils Company
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This path of figuring out which is the best essential oils company has been hard work.
When I started out trying Young Living's Thieves blend, I had NO idea that I would be digging this heavily into a bunch of oils companies to find out which brand gave my family the biggest bang for the buck.
There's been a lot of info to sort through, and life has been little [a lot] crazy over the past 6 months.)
Read on to see what I've been learning.
First of all, if you missed my earlier posting on essential oils, you might want to revisit:
– A Skeptic Looks at Essential Oils
– Are Essential Oils a Scam? – Peppermint, Wintergreen, and More
– Which Essential Oils Company is Best – Part One
A lot has happened since those posts.
I had questions and more questions to ask and I think I probably almost drove a few oil company folks crazy in the process. But I feel pretty good about what I am going to share with you now.
But before I tell you which company I am going to be recommending, let me fill you in on how I got there and give you more information on essential oils in general.
Finding the Best Essential Oils Company
In trying to sort out which company I wanted to recommend to you (and where I wanted to buy my oils from), I did the following:
– contacted a bunch of companies
– looked at tons of websites
– talked on the phone with employees and owners of essential oils companies
– thought agonized a lot
– thought some more
– spent a bunch of money on oils (and I do mean a bunch)
I really took this very seriously. I wanted to provide my family and my readers with the best essential oils company for the money.
Now of course, I can be wrong–and I do think that there is more than one good oil company out there.
But I am as sure as I can be right now that I have found a good one to recommend to you all.
What Makes a Quality Essential Oils Company
1. The Essential Oils Company Should Sell Quality Oils
The oils need to be as high quality as possible without being astronomical in price. They should be:
– extracted properly (under low temperature and low pressure)
– produced from plants grown in their indigenous locations (where they grow naturally)
– made from wild-crafted (indigenously grown and/or not removed entirely when harvested) and/or organic plants if at all possible
I have concerns along these lines about some of the companies that I looked into. For example, Young Living is a very popular essential oils company. In fact, if you recall from my post on A Skeptic Looks at Thieves Oil, and my post on Peppermint, Wintergreen, and More, you will see that I was at first very pleased with their oils.
However, I am concerned that many of Young Living's oils are sourced in the U.S. That is great from the standpoint of keeping shipping costs to the U.S. low, but many of the plants from which their oils are derived are not indigenous to the U.S. and so I think that is one thing to consider.
But let's see what else our “search for the best essential oils company turns up.” One company might not have everything we want…….
2. The Essential Oils Should Be Pure
The oils must not have anything added to them, nor have anything taken out that should be “left in”
Apparently, it is commonplace for oils “experts” or oil companies to add things to essential oils in order to make them “go farther” and thus be cheaper to produce. The companies can either make more profit by selling an inferior product at a high price, or they can offer an inferior product and an apparently “great price.”
I heard and read a lot about oil companies “monkeying around” with their oils in order to make them:
– smell better (By distilling oils longer or heating them, the “herby” smell of some oils is changed to make them more palatable.)
– pass quality and purity tests (Some “oil experts” are apparently smart enough to know what the tests are looking for, so they add things to the oils or alter them in other ways to make them “pass” the tests. This is the case with oregano oil. Some companies will adulterate their oregano oil to have carvacrol levels come to where they want them to be.)
– more profitable by adding fillers like propylene glycol and others
Additionally, oils should, when possible, be extracted with steam only–not with chemical solvents. Who wants more chemical “nasties” on or in their bodies? Not me.
Basically, the essential oils I want to use should be only pure essential oils.
Nothing added. Nothing taken away.
You can read more about the adulteration of essential oils here.
3. The Essential Oils Should Be Sold at an Affordable Price
The oils should be within the reach of most consumers' budgets.
Of course, as with everything, there are varying degrees of quality. The company that I have chosen has very high quality. However, even that company's owner admits that there are comparable, even higher quality oils available, but the prices of these oils are so exorbitant as to make them unaffordable to most people.
4. The Oils Should Be Effective
The oils must work.
Of course, we want oils to do something, and not just smell nice. I can use plain vanilla extract behind my ears for that :-).
Now, this is something that perhaps needs qualification. Of course, when talking about essential oils being effective, there are a lot of things that can go into that–the individual's condition, how the oil is applied, etc., whereas the other means of evaluating an oil (outside of the organoleptic [smell] testing) are more objective.
It's important to note that if an essential oils works, that doesn't mean it's pure. Also, if an essential oil doesn't work, that doesn't mean that it's impure or inferior.
5. The Company Should Provide Education
Ideally, the oils company will offer opportunities to learn how to properly use oils to provide healthy options for the treatment of medical and emotional issues.
Of course, there is a huge amount of such information on the internet and in books like the following.
How's that for a lot of information to chew on? See why this has been tough?
Well, hang in there with me. I'll be back real soon with more information.
The Essential Oil Company I Recommend
If you'd like to find out which essential oil company I went with at the end of this long search, read Announcing “the Best” Essential Oils Company – Part 7 .
You can also read the other parts of the series here:
For more in the series:
– Which Essential Oils Company is Best?
– 14 Ways to Spot Fake Essential Oils
– Young Living vs. doTERRA
– Are MLM Oils Worth It?
– Distillation, Bias, Vomit and Personal Attacks
A Great Essential Oils Book
If you're looking to learn more about essential oils, the following book is a great one to add to your library.
Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art
This book is a complete resource for everyone from students to practitioners. It has more than 90 formulas and covers cosmetics, perfumes, and therapeutic uses.
The authors have a combined 75 years of experience that will help you bring the power of plants to your everyday life in the areas of beauty, healthy, and overall wellness.
Get My Free Essential Oils Report and VIP Newsletter Access
Also, if you go and grab my Free Report on 10 Things to Know About Essential Oils Before You Buy, you will not only get more myth-busting essential oils information, but you'll get access to my VIP newsletter as well–complete with updates, great healthy living offers, of course new posts on essential oils, and more.
What do you think?
Anything you would add to this list?
The issue of ‘what is the best essential oil’ is such a fluid question that requires continued research as more and more essential oil companies appear. I really appreciate the research and time you have taken to provide us all with this great information! Thank you! I wanted to let you know about a brand new essential oil company that has popped up in the industry. The company is called Améo and I have been very impressed with them so far – and this is where I am purchasing my oils from right now. They claim to have clinical grade oils which basically put their oils at the same quality and purity as the oils used in medical testing and research. They have proven that their oils are cell permeable and show this in video form on their website (it’s amazing!). They also have offered transparency in providing results of their extensive testing with each batch (to maintain clinical grade quality and purity) as well as information on where the plants for that specific batch came from. I would love to see what your personal feelings would be on this company based on all your previous research. Should you want to conduct some research on this company, I would be happy to send you a small sample for you to smell, use, and compare to the oils you have in your home. Please let me know. Thank you again for all your time in conducting this research!
Hi there. I have been getting umpteen comments from distributors for this company. I might be interested but I don’t know what kind of comparison I would do as all I did was smell and use. Not scientific but the questioning period was telling I thought. Thanks.
at this point I am not keen on signing w/ an MLM essential oils company based on my previous experience with them but I don’t like to say “never”. That being said there are more things about NAN and RMO that I really like so I don’t think I am ready to move but you can send me something if you like. Thanks!
Awesome info!!!
Thank you! Glad to have helped!
Hi, I am so new to all this but very interested in the use of EO’s. I have been trying to sift through all these questions and answers to fine your choice of best oils and , it could be just me, but I can’t find your decision. You have done alot of research, thanks, that I simply don’t have time for so perhaps you can give me the net results of all your efforts. I’m sorry if I am overlooking the answer.
Hi there. Did you not see this post?: https://wholenewmom.com/health-concerns/natural-remedies/announcing-the-best-essential-oils-company-and-a-great-sale/
Let me know if there is a way to make it more clear. The links were at the bottoms of the posts. Thanks!
Also, here is a new guide for essential oils that I just came out with: https://wholenewmom.com/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-essential-oils-before-you-buy/
So where does new directions aromatics rank?
Hi there Sorry but I can’t evaluate other companies due to legal concerns but I can point you to this post – see if you think they measure up. More is coming about essential oils on my post so make sure you stay in touch – subscribe or like me on Facebook – whatever. I have one thing almost done and more in the works. Thanks! https://wholenewmom.com/health-concerns/toxic-overload-health-concerns/essential-oils-testing-is-it-reliable/
Thanks for sharing your research with us! We have used EO’s for the last 8-10 years and they have been super helpful in our family’s health! I agree with your comments – we use them internally with care and prudence. I had a bad reaction on my face once from mixing the wrong oils. It was terrible and painful. Left me with burns, HOWEVER, we realized that we had mixed oils incorrectly and knew to blame ourselves and not the oils.
We used to use Young Living, but came to a point where we just could not afford them anymore (left a well paying job in the city to raise our kids in the country). We tried Mtn. Rose and they were fine (but pricey shipping at the time), but then found Plant Therapy. You are right, their Helichrysum is not the Italicum variety (I use that particular one in my salves), but I just buy my Italicum from another company. We have been very pleased with PT’s fast customer service and the quality we have experienced. I do think YL and DoTerra have excellent oils, we just can’t afford them and have not found PT’s to be lacking in any way. I had no idea there were so many companies!! One other that I have used occasionally is Anana Apothecary. They have the Italicum and a lot of info on the oils, including how many drops per ml for each oil and how to mix oils in other products to the correct percentage. Very helpful.
Thanks again for all your hard work and for sharing it with us! 🙂
Thanks! I’d be interested in your thoughts on Native American if you ever decide to try them. Thanks for commenting!
I encourage you to check out Selah Essential Oils.
They are a Christian essential oils company, are not MLM at all, have completely pure, unadulterated oils, and are incredibly affordable. They are a new company (just celebrated their first birthday) but are very knowledgeable, pray over the orders, and seek to honor God with the company.
Thanks! I am completely overwhelmed w/ all of the companies but I might do that.
Young living oils are not mostly sourced in the United States. True they do have farms in the US. (Nothing wrong with that! Means they are able to sustain the highest quality while benefiting local economies. They also have farms all over the world, including where the plants are indigenous. They source their seeds from all over the world (where indigenous plants grow) consult with and employ the foremost growing experts, and use the highest standards for cultivation.
I don’t understand the skepticism about Young Living. If it weren’t for founder Gary Young, this country wouldn’t even be seeing this awesome movement of incorporating EOs into our lives. Before he figured out that everyone should be using them, the people using them were a relatively small amount of health practitioners. I say the more the merrier, there’s room for everyone. Choose wisely, but there’s no need to demonize another company, unless their product is downright harmful.
Hi Katy. I don’t think that I “demonized” them at all – can you tell me how you think I did that?
Thank you for the info and your homework that you’ve done in this regard. I am just starting my journey into learning more about these essential oils. I was introduced to do Terra, and am considering signing up with them but also wanted to do just as you did and find out more about the various companies, to make sure I am making a correct choice for myself. Thanks again and for all of the links you have provided that I plan to to check out. 🙂
Thanks!!
LOVED the Young living oils.. didn’t love the price.. Now I love Eden’s garden.. awesome oils and half the price.. Love the “Age Defy” and “Good Night”.. and the 4 thieves.. all are great. I order them from Amazon.. LOVE them.
HI Can you give me some info on what insurance comp will pay for the young living oils to be used & how would you go about asking or proving you needed these oils??? Do you know anyone who has gotten there insurance co to pay for the oils & what ones???? thank you so much Barbara
PS. I realy enjoyed your artical, I thought it was a realy fair & to the piont !
I can’t imagine any insurance company paying for it. I wish they did – -and for other alternative care.
I didn’t notice if you had studied up on Eden’s Garden. As far as I can tell they are a newer company but I have been hooked by their prices and quality. I just wondered if you had researched them as well. Thanks!
I did and mentioned them in the comments in part 7 – hope you can find them. Sorry I am so overwhelmed :).
Which post contains your review of Mountain Rose? Why did you decide against them?
Thanks!
Alexis
Mainly I wasn’t able to get sourcing info and they were equivocal about internal usage.
Of course they are equivocal about internal usage! They don’t want to be sued! It’s one of those blanket disclaimers that they throw out there..? Kind of like, “consult your doctor before…” Blah blah blah.
I say give them a deeper look. I don’t feel like you gave them much attention in your research (or at least research that we can see).
I called them again and they are now saying that that isn’t the issue. i tried looking more but I am just swamped. I am going to see the oils I have (if I still have some) to see how they compare with NAN. I like their products OK but Frontier spices are clearly superior IMHO so that might just be how I feel about the oils as well.