Young Living vs doTERRA and Why I Left Both
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I didn’t really know what to think about essential oils at first.
A friend recommended a blend called Thieves when I was dealing with a bad sinus infection—I share that story in more detail here—and I was surprised enough by the results that I signed up with Young Living.
I was already aware of some concerning things about the company’s history—but I still wanted to give the oils a fair chance and see for myself how they performed.
That’s what led me to start digging deeper into essential oils in general and looking to find a quality company to buy our oils from.
At that time, a doTERRA rep reached out to me—because she could tell I really cared about quality. She believed I’d find the transparency, quality, and support I was looking for with doTERRA.
I decided to check them out and join their company as well and was optimistic at first, but when we started digging into specific questions—especially about their peppermint oil sourcing (see below for more about that)—the answers still weren’t clear.
So now I couldn't get clear answers from the two biggest names in the industry. At that point, I decided I wasn’t comfortable continuing with either company.
What I found wasn’t just disappointing—it raised serious concerns about how both companies present their products.
Most comparisons between Young Living and doTERRA don’t actually answer the real questions.
That’s because many of them are written by representatives of one company or the other.
So instead of just repeating the usual talking points, I started looking at both companies from a different angle:
- What are they actually transparent about?
- Where do things not quite add up?
- And what should you really be paying attention to as a consumer?
Young Living vs doTERRA: Which Is Better?
If you’re just looking for a quick answer:
- Best for transparency: doTERRA (shares GC/MS testing reports)
- Best for variety: Young Living (larger product range)
- Biggest concerns: Both (sourcing, marketing, and MLM structure)
- My conclusion: I don’t recommend either for most people—and I’ll explain why below.
Note: I’m sharing what I can here, but not everything—because some companies are quick to pursue legal action. I encourage you to do your own research as well.
Here’s a quick side-by-side comparison before we break down what actually matters.
| Feature | Young Living | doTERRA |
|---|---|---|
| Oil variety | Larger (~270+) | Smaller (~140+) |
| Transparency | Lower | Higher (GC/MS reports) |
| Sourcing approach | More US-based | Indigenous sourcing focus |
| Ethical concerns | Documented issues | Documented issues |
| MLM model | Yes | Yes |
Why Most Young Living vs doTERRA Reviews Are Misleading
Most of the reviews out there that compare Young Living to doTERRA are written by representatives of one of those two companies. The main goal of their posts, therefore, is to convince you to join their “team” and sell the oils under them.
Just because someone is recommending something that they benefit from doesn't mean that the recommendation is inaccurate, but in the case of an MLM, it's more of a red flag.
There's not just affiliate bias going on, but it's more than that because once you sign up, you're tied to that person for life unless you leave the company for a long time (typically 6-12 months).
In addition, the comparisons in those posts are pretty superficial and are not digging deep into some things behind the marketing. That being said, there are some aspects to each company that make them stand out against the other.
Ways Young Living Excels
While doTERRA and Young Living share a lot of similarities, there are some ways that Young Living stands out.
Variety
Young Living has a lot of oils to choose from. They sell at least 270 singles and blends, while doTERRA carries approximately 140.
So basically, if you want to address something with essential oils, Young Living likely has what you want.
Longevity
Young Living has been around for a long time, and they are often credited with having a lot to do with the popularity of essential oils today. That doesn't mean their oils are better than other companies' oils, but I like to give credit where credit is due.
The following concerns are based on publicly available information and my own evaluation of that information.
Problems With Young Living
Reputation and Ethics
Again, Young Living was a big part of making essential oils mainstream, which is something to be applauded.
However, there are some pretty not-so-savory things that have been written about D. Gary Young. Of course, the internet isn't always reliable, but I still think these things might be worth paying attention to.
Gary Young has been accused of lying about healing from the oils and making misleading statements related to the sourcing of Frankincense oils.
OSHA Violations
OSHA is the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, a government agency in the US that aims to ensure safe working conditions.
While looking into both companies, I found out that Young Living has 20 OSHA violations, with 10 being called “serious.” That sounds really bad, but Young Living has been around for a long time, so they've had more time for violations to occur, and all of the violations appear to be about the same incident.
Of course, OSHA violations don't mean that a company is bad, and some people consider some of the OSHA violations to be ridiculously stringent, but in this case, the lid of a distilling vessel blew off, killing the man who was working right by it.
If Young Living cleaned up its procedures correctly, then it's possible that their new procedures are better. Either way, it's still worth noting.
When I first published this post, I didn't find other companies having OSHA violations. Of course, I didn't look into every single oil company, However, but doTERRA now has a violation that you can read about below.
Non-Indigenous Plants
A good number of Young Living's farms are located in the U.S. I think that's fine for a company being more “in control” of their product but not great if you follow conventional wisdom that plants grow best (and have the best therapeutic qualities) when they are grown in their indigenous locations (where they are supposed to grow naturally).
If you read through the comments of Best Essential Oils Parts 2 & 3, you'll see that Young Living reps tout the fact that YL farms are in the U.S. as being an advantage, due to Young Living having control over the whole growing process.
Perhaps, but other companies like doTERRA and others source their oils from wherever the plants grow naturally for higher quality.
Misleading Effectiveness Claim
In Young Living's enrollment package, there was a Thieves Oil brochure referenced in this study. It was cited to address the superior therapeutic value of the oil blend.
I was curious to see the exact results, so I looked them up. What I found, however, was that the study was done on generic eucalyptus oil rather than on the Young Living Thieves oil itself.
I reached out to Young Living's headquarters and got this response:
Thank you for your email. Unfortunately we cannot comment on any
research articles or provide this information as it would be in direct
violation of FDA regulations. You may want to contact Life Science
Publishers at 1-800-336-6308 or www.lifesciencepublishers.com and Sound
Concepts at 1-888-285-6317, 801-225-9520 or
www.essentialproductinfo {dot} com. These companies both carry several
items or research that contain useful information concerning essential
oils and supplements and may be able to assist you further.
While in a sense, the “proven to work” claim was accurate, their blend wasn't tested. In my mind, this comes across as misleading marketing.
Possible Chemical Smell
When evaluating oils from different companies, we did a “smell challenge” with my not-so-specially-trained Smell Testing Panel (a.k.a. my family).
Of course this wasn't an official spectrometry test, and none of us is a certified aromatherapist, but we noticed that Young Living seemed to have a chemical (synthetic) overtone.
Does that mean there were synthetics added? No, but we still didn't care for it.
Unknown Country of Origin
As of the 2018 update of this post, many or all of the oils from Young Living do not have a country of origin indicated on the site.
Illegal Sourcing of Oils
In 2017, Young Living was caught illegally sourcing rosewood and spikenard oils between 2014 and 2016.
However, this whole topic is very confusing because Young Living turned themselves in, and there are more details to consider.
Misleading Seed to Seal Claim
Many Young Living reps claim that their products are superior due to the company's Seed to Seal practices. However, as you can see from the illegal sourcing of oils above and the information below about sourcing from the same places that doTERRA does, this claim does not appear to be accurate.
Problematic Spiritual Associations
In 2022, Young Living sent out the book My Word Made Flesh to many high-ranking Young Living distributors. The book was co-written by Robert Tennyson Stevens, who runs a company called Mastery Systems, and Vonn Harting, a Young Living Royal Crown Diamond. Mary Young (Gary Young's wife) wrote the forward.
The book had a lot of questionable content, including a passage that encouraged people to basically do a “seance with oils” in which they would repeat,
I am the resurrection and the life of my lineage.
Of course, in the Bible, Jesus calls himself “the way, the truth, and the life” and says “no one comes to the Father except through me,” which made this book problematic for many, including me. Basically, this quote appears to be telling people to take the place of Jesus.
Here are some more problematic quotes from the book (source):
Jesus taught the use of oils to the disciples, not the masses.
I am sovereign in my god self.
I am the brilliant mind of my creator.
You can see The Word Made Flesh here for now so you can see a bit more about what caused all the hubbub. And gee, you can purchase it for $255 if you'd like. Wow.
Ways doTERRA Excels
Education and Support Network
While both companies have a lot of educational resources, it seemed to me that the support network available with doTERRA was stronger.
Testing Transparency
doTERRA, unlike Young Living, shares GC/MS test results on its website. Yes, essential oil testing can be falsified, but it's a more transparent situation than Young Living has.
Indigenous Plants
doTERRA claims that all of their oils are from plants grown in indigenous areas. I haven't looked into this completely, but if it's the case, their oils should be of higher quality than Young Living's.
Problems With doTERRA
Following are concerns that showed up about doTERRA years ago, but also a few that are more recent, with one of them being quite disconcerting.
OSHA Violation
While other sites claim that doTERRA has no OSHA violations, as of July 2024, that simply isn't true any longer. Note that after writing this section of this post, I see that doTERRA's name isn't on this page, but the internet search information associated with this page indicates that it is connected with doTERRA.
Workers in Vulnerable Situations
In 2023, an investigation into poor employment practices, including substandard pay and unsafe working conditions, by a doTERRA supplier was launched. During the investigation, workers were told to “change their stories ‘or face the consequences'.”
doTERRA claims on its website that every oil it sells is “responsibly and sustainably sourced” and that it's their “top priority to protect the environment during the production process and provide fair treatment of all harvesters and growers.” However, in this case, doTERRA didn't protect the women involved, and they were left in fear for their safety. To be fair, Emily White was quoted as being distraught about this situation, but there are no reports of this being resolved in a positive way.
Odd Marketing Claim About Oil Scents
One thing I really like about doTERRA is their educational resources, and also, their oils smell great.
But their great smell is part of what concerns me.
A lot of doTERRA reps (and corporate employees as well) say something like, “You'll know it works by its smell.”
A quote from doTERRA's website: “A 100% pure therapeutic-grade essential oil should have a balanced, broad fragrance profile and should smell crystal clean.” I'm not sure about you, but I don't know what “crystal clean” means.
And is “crystal clean” what you want your oils to smell like? I'm not so sure about that.
Organoleptic testing is something that many essential oil companies and experts do, but it's harder for the typical consumer to do. And it's quite possible that a consumer will be aiming for something more pleasing, rather than what an oil actually should smell like.
No Definitive Answer About Peppermint Oil Distillation
Essential oils are distilled by putting plant parts and water in a distiller and, under low pressure and low temperature, removing the oils from the plant.
The oils travel down a tube and into a vat. The oil collects on top of the water and is then removed.
The most coveted and most expensive (and thought to be the most therapeutic) oil is that which is collected during the first part of the distillation period, which is called “first distilled.”
This “first distillation” apparently only applies to ylang ylang oil, but possibly to peppermint oil as well.
doTERRA's peppermint smells good enough to eat, as in “candy cane” good. So yummy, in fact, that if you have kiddos in the house, you'd best keep it out of arm's reach.
But is that a good thing?
Most peppermint essential oils smell like the peppermint you find growing out in nature, which is herby and not like candy canes.
Candy cane-smelling peppermint is apparently, according to several sources, possibly from a redistill. Either that or some components are taken out (meaning these are adulterated oils) to give the oil a clean pepperminty candy smell.
Is doTERRA's Peppermint a Complete Distillation?
This is the email response I got from doTERRA stating that their peppermint oil is a complete distillation.
You can let her know that our Peppermint uses complete
distillation. There is 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and complete and we use complete.
If the first distillation of peppermint oil is the most valuable (and there is really a first and later distillation of peppermint), then their peppermint oil might not be top quality.
If there is truly no such thing as more than one distillation of peppermint, as many say, then why is doTERRA stating that there is a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and complete distillation of peppermint?
In one video, one of the founders of doTERRA stated that their peppermint smelled amazing because it was from Washington. However, many other peppermint oils are sourced from Washington as well, so doTERRA's isn't special for that reason.
Then later, a representative told me that the doTERRA headquarters said that the peppermint smell was different because their oil is distilled only from the leaves and the flowers.
The most disconcerting part of this is that I couldn't get information from doTERRA themselves about WHY their peppermint smelled the way that it did.
Inferior Quality Ylang Ylang Oil
doTERRA prides itself on having high-quality standards and top-quality oils. Their ylang ylang, however, is a complete distillation. Some may say that this is a matter of preference, but in the essential oils industry, the first distillation of ylang ylang is absolutely more valued and therefore a higher-priced oil.
To their credit, doTERRA is transparent and does call their ylang ylang a complete distillation on their website.
Ylang ylang first distillation (which is referred to as “extra”) is typically considered to be the quality of oil that is most sought after and is of the highest therapeutic quality.
Ingredient Labeling Problems
Thanks to Kitchen Stewardship, I found out that doTERRA at one point didn't disclose all of the oils in their bug-repellent blend. At the time she wrote that post, the label stated that it was a “proprietary blend.” No thanks. Not including ingredients on the label of something that you are going to be eating or putting on your skin is a big problem.
Thankfully, doTERRA now discloses the ingredients of their Terra Shield blend; however, at the time that I initially wrote this post, that wasn't the case.
Lower Quality Frankincense Oil
I often get questions about doTERRA's pricing for their frankincense oil as to how it compares to other brands, with people citing that doTERRA's appears to be less expensive.
The reason for this has to do with the composition of doTERRA's frankincense oil. Most companies sell either just one variety of frankincense oil or several varieties, but doTERRA's frankincense is, at least as of August 2016, a blend of different varieties.
Following are the types of frankincense in their blend:
– carterii (typically the least expensive)
– serrata
– frereana
Sacred Frankincense is typically one of, if not the most expensive, varieties of Frankincense oil, so if you compare doTERRA's Frankincense to another company's Sacred, doTERRA's will likely come out to be cheaper.
Lack of Country of Origin Transparency
As of the 2018 update of this post, all or many of the oils from doTERRA did not have a country of origin indicated on the site. This is interesting, especially since the company and/or its reps repeatedly say that they can't get organic certification due to it being hard to get it in the countries where their oils are sourced.
I heard from a reader that there is a source map for doTERRA oils, but I couldn't find it. I did, however, find one page that shows sourcing for spikenard and petitgrain.
The map shows that their petitgrain Oil is sourced from Paraguay. Other companies have organic petitgrain from Paraguay, so their claim about organic oils being too hard to source just doesn't seem to make sense.
Undesirable or Unknown Ingredients in Other Products
Some of doTERRA's other products have ingredients I don't love.
For example, doTERRA's On Guard toothpaste used to contain titanium dioxide, a metal that I initially thought I should avoid due to the possibility of heavy metal toxicity. I'm not that worried about that now, but it's an unnecessary ingredient, so if it's at all in question, why use it? Thankfully, that ingredient is gone now. To be fair, it seems that doTERRA has cleaned up a lot of their personal care line.
However, initially, when I wrote this post, they had PEG 100 in their Deep Blue Cream. Now, there's no complete ingredient list on their site, so I don't know what is in there.
They also used to have carrageenan (which, depending on the form, is thought to cause inflammation) in their capsules. Right now, when searching “carrageenan” on their site, some capsules come up in the search results, but I can't see why that is because the ingredient list doesn't seem to be complete. I think it's fair to assume that they still contain it.
Misleading Portrayal of Earning Possibilities
At some point, direct sales companies have to produce an income disclosure statement so that those interested in selling with the company can have a realistic idea of how much money they can (or, in this case, likely won't) make.
doTERRA's top income disclosure chart here seems to show that there are some great opportunities with doTERRA, but it is misleading. It shows some impressive income levels, but you have to notice the fine print that it's only for top-ranking leaders. To see a more realistic (and not very enticing) view, you have to look at the next chart, which is farther down on the page.
Young Living, to their credit, spells it all out in this Young Living Income Disclosure statement.
It's important to note that the earnings with both companies are reduced by fees to redeem your reward points or even to get paid.
Smaller Oil Selection
When I first wrote this series, doTERRA had very few oils, so if you were looking for a company that could be a one-stop shop, then it wasn't a great option.
They've increased their selection over time, but Young Living still has the advantage here.
Problems with Both Companies
As you can see, when comparing Young Living vs. doTERRA, there are ways in which each is better than the other. However, there are also some negatives that both companies share, mostly due to them being MLM essential oil companies.
There is, however, one particularly odd thing that I found out about both of them.
Young Living and doTERRA Source from the Same Companies
Both companies claim to have a corner on selling the best oils, so it's very problematic (for both of them) that they appear to share the same source for at least some of their oils.
Bio Young Aromas
See the following sources that show that Bio Young Aromas is a supplier for both Young Living and doTERRA.
- https://www.seair.co.in/us-import/i-doterra.aspx (Sadly, it appears that the information about Bio Young is now behind a paywall.)
- Here, however, is documentation showing other purchases from Bio Young by doTERRA.
And here are some Bio Young Aroma purchases made by Young Living.
Kunshan Toxen
doTERRA and Young Living have both purchased from this company as well.
Here is documentation showing Young Living purchases from Kunshan Toxen.
And here is documentation showing that doTERRA purchases from Kunshan Toxen as well.
Basically, despite their claims of being the best, neither company seems to be that special if they are purchasing from the same companies.
I personally am not opposed to the multi-level marketing industry as a whole, but it is important to consider whether essential oil MLM companies are worth it or not.
Who Should Choose Young Living or doTERRA?
- Young Living may appeal to you if you want a very wide selection of oils and blends and prefer a long-established brand with a strong following.
- doTERRA may appeal to you if you value access to GC/MS testing reports and a large support network for learning and using essential oils.
- However, in my experience, both companies have significant concerns—particularly regarding marketing practices, sourcing transparency, and their MLM structure—which is why I ultimately chose not to continue with either one.
For most people, I think it’s worth looking beyond both of these companies—but understanding how they compare is still helpful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Young Living or doTERRA?
Neither stands out as clearly better overall. Each has strengths, but both have concerns that are often overlooked.
Are doTERRA oils higher quality than Young Living?
doTERRA is more transparent with testing, but that doesn’t necessarily guarantee higher quality across the board.
Why are Young Living and doTERRA so expensive?
Both companies use a multi-level marketing model, which increases costs due to commissions and incentives.
Conclusion
Both Young Living and doTERRA have some good qualities, but clearly there are a lot of problems with both companies. While both companies have strengths, the concerns outlined above are significant enough that I no longer feel comfortable recommending either one.
My Preferred Source of Essential Oils
I hope to revisit this topic soon, but for now, you can see what happened when I started looking to find a quality essential oil company that I wanted to purchase from.
I started this whole series after spending some time working with both Young Living and doTERRA, but I left both of them and tried to find out what the best essential oil company was.
I plan to revisit this topic in the future and hope to have additional options that you can feel really good about buying.
What do you think about doTERRA vs. Young Living?
Which do you think is better and why?
As a user of essential oils for many years, I chose brands based on the aroma. When I expanded my practice, I researched more in depth and learned the aroma was secondary to the other qualities of the oil. I researched many companies and ended up aligning with Young Living. With research, you quickly find the source of the allegations made against Gary Young. When I met with him, I spent hours learning about his history, his distillation processing, etc. And I learned how doTerra started.
Here is a bit of information you may find helpful. I’ll also post another with additional facts to help carify.
Blessings,
Barbette
#1
By Terry S. Friedmann, MD, ABHM and
Sabina DeVita, EdD, DNM, RNCP with Karen Boren
Part I: Young Living Essential Oils
As Young Living Essential Oils’ products, influence, and business opportunities extend around the world, the company and its founder occasionally come under attack by those who take an adversarial stance toward natural healthcare. Unfortunately, these attacks are often full of inaccurate information and are intended to discredit alternative medicine and malign leading proponents of natural healthcare. With today’s information technology, these anti-natural agendas are easily channeled through the media and Internet and convincingly portrayed as truth. Because of today’s busy lifestyles, viewers and readers have little time to investigate, and therefore oftentimes accept negative information thought to be authoritative as truthful.
In order to provide accurate information and aid to those individuals and groups who have become aware of false claims and are troubled by them, we offer the following documented facts that will prove the integrity of Young Living Essential Oils, its founder and its products. In addition to this summary, there are thousands of university and scientific studies that validate alternative medicine and its role in modern healthcare.
Young Living Essential Oils
Young Living Essential Oils is dedicated to uniting ancient traditions and modern science to produce the highest-quality essential oils and oil-enhanced products in the world. They empower individuals and families to achieve their highest potential and enjoy increased physical, mental, emotional and financial health.
Young Living’s global growth is attributed to its superior products.
The company manufactures and sells the highest quality essential oils available anywhere in the world. Its products are endorsed by hundreds of medical professionals, including such nationally recognized figures as Ronald Lawrence, Ph.D., M.D.
Quality is first and foremost at Young Living. No expense is spared in testing and proving that Young Living products are superior to competitors’. This claim is supported by gas chromatography testing which is conducted at two French laboratories that are AFNOR-certified. AFNOR (the Association French Normalization Organization Regulation) sets the standards for essential oils to differentiate true therapeutic-grade essential oils from similar oils with inferior chemistry.
The therapeutic benefits of essential oils are well documented—research abounds and is ongoing in the scientific and medical community. The United States National Library of Medicine (PubMed) website (with more than 14 million medical abstracts from peerreviewed journals) featured 3,780 abstracts about essential oils as of May 2004. Scientists and researchers are investigating essential oils on such topics as: “Terpinen-4-ol, the main component of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil inhibits the in vitro growth of human melanoma cells” (Feb. 2004), “Composition and the in vitro antimicrobial activities of the essential oils of some Thymus varieties,” (Jan-Feb. 2004), “Susceptibility of methicillin-resistant staphylococci to oregano essential oil, carvacrol and thymol” (Jan. 2004).
As a global leader in the cultivation, distillation and production of pure therapeutic-grade essential oils, Young Living Essential Oils is guided by seasoned executives and is firmly based with more than 250,000 independent distributors worldwide.
These distributors are passionate about achieving their highest potential—by improving their physical, emotional and financial well-being—and helping others achieve the same success. Their own positive experiences with Young Living products have driven them to learn more about alternative medicine and to share these health discoveries with family, friends and co-workers. Young Living offers seminars and training meetings to keep members and their guests updated and educated about the latest research and discoveries made by the scientific community and medical field. The company takes pride in the fact that its distributors are knowledgeable, professional individuals and that the company is led by an experienced executive team.
Alternative Medicine in Modern Society
Alternative medicine grew out of a desire for people to take responsibility for their own health and well-being. Many see the need to find sources other than prescription drugs for balance and nutritional benefit. Modern medicine will always have its place, but so will alternative methods and products.
Young Living’s founder, Gary Young, has steadfastly stated his desire to promote health and wellness through excellent, high quality products.
Young Living Under Attack
Specific allegations have been directed at Young Living Essential Oils and the company’s founder, Gary Young, in an effort to discredit them. These false and misleading statements appear on a website identified as Quackwatch. The defamatory campaign of Quackwatch and the pharmaceuticals (see part II of this article) is to discourage people from using natural products and health remedies, therefore leaving people to believe that high-priced patented drugs are the only answer. We encourage you to examine the truth and exercise your power of choice. Following are some of the more virulent accusations that have been leveled against Gary Young and Young Living. Because of the blatant nature and lack of integrity inherent in this campaign of defamation, we have felt it necessary to respond to these allegations.
*(Quackwatch allegations):
* “[Gary Young] graduated from the Challis, Idaho high school on May 23, 1967. This is the only legitimate educational credential that I have been able to verify.” (Emphasis added.)
Gary Young received his Doctorate of Naturopathy from Bernadean University. At the time when Gary was working on his degree (1982-85), Bernadean was the only school offering these studies. During this time, the school was under the direction of Joseph M. Kadans, Ph.D. All the coursework that Gary completed was reviewed by a medical doctor. The university, however, did not participate in the accreditation process. Gary is currently pursuing further studies from accredited universities.
In his pursuit of health secrets, Gary has studied in places all over the world—from remote villages to cosmopolitan cities—from world-renowned experts in natural health medicine. He has dedicated himself to learning not only the science behind essential oils, but also the art of growing and distilling them so that the result is the highest-grade oils available.
Gary Young has studied with such experts as J.C. Lapraz, M.D., in France (effects of essential oils on the respiratory system), and in Egypt with Radwan Farag, Ph.D., (essential oil chemistry and its effect on the immune system). He also studied essential oil chemistry, absolute extraction and gas chromatography at Anadolu University in Eskisehir, Turkey.
He has traveled around the world seeking the health secrets of the peoples of Ningxia, China, Hunzaland in Pakistan, southern Ecuador, the Talish Mountains of Azerbaijan and the Tarahumara Indians of central Mexico.
Gary Young also commands impressive designing and fabricating skills. Essential oil experts from France (including Marcel Espieu, former president of the Lavender Growers Association and Jean-Noel Landel, M.B.A.) have paid high compliments for the essential oil distilling equipment Gary Young designed and built.1
The education that Gary Young has sought throughout the world has its culmination in the business he built, the farms and distilleries he engineered and the pure oils he creates and markets.
* “He claims that while he was working as a logger in 1973, a falling tree struck him on the head.”
Gary Young’s wife at the time of the accident, Donna Jean Datoff, has verified in a notarized statement the reality of the accident and Gary’s time spent in two Canadian hospitals.
* “I seriously doubt that he can substantiate his claim that the products he used actually cured him.”
By following his nutrition and exercise program, 55-year-old Gary Young cured himself after his injuries and is in excellent health. He leads a very active lifestyle, including weight-lifting each day, backpacking into wilderness areas and jousting in tournaments.
Gary placed first in the National Physique Committee, Inc. (NPC) Western States Fitness Contest in 2002 and second in the 2003 competition. He took second place in the 2003 World Championship Jousting Association’s International Dragon’s Lair Jousting Tournament (jousting skilled-at-arms) and fifth place in the light armor division.
Gary teaches the importance of proper nutrition and exercise, and encourages others to follow healthy habits in their lives as well. There is an exhausting list of medical abstracts showing how crucial nutrition and exercise are to health and well-being. By typing in the key words “nutrition” and “exercise” on the PubMed website of the National Library of Medicine, 5,822 peerreviewed articles appear.
* “This description [the story of a man and his mission from the YL website] suggests that before Young embarked on his health-related career, he was mentally unstable and possibly even brain damaged.”
The author of this site, Stephen Barrett, has made an unsubstantiated psychiatric diagnosis which is both inaccurate and unprofessional. Stephen Barrett has never met with nor talked to Gary Young at any time in his life, and is therefore unqualified to make a diagnosis of his mental health. Gary Young’s life and his many accomplishments are proof of his mental stability—he has acquired immense knowledge about essential oils, has designed and fabricated complicated essential oil distilling equipment, has conducted extensive research, has formulated several products, oversees the harvest and production on his farms, has written and published books, is the founder and president of an international company and has created a humanitarian project that is helping improve the lives of the Tarahumara Indians.
Click image to enlarge
* [While delivering his own child] “He left the baby under water for almost an hour, causing the death of an apparently healthy infant on September 4, 1982. Although the coroner said that the baby would have lived if she had been delivered in a conventional manner, Young was never charged in that case.”
This statement, which is completely false and misleading, shows a lack of humanity from the accuser. No one caused the tragic death of the Youngs’ infant, and it was not “apparently healthy” as Barrett accuses, nor was it “under water for almost an hour.” The baby died due to serious complications that were not related to the delivery. Legal charges were never considered, as there was no question concerning the integrity of the delivery.
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* “Butch Owen, an American essential oils exporter living and working in Turkey, investigated Young’s claims of Turkish credentials and found them to be unsubstantiated. Professor Mustafa Keviz, a lecturer on the Agricultural and Plants faculty of Anadolu University, stated that Gary Young had never given lectures there. The United Nations Development Organization (sic) never sponsored Young or invited him to speak. He showed up uninvited and convinced some officials to permit him to present on two topics.”
Professor K. Husnu Baser, Head of the Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Anadolu University in Eskisehir, Turkey, refuted these false accusations in an e-mail sent on March 27, 2004, to Emily Wright, executive assistant to Gary and Mary Young.
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Dr. Baser said he knows Butch Owen and that Owen “is against him [Gary Young] and his deeds in full force. This is possibly due to a more established market situation of Gary’s business and he and people like him are jealous and trying to destroy [Gary] and his fame as much as possible.”
Dr. Baser further stated, “Gary was invited to the 1995 UNIDO Workshop by Prof. Tuley de Silva, who was the person in charge of UNIDO’s programmes on medicinal and aromatic plants at the time. Gary gave more than one lecture during the workshop.” With regard to the statement by Professor Mustafa Keviz, Dr. Baser said: “I do not know that Mustafa person. I was the person in charge of organizing the meeting but all the lectures were decided and invited by UNIDO.”
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Dr. Baser also confirmed that Gary studied essential oil chemistry, absolute extraction, and gas chromatography at Anadolu University when Professor Baser was director of the Medicinal and Aromatic Plant and Drug Research Centre (TBAM).
Dr. Baser concluded, “I hope this is enough clarification about the nasty claims people make using my name about Gary Young. Please give my best wishes to Gary, Mary, Sue and all other friends in Payson, too many to name. Best wishes, Prof. Dr. K. Husnu Baser.”
* “What about Young’s claims to be an authority on essential oils? The publisher of the Journal of Essential Oils [sic] (JOAR) has confirmed that Young co-authored at least one paper in the JEOR. The publisher also pointed out that the JEOR did not verify his credentials.”
The correct title is the Journal of Essential Oil Research. Gary Young was a co-author on two scientific papers submitted to JEOR. In addition, as a grower, distiller and formulator of essential oils and blends, he understands and uses a gas chromatograph to analyze the chemical constituents in essential oils. The research involved is valid science conducted according to rigorous scientific standards and overseen by Young Living scientist Sue Chao, Diane Horne of Weber State University and D. Gary Young.
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Gary Young’s credentials include his lecturing worldwide. He lectured at the First International Symposium on Integrated Medical Aromatherapy in Grasse, France, March 21-22, 1998. Among the other presenters were essential oil experts Pierre Franchomme, director of research, Bucharest, Romania, and Daniel Penoel, M.D.
* “Young also claims expertise in the design of equipment for the distillation of essential oils and says that he has designed and built several distillers for producing his oils. On August 17, 2000, one of his homemade distillers ruptured at the lid/cover joint, fatally injuring a worker at Young Living Farms in Mona, Utah.”
Gary Young designed his first small cooker/distiller in 1989. In 1991 he built a second carbon steel portable distiller with an 80-liter capacity. By 2002, Young Living Essential Oils had four 4,100-liter cookers, a 6,900-liter cooker, three 8,700-liter cookers, two 12,500-liter cookers, and one specially designed 1,600-liter cooker.
Young Living has distilled sage, clary sage, thyme, lavender, bergamot, tarragon, German and Roman chamomile, melissa, tansy, peppermint, goldenrod, hyssop, oregano and spearmint. From wildcrafted trees,YL has distilled pine, fir, balsam fir, juniper, cedar, white fir and tsuga.
In 15 years of distilling essential oils from farms in two states, there has been only one accident. Tragically, a worker was killed in this accident. Young Living provided financial compensation to the family and immediately adopted a recommendation made by the Utah Occupational Safety and Health Division on how to avoid over-pressurization.
Young Living has complied with all recommendations of the Utah Occupational Safety and Health Division (UOSHD).
* “Young’s book Aromatherapy: The Essential Beginning has a whole chapter on ancient and modern equipment used for steam distillation. Although the chapter emphasizes that ‘the best quality of oil would be produced when the pressure was zero pounds during distillation,’ the UOSHD report noted that steam had delivered to the vessel at 125 p.s.i. (pounds per square inch) of pressure.” [Emphasis added.]
For the plants distilled at the Mona, Utah farm, Gary designed the equipment to distill at no more than 5 p.s.i.. The steam enters the cooker under slight pressure in order to force the steam up through the column of plant material, carrying away the essential oil. The steam naturally convects up through the plant material. By the time it reaches the top of the cooker, there is virtually no pressure.
During the accident, there was an over-pressurization event, however, even the UOSHD inspector could not say exactly what happened. This malfunction allowed excessive pressure to build, causing the vessel lid to fail.
Pressure is needed to deliver the steam from the boiler. The maximum pressure possible in the boiler is 125 p.s.i.. However, as the steam moves through the pipes into the cooker, the pressure is less than 5 p.s.i. (depending on the plant being distilled). The steam encounters an “open vessel.” This means that the steam freely goes up through the plant material, then flows to the condenser where it goes through 270 tubes that are 9/16ths of an inch in diameter, cooling back into water and entering the separator. The essential oil floats on the top where it is collected, and the water freely flows out of the separator. There is nothing to hinder the movement of first the steam, and then the water.
It is important to note that Barrett is incorrect when he states: “the UOSHD report noted that steam had delivered to the vessel [that ruptured at the lid joint] at 125 p.s.i.” What the report actually states is: “steam is delivered to the vessels at a maximum pressure of 125 p.s.i. from a gas-fired boiler.”2 [Emphasis added.] Barrett has misread the report.
* “All product descriptions include the disclaimer, ‘This statement has not been evaluated the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.’ The FDA has warned the company not to claim that certain products are intended to treat, prevent, cure, or mitigate disease.”
These disclaimers are required by law, and Young Living, as well as thousands of other alternative, natural health manufacturers comply with the requirements. The FDA only allows information about structure and function of the body and certain approved health claims. Only drugs can legally make therapeutic claims.
* “The mere fact that a substance was used by past cultures does not prove that it is safe, effective, or useful for any disease state.”
Of course it doesn’t. Research is required to determine which substances are safe and effective, and that is why Young Living conducts extensive scientific research. Perhaps Barrett is taking issue here with Egyptian and biblical uses of essential oils and modern applications of such knowledge. Oils and unguents are mentioned nearly 100 times in the Bible. The ancient Egyptian document, the Ebers Papyrus, (discovered in 1817) listed over 800 different herbal prescriptions and remedies.
The fact is that many traditional folk treatments have led to modern-day formulas prescribed by doctors. Willow bark was used in China for centuries before chemists broke down its ingredients and came up with the chemical formula for aspirin. The pain-relieving methyl salicylate found in wintergreen and birch essential oils has been synthesized for use in sports massages. The herbal wisdom of ancient cultures has been proven over and over by modern science.
Sometimes patients come to the clinic when all other medical options have been exhausted and it’s almost too late to help them. There is grieving and sorrow when a Young Life patient doesn’t make it.
The question must be asked, “Do hospitals ever treat patients who later die?” It is hardly credible to suggest that any healthcare provider could cure all patients.
Stephen Barrett also mentions a testimonial from singer Merrill Osmond whose health problems included:
Sleeping disorders that started when he was in his early 30s
Gout, which he started developing in his 30s
Diabetes, diagnosed when he was in his early 30s
Kidney problems—after passing out on stage in his 40s, Merrill was rushed to Duke University where he was told his kidneys were failing and he should bid his family goodbye
Mini-strokes, the first at age 21
Psoriasis and eczema that have plagued him his entire life
Depression that almost took his life when he was in his 20s
Fluid surrounding his heart—doctors told him he would not live past the age of 35.
Merrill Osmond was on Glucophage®, Glucotrol®, Prozac®, lithium, Allopurinol®, Ambian®, Lipitor®, Nexium®, Methotrexate® and Enbrel®.
Osmond’s story has been told in newspaper and magazine articles. He shares his success at the Young Life Research Clinic with the world. Today, Merrill Osmond is off every one of those prescriptions.
* “Young initially claimed that RDT (Raindrop Technique) could effectively treat scoliosis by affecting toxins and viruses, which he said cause scoliosis. There is no scientific basis to this claim because there is no evidence that either viruses or toxins cause scoliosis.”
Essential Science Publishing has found scientific documentation. The Essential Oils Desk Reference and the Essential Oils Integrative Medical Guide include the following two studies, which show Barrett’s ignorance.
Studies at Western General Hospital in Edinburgh, Scotland, have linked virus-like particles to idiopathic scoliosis. “The nature of virus-like particles in the paraxial muscles of idiopathic scoliosis,” J Pathol. 1979 Sep;129(1)9-12 and “Virus-like particles in paraspinal muscles in scoliosis,” Br Med J. 1976 Oct 16;2(6041):912-3.
There is much scientific evidence that certain microorganisms lodge near the spinal cord and contribute to deformities. Research at the Pasteur Institute in France, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, documented increasing numbers of patients showing evidence of spinal disease caused by tuberculosis. (Jenks PJ, Stewart B, “Images in Clinical Medicine: Vertebral Tuberculosis,” N Engl J Med. 1998 Jun 4;338(23):1677.)
Reuters just reported on April 23, 2004, that a common cold virus can hide out in the lungs for weeks or months. Viruses certainly hide out along the spine as well.
* “Raindrop uses seven single oils plus two blends formulated by YLEO. The concentrations of several oils exceed recommended safe doses and can cause skin irritation, sensitivity, phototoxicity, and essential oil toxicity.”
The third edition of the Essential Oils Desk Reference notes: “Using undiluted essential oils in the Raindrop Technique is consistent with the French model for aromatherapy—which is the most extensively practiced and studied model in the world. An illustrious roster of 20th century French physicians provides convincing evidence that undiluted essential oils have a valuable place in the therapeutic arsenal of clinical professionals. Rene’ Gattefosse’, Ph.D., Jean Valnet, M.D., Jean-Claude Lapraz, M.D., Daniel Penoel, M.D. and many others have long attested to the safe and effective use of undiluted essential oils and the dramatic and powerful benefits they can impart.”
Should there be skin irritation, adding a pure vegetable oil or massage oil soothes away any sensitivity. “A Statistical Validation of Raindrop Technique” lists the overwhelmingly positive experiences that more than 400 respondents had to the Raindrop Technique. (Available at Essential Science Publishing.)
Ralph Moss, Ph.D., author of The Moss Reports on cancer notes that, “Quack was often a convenient term to attack one’s ideological opponents. The essence of a quack, however, was that he ‘transgressed what those in the saddle defined as true, orthodox, regular, good, medicine.’”
D. Gary Young received this word of praise from Alexander G. Schauss, Ph.D., CEO and President of the American Institute for Biosocial and Medical Research, Inc.:
“I have known Gary for well over a decade, during which time I have marveled at his desire to continuously travel worldwide in his pursuit of knowledge. As a lifetime student of health care, Gary possesses that immutable desire to seek knowledge for the sake of knowledge and thereby find therapeutic applications that would benefit others. He also possesses an exceptional ability to teach and educate others. I have observed Gary in several situations in which he can captivate an audience of hundreds, even thousands, with his methodical and commanding presentation. His ability to translate highly technical information for lay people is exceptional. I have been impressed with how Gary does this accurately without compromising scientific accuracy.”
Ronald M Lawrence, M.D., Ph.D., author of several books and a founding member of the International Association for the Study of Pain, makes this fitting conclusion about Quackwatch and Gary Young:
“Quackwatch is not respected by anyone who has knowledge of complementary and alternative medicine. They [Quackwatch] themselves are deceitful and fabricators. My knowledge of Gary Young and Young Living leads me to believe that Young Living helps far more people than Quackwatch ever could. I think Gary Young has done a fabulous job on aromatherapy and I am 100 percent supportive of what he is doing.”
Funny how my friend, April, and many others are at the YL farms right now in Ecuador where Young Living employs between two and three thousand people. Your article is loaded with misinformation
And I’ve seen at least a dozen more.
Could you be so kind as to tell me what you think the misinformation is please? Thank you :).
Hey, I just stumbled onto your blog while trying to find justification to spend a bunch (compared to my budget anyway :P) on DoTerra oils for my wife’s Christmas present…. I was wondering if you still have those oils you posted you were talking about selling at cost 😀 that would make my holiday season haha
[P.S. I think my wife and I will be new frequenters to your site. Lots of really great insight on here!]
Hey thanks! I only have about 1 or 2 bottles left. But feel free to email. Hope to see you around again :).
What do you think about Bulk Apothocary and Aura Cacia? I find them to be most cost effective but I’m not sure about their purity! Please advise!
Hi there. I’ve talked about them in the comments – try on the last post. I hope to put together a doc or new post w/ more on the other companies soon. Thanks.
Aloha!!
I learned about essential oils in massage school and it really helped my clear my allergies. I can breath when I wake up in the mornings!! I don’t know if you have noticed that YL’s bottles say 100% Therapeutic Essential Oil SUPPLEMENT. I capitalize supplement because I’m becoming very aware of labeling and how companies are getting around certain legalities. I had found this online site puritan.com and it seems promising. If ever you have the chance I would love to read about your thoughts on it.
I am also taking a class specifically for essential oils so I am also learning more as I go.
Mahalo!!
Hi there and so sorry for the delay – I am cleaning up my comments and missed quite a few – I can’t comment about other companies but you could read this post to see if they measure up and I just came out w/ a new report on EOs that you might find helpful:
post:https://wholenewmom.com/health-concerns/toxic-overload-health-concerns/essential-oils-testing-is-it-reliable/
report: https://wholenewmom.com/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-essential-oils-before-you-buy/
Thanks!
This website has a PDF where a number of oils were blind tested by Dr. Pappas. I know you have had issues with him in the past, but were you aware of this test. Any comments. Aura Cacia #2 in this test is available at Whole Foods Markets and much cheaper than the others.
Which site, Kathy? Thanks!
also at Vitacost.com
Very cheap!
Greetings Adrienne and thank you for a wonderful quantum of work you have done, as well as your attention to impartiality. I’m excited that such a wonderful amount of work is being performed by a Christian family (and yes I say family as I’m sure that they are supporting your efforts).
This is my first entry on any blog. I have examined your wonderful website and I could not help but notice one of your comments in your bio about the inability to maintain a clean house, with all the family obligations. I pass along a comment a fellow Christian friend told me recently on this very point: “A home should look lived in.” My guilt is now gone!
I was glad to read your article as well on Miessence probiotics. I have reviewed their website and was satisfied that your comments were supported. Of course, nothing confirms any comments except experience, and I look forward to trying this product shortly. The positive comments about the effects of a good probiotic are inspirational.
I am somewhat concerned now about YL after reading the info on Quackwatch, though I share your beliefs that the author of this site appears to be on a stated quest against all naturopathic remedies and those involved in them. After looking more closely at his site, he appears to be nothing more than a pharmaceutically paid hack to attack all naturopathic remedies that are available. Much of the wording and sentence structure of these articles used appears to be designed by professional advertisers (or lawyers!) and is well crafted to present and obtain the desired results they want. Even if he is correct in any degree on Mr. Young’s past, I hope that all of us make positive changes as our lives progress. Despite this, there are many good people in his organization and his oils certainly appear to be of good quality. However as you correctly note, such findings are all subjective.
Your personal suggestion to use NAN has peaked my curiosity and I am going to give them a try as well. I would greatly like my own comparative analysis to YL, and your comments about plants being native to certain areas has much to offer. I look forward to trying several of their oils. Is becoming a member difficult, ie: does it cost any money? I would hope to become a member to hopefully obtain cheaper rates, as costs most certainly are a factor.
I have a few questions and a suggestion if I may?
1. What would be your personal views on the raindrop technique, and have any others shared their beliefs on this – positive or negative? (I am not looking for a list of course of experiences, just a general overview from your knowledge) I have experienced it 2x and have found it to be quite enjoyable and helpful, though my most recent experience was not as good as my first session. I’m sure any company’s oils will do as well, though results may vary with the quality of its oils.
2. Do you have any specific recommendations for essential oils that can assist with adrenal deficiencies? I read your article but possibly erred in failing to find any such suggestions.
3. I was wondering what you thought about Dr. Wilson and his adrenal program and book? Have any of your readers tried his program and had any success?
4. On the NAN website, it lists the following for helichrysum:
Be the first to review this product
Madagascar – Organically Grown – This species is much less expensive.
Can you please let me know what is meant by the words, “much less expensive”. Does this have any relation to the quality, and if so, is there a higher quality, albeit likely more expensive, oil? I would like to try this oil for neurological benefits and would clearly desire the highest quality product.
5. Have you ever heard of a product called Herb Cocktail, by Avena Originals in Alberta, Canada? I had the unpleasant incident of a medical misdiagnosis of appendicitis, resulting in 18″ of intestines being removed. Needless to say, problems were ongoing in the elimination area for a long period of time until a friend recommended I take a tablespoon of this herbal powder 3x daily for 3 months, and then 1x daily afterwards. Wow. After only 1 week, all stools were completely black for 2 1/2 months, as all compacted fecal matter was being eliminated by this product. It resulted in normal functioning elimination (when I can afford to take it regularly!!), ie: one meal in, one meal out and completely eliminated all pain. Bowel movements were no longer feared. This truly is a remarkable product. This is the only product I have heard of that actual promotes elimination of compacted fecal matter, as opposed to simply staying regular. Moreover, to my knowledge, it is the only product that I know, from experience and discussions with others, where you can quickly see the results of having this old fecal matter actually eliminated until gone. (mind you, the taste of these herb recipe is not totally palatable, but it is quickly adjustable.) I am not a representative of this company, nor do I sell any of its products, nor do I receive any money or benefits, directly or indirectly, from my suggestion, however, if you wish to try some, I would gladly send you a bottle for your own experience and feedback. Part of my concern is that most if not all the products you’ve examined, appear to be American, which is completely fine, or I would not be ordering the Miessence and NAN, used YL and other companies in the U.S. Many excellent products originate in your country. But I believe that there are some Canadian products that are extremely useful as well and would be a great service to your readers to examine.
Suggestion:
1. Would it be possible when you suggest certain oils to use, that the best method of their use could also be included? I am finding that with virtually everyone involved in the use of oils, no one seems to suggest what is the best use for a given oil with respect to any intended application of its use. This leaves a wide possibility of ineffective results due only to improper or incorrect usage. I often wonder, should the oil be inhaled (how often etc.), used topically, orally and so forth? Some uses of course are obvious, such as scrapes and so forth. Others however are not. Emotional issues, neurological issues, colds, the flu and other issues do not lend to so ready an interpretation of the best possible usage.
I greatly look forward to hearing your views and hope this was not too long. Fortunately, any future correspondence will be significantly abridged.
Hi Kevin. So so sorry for not responding sooner. I didn’t get back to so many people right away and lost their comments in a pile.
Thanks for the encouragement, first of all.
1. I don’t have an opinion about the rainbow technique – sorry.
2. adrenals. I have read that clove and rosemary are good ones to try. I have done it on occasion and felt it helped me get back to sleep.
3. I did a program close to Dr. Wilson’s . My thoughts are many – not sure I can address them here. I am doing something else now.
4. The owner of NAN told me that the italicum is the best quality of helichrysum.
5. I haven’t heard of that. Miessence is from Australia and New Zealand. You might have missed that.
6. I hope to have more out about oils soon and did just come out w/ this short report that might interest you. https://wholenewmom.com/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-essential-oils-before-you-buy/
Take care and I hope you haven’t written me off for not responding. Sigh.
Just a couple of things, there is no such thing as first, second & third distillation. When the plant material is put into the distiller it is steamed until the product is spent and does not produce any more oil, therefore you cannot produce anything from the plant after that. Also is a no such thing as therapeutic grade essential oils. All essential oils work therapeutically in the body but to say an oil is therapeutic over others is marketing hype to make a companies products seem better. In fact YL got in trouble for this and was asked by FDA to stop using this in their Ads but to date they still do. I see Native American doing the same thing. This is really very disappointing. Had it not been for that I might have tried their oils.
Hi Dee. Thanks for commenting. I have to differ w/ you on the distillation. Mr. Dean at NAN says that the farmer he works with is one of few who does this. And there are many other sources on the internet stating that there are 1st 2nd and 3rd distills of peppermint. Just that oil and ylang ylang as far as I can tell.
If you are interested you can contact him yourself. I found it to be very interesting and I think I laid out the explanation in my post.
As for the therapeutic statement, I think that Native American is totally right about this. Some oils are adulterated and altered so that they have had their therapeutic qualities tampered with. That is what he means. He didn’t make up a term to call his oils CPTG or anything like that. He just means that his are pure and unadulterated and from the best sources that he could get within reason.
I encourage you to give them a try. I have more info about them coming…about how he supports the farmers where he gets his oils from. I forwarded some of the info to a blogger friend of mine who used to be with doTERRA and she said “That’s it. I am sold on Native American.”
Take care and hope to see you around again.
Hi! Thank you so much for the informative post! I stumbled upon this looking at reviews, trying to find the best therapeutic oils for the best price. I’m particularly interested in buying a Thieves oil blend, oregano oil and frankincense oil to make antibacterial oils. or even just the ingredients for the thieves oil. I bought some essential oils from Bulk Apothecary, stupidly BEFORE reading their reviews and how their oils aren’t certified to be therapeutic grade. Should I not use those internally or for clothes washing? And I saw where you had large stashes of oils, and were offering to sell them at cost? Are they still for sell? Thank you so much!
-Meloni
I would personally stick to “not on my body” uses…like cleaning and laundry. I only have a few oils left – maybe 2 bottles. A thyme and then if there’s one bottle you want I can maybe get it. Thanks!
Hello! I haven’t read through all of the comments so I don’t know if this company has come up but it’s one I use and trust. It’s call Be Young Essential Oils (beyoungeo.com) The founder is Dana Young, a member of the Young family who operate Young Living. He left because of their practices in diluting oils and what not. The oils that Be Young uses are extracted from plants where they are indigenous to the area. It doesn’t cost to become a member to purchase their products and you don’t have to go through someone else to order them. I definitely think they deserve a look when comparing oil companies. I’m not sure if you are still comparing oil companies or not but if you still view these comments, and feel so inclined, please look into this company.
I did look into them as well – thanks! I just couldn’t be as extensive in talking about all of the companies out there. It got very muddled but I still remain w/ the company I chose -thanks!