Best quality of essential oils
The 13 Best Essential Oil Brands of 2022
Our top picks include Plant Therapy and Edens Garden
By
Neeti Mehra
Neeti Mehra
Neeti Mehra is a freelance writer for The Spruce, where she covers sustainability and green home purchases. With published work in Vogue, Business Traveller, Lonely Planet, and more, she also runs a platform that promotes slow and mindful living.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
and
Brigitt Earley
Brigitt Earley
Brigitt Earley is an experienced writer and product reviewer for The Spruce who specializes in home hacks and products. She currently writes about home products and toys for The Spruce.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 12/08/22
We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
The Spruce / Chloe Jeong
As alternative therapies gain steam, essential oils have wafted into the spotlight. Volatile, potent compounds extracted from plants by distillation or expression, essential oils are immensely versatile. These natural aromatic chemicals have plentiful applications, from scenting homes and aromatherapy to self-care rituals and therapeutic applications.
To learn more about these powerful compounds, we turned to Jade Shutes, Founder & Director of Education, The School for Aromatic Studies, who says, “Essential oils have a wide range of therapeutic benefits. Essential oils can support emotional well-being, reduce inflammation in the skin, enhance immunity, support wound healing, respiratory and digestive health and much more.” Essential oils can be inhaled, applied topically after dilution or popped into a diffuser or humidifier to infuse your home with fragrance.
Ahead, our picks for essential oil companies that fit every budget and need.
Our Top Picks
Plant Therapy at Planttherapy.com
Vitruvi at Vitruvi.com
Rocky Mountain Oils at Rockymountainoils.com
Pura D’or at Purador.com
Aura Cacia at Auracacia.com
Edens Garden at Edensgarden.com
Saje Natural Wellness at Saje.com
Now Foods at Nowfoods.com
Aromatherapy Associates at Aromatherapyassociates.com
Garden of Life at Amazon
In This Article
-
Our Picks
-
What to Look For
-
FAQ
-
Why Trust The Spruce?
View On Planttherapy.com
What We Like
Wide array of affordable oils
Kid-safe and Pet & Pony Safe options
USDA Organic and Leaping Bunny certified products
Generous return period
What We Don't Like
Your search for high quality and affordable essential oils without additives, adulterants or dilutions stops at Plant Therapy, a brand whose wide selection is worth a sniff.
These essential oils are sourced from reputed suppliers and are third-party tested, supported by GC/MS reports, so you can be assured of their quality. Plant Therapy products are also Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free. Some—but not all— of the essential oils are certified USDA organic. Ultimately, the oil selection is unbeatable in value and quality.
Planet Therapy’s offerings cover the entire caboodle, including tailormade kid-safe and Pup & Pony Safe selections. Apart from essential oil sets and samplers, you can buy body care, household, CBD products, and even essential oils in bulk, along with other doodads at this one-stop site. Plant Therapy sells direct-to-consumer, keeping prices competitive, and many oils are available for less than $10. If you’re not satisfied, you can return the oils, even after 90-days.
Vitruvi
View On Vitruvi.com View On West Elm
What We Like
Attractive packaging and design
UV-protected bottles
Natural, filler-free ingredient blends
Vegan and cruelty-free
What We Don’t Like
Limited selection
Siblings Sara Panton and Sean Panton sought an alternative to traditional home scents chock full of toxins, so they bottled and labeled Vitrubi’s the first few essential oil collections by hand. This effort blossomed into a design-forward brand that creates not only essential oils, but also humidifiers, natural home fresheners, and diffusers, including the highly stylish Vitruvi Porcelain Essential Oil Diffuser. The brand’s essential oils are made with natural ingredients, free of fillers, diluting oils, synthetic fragrances, or unnatural additions. They’re sourced from over 20 countries, including France and Madagascar.
We love the elegant, minimal packaging for the vegan, cruelty-free essential oils. The bottles are UV-protected, printed using plant-based ink, and bundled in biodegradable packaging that can be recycled and reused. Vitruvi’s oils make perfect gifts; you can pick single oils or blends with dreamy names such as Slow Dance, a grounding aroma with notes of fir, cedarwood, and pine wafting through. Shop online, or buy from big brand retailers such as Anthropologie and Nordstrom.
Vitruvi Porcelain Essential Oil Diffuser Review
Rocky Mountain Oils
View On Rockymountainoils. com
What We Like
Committed to sustainability
90-day return policy
Kid-friendly selection
Broad product line
What We Don’t Like
Michael and Phoenix’s struggle to find quality essential oils without a membership led them to found Rocky Mountain Oils. The company retails pure, authentic, and unadulterated GC/MS tested and independently verified essential oils directly to customers in amber glass bottles. The brand’s broad collection includes singles, blends, kits, organic oils, kid safe oils, roll-ons, and other options—meaning there’s something for every kind of essential oil enthusiast.
Committed to sustainability, Rocky Mountain Oil is in the process of switching to sustainable packaging and has even initiated a bottle recycling program. Regular customers can benefit from the Rocky Mountain Oil rewards program, which earns you points on purchases and referrals. What’s more, the company offers a 90-day hassle-free return policy, even after using the products. Nose through the extensive list of best sellers, including a fresh lavender and a tart lemongrass, and find your new favorite scent.
Pura D’or
View On Purador.com
What We Like
What We Don’t Like
Popular hair, skin, and body care brand Pura D’or is also home to an aromatherapy lineup. Working with professional certified aromatherapist, Mikki Anderson, the limited selection of essential oils is ethically sourced from family-run farms and small distilleries. The products are USDA Organic certified, Leaping Bunny cruelty-free and vegan. However, the brand hasn’t made quality test results available as other brands have.
While Pura D’or offers a few basic essential oils in four-ounce bottles, such as tea tree, lemon, lavender, cedarwood, ylang ylang, and more, it’s the brand’s nifty and affordable essential oil kits that we really like. You can choose either the box sets featuring 10 or 16 10-milliliter bottles of essential oils for dabbling in aromatherapy or boosting your vitality.
The 13 Best Scented Candles of 2022 to Create a Relaxing Ambiance
Aura Cacia
View On Auracacia.com
What We Like
Part of a member-owned co-op
Large product selection
Widely available at popular retailers
Give back policy
What We Don't Like
If you’ve popped into your local Target or Whole Foods, chances are you’ve seen Aura Cacia’s essential oils on the shelves. Aura Cacia has been a part of a member owned co-op since it was founded in 1982, putting its employees, growers, and the community at the forefront of its operations. Aura Cacia’s sustainably-sourced oils are verified for purity with GC/MS testing, and they’re without synthetic colors, fragrances, and preservatives.
The brand’s product selection boasts an impressive variety of single and blended oils, USDA-certified organic and premium oils, all starting at reasonable prices. You can also shop a collection of diffusers, mists, and bath and skin products for adults and kids. To boost your mood, try the Uplifting Kit with a selection of four citrusy oils, namely lemon, lime, grapefruit, and sweet orange oil that’s a refreshing and invigorating gift.
Edens Garden
View On Edensgarden.com
What We Like
Women-led, family-owned
Over 250 single oil and synergy blends
Ethically and sustainably sourced
Create-your-own sets
What We Don’t Like
More expensive
Grace Martin’s Edens Garden got its start in 2009, and this young company has sold over 20 million bottles of essential oils to date. Partnering with global farmers and distilleries, in little over a decade the brand has built an impressive portfolio of over 250 single oil and synergistic blends for you to choose from, for therapeutic use as well as aromatherapy. The essential oils are ethically and sustainably sourced, GC/MS batch tested for quality and don’t contain synthetics, fragrances, fillers, or toxic chemicals.
Apart from the broad array of medicinal and feel-good blends and products, Edens Garden gives you an option to pick and choose to create your own sets. While the brand’s oils are slightly pricier than its counterparts, this women-led company has a strong giving back program, called Seeds of Community, that supports non-profit organizations such as The Angel House, a rescue for abandoned children, and Feeding America, which provides over four billion meals annually to those in need.
The 7 Best Oil Diffusers of 2022
Saje Natural Wellness
View On Saje.com
What We Like
Attractive packaging
Committed to sustainability
All-natural ingredients
Available in stores
What We Don't Like
On the pricier side
Saje’s holistic and worry-free wellness ethos is behind its purposeful collection of essential oils, home (including natural cleaning kits), skin and hair care products.
Saje states that its essential oils are all-natural, and free from parabens, SLS, artificial colorants, synthetic fragrances, and fillers—all of which is supported by a GC/MS analysis. Committed to sustainable business practices, a majority of Saje’s kits are made from recycled water bottles. The company also believes in giving back to the community and supports NGOs such as The Little Market.
Newbies can try the wellness concoctions available in beautiful amber-hued roll-ons, such as flu season hero Fortify; the tackler of niggling aches Pain Release; and Saje’s first-ever formulation, the best-selling Peppermint Halo, a soothing blend of peppermint, eucalyptus, rosemary and lavender to nix stiff shoulders and a throbbing head.
Now Foods
View On Nowfoods.com
What We Like
What We Don't Like
A household name for natural products and dietary supplements, Now Foods was founded by Elwood Richard in the 1960s with the intention of creating affordable, high-quality nutritional products. Today, the brand’s vast catalog includes pure essential oils (though there are some exceptions, like the synthetic jasmine, which is labeled such), blends, and USDA organic certified essential oils.
The brand’s in-house state-of-the-art laboratory and experts verify the findings of external quality tests. You can trust that the oils are non-GMO, cruelty-free, and vegan, and are sold through many retailers, including Amazon. You can download the brand’s Purity Specification Guide to ferret out more information. Buying in bulk on discounted prices from essential oil vendors helps keep the oils affordable. You can also pick up no-frills diffusers, kits, and roll-ons.
Aromatherapy Associates
View On Aromatherapyassociates.com
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Since they first started practicing aromatherapy in the 1970s, Geraldine Howard and Sue Beechey fell in love with essential oils. Wishing to help others explore the sensorial world of essential oils, they opened the first Aromatherapy Associates store in 1985, specializing in handcrafted intentional and purposeful blends created by a master blender from the company’s London-based laboratory. For instance, Deep Relax is a restorative blend of grounding vetiver, soothing chamomile and relaxing sandalwood that will lull you to sleep.
Aromatherapy Associates’ blends are natural, made from sustainably-sourced ingredients from natural environments, such as lavender from the Alps. The oils are free from synthetic fragrances, artificial colors, sulfates, parabens, and mineral oil, and they aren’t tested on animals. Aromatherapy Associates is a certified B Corp, meaning there’s a special emphasis on the people and planet before profits. This includes using recyclable and reusable packaging, giving back to the community, and using renewable energy at the company’s headquarters.
View On Amazon View On Gardenoflife. com
What We Like
Certified USDA organic, non-GMO, and vegan
Certified B corp
Carbon neutral company
What We Don't Like
Limited selection
When it comes to responsible business practices, nutritional supplement company Garden of Life ticks the right boxes. With a wide range of wellness products, the company carries relevant certifications such as B Corp and Carbon Neutrality. Though Garden of Life offers a small selection of essential oils, these products are USDA organic certified, non-GMO, and vegan.
A great place to start is the brand’s essential oil starter kit, which features the most popular picks like lavender, peppermint, lemon, and tea tree essential oils. You can use these oils for a range of purposes, be it for meditation, a body massage, or for DIY home products.
doTERRA
View On Doterra.com
What We Like
Vast selection, including hard-to-find oils
Internal quality testing
Committed to sustainability
What We Don't Like
Membership required
Pricey
DoTERRA is a multi-level marketing essential oil company and one of the bigger players in the marketplace, selling pure, responsibly sourced essential oils, albeit for a higher price. To assess the quality of its oils, doTERRA has instituted an internal standard of quality, the Certified Pure Tested Grade protocol, along with third-party testing.
The company’s repertoire of essential oils is vast, with hard-to-find scents, such as the rose oil, where 10,000 rose blossoms are plucked to create 5 milliliters of precious oil priced at a pocket-emptying $366.67 (though there is a wholesale discount). Apart from the oils alone, doTERRA offers a whole smorgasbord of offerings, including skin and hair care products, supplements, diffusers, and other accessories to keep you hooked.
Mountain Rose Herbs
View On Mountainroseherbs.com
What We Like
Hard-to-find oils
Certified Fair Trade, USDA organic, non-GMO, and zero-waste
Wide production selection
What We Don't Like
More expensive
Mountain Rose Herbs had humble beginnings as a herb retail shop and mail order company, but it now operates from a sprawling 12-acre campus in Eugene, Oregon. Here, you’ll find essential oils backed by a slew of certifications. Mountain Rose Herbs carries credentials as a fair-trade organization with organic (just note that not all of the brand’s essential oils are certified organic) and non-GMO products, all of which are produced at a zero-waste facility.
The depth of the brand’s catalog spans not only essential oils but also teas, herbs, and spices, bath and body products, and much more. We love the simplicity of the kits, such as the Lovers Essential Kit with five organic oils, including ylang ylang and Australian sandalwood. If you’re in the mood to splurge, shop for the rare-to-find pure oils, such as Jasmine Absolute and Vanilla Absolute, which cost well over $1,000 for four ounces. But it’s the price you pay for rarity and perfection.
Revive Essential Oils
View On Revive-eo.com
What We Like
What We Don't Like
A well-priced, quality alternative to pricier brands, Revive keeps costs low by selling directly to customers through its website. The oils are wildcrafted, and Revive states that all are free from pesticides, additives, adulterants, fillers, synthetics, and dilutions, with a supportive GC/MS verification. You’ll find a solid selection of oil options, including kits and various bottle sizes.
Revive Essential Oils created its own versions of popular blends as well as signature blends for you to pick from. An easy option is to pick up the starter kit, which includes 10 full-size bottles and an ultrasonic diffuser. Revive also offers a generous 100-day return policy, and you can return even opened bottles of essential oil for a full refund.
Final Verdict
One-stop-shop Plant Therapy is our top pick because it’s where you’ll find all of your needs covered with a broad selection of easy-on-the-pocket essential oils. If you wish to splurge, we also like Aromatherapy Associates and its selection of handcrafted masterful blends.
You need to consider several factors while shopping for quality essential oils, especially in the absence of industry standards, says Jade Shutes, Founder & Director of Education, The School for Aromatic Studies. While researching brands, look for the common and scientific name of the botanical on the label, whether the method of production is specified, from where in the plant has the oil been extracted from (flowers, leaves, stems, roots, and fruits), the color of the bottle (preferring amber, blue or green), the brand’s commitment to sustainability and the reputation of the company, amongst other criteria.
Ingredients
A great place to start your search for quality essential oils is the list of ingredients on any given bottle. You can look at the ingredients used by specific brands or take a closer look at what’s inside an individual bottle. This is key, as it’ll allow you to determine what, exactly, the oil is made with. Pure essential oils, which tend to be the most expensive, have nothing beyond the oil itself. However, many oils can come with unexpected surprises, like fillers, water, and additives. For the most natural options, look for short ingredient lists and brands that offer full transparency around what’s inside every bottle of oil.
Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry testing
“Batch specific Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) testing is essential to show that there is no adulteration and to highlight the purity of the tested essential oil,” says Marge Clark, founder of Nature's Gift Aromatherapy and author of Essential Oils and Aromatics. Rigorous and independent third-party GC/MS testing helps analyze the chemicals that constitute an essential oil; it also helps you understand what, exactly, goes into various oils and blends. Thus, look for the test reports so you can make an informed decision before purchasing.
Certifications
Certifications offer additional insight into essential oil brands and their products. For example, an organic certification such as USDA Organic indicates that an essential oil is made almost entirely from organic ingredients and free from fertilizers and pesticides. Other third-party certifications to consider include PETA’s Vegan & Cruelty Free certification and Leaping Bunny Cruelty Free certification. Another common certification is Non-GMO, which means the essential oil was produced without genetic engineering and its ingredients are not derived from GMOs.
Scent
Scent is no minor detail—it can make or break an essential oil! You want to seek out oils that give off pleasant fragrances and choose products that smell nice to your nose. But it’s not always as simple as choosing a singular scent that you already know and love. Essential oils can be blended together, either in a single bottle or inside a diffuser for a more customized mix. To get an idea of which scents complement each other, starter kits and prepackaged blends are a great place to start and seek out some inspiration.
FAQ
-
Essential oils can yield several potential benefits beyond simply boosting your mood. Some essential oils are said to have antibacterial effects, while others can potentially reduce pain, such as headaches and joint pain. They may soothe even minor burns, including sunburns, and tackle niggling skin concerns.
“They also have a wide variety of emotional effects, ranging from easing insomnia and soothing anxiety and depression," says Clark.
-
Essential oils can be used in myriad ways. Add a few drops to diffusers, dabble in DIY laundry detergents and home cleansers, or massage it onto your skin. Essential oils do need to be diluted to prevent possible adverse skin reactions and toxicity. Shute recommends diluting them with a carrier oil, unscented cream or lotion, or aloe vera gel. “For adults, a 2.5 percent dilution is good. This means adding a total of 15 to 20 drops of essential oil into a one fluid ounce of carrier liquid or cream. For children under the age of five and over the age of three, use a 0.5 to 1 percent dilution.”
-
Depending on your needs, you can shortlist brands by considering their quality and reputation, the variety of oils available, the frequency and quantity of your usage, the sizes available, whether they are kid or pet-friendly, and if they’re food grade.
Clark goes a step further and recommends looking for companies with membership of professional associations, such as the Alliance of International Aromatherapists or the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy.
-
“Place a drop of essential oil on a clean white sheet of blotting or watercolor paper. The essential oil should evaporate completely within a 24-48-hour period, leaving no stain (unless the essential oil is colored, as is the case with some citrus oils and German chamomile) or reminiscent aroma,” says Shute, adding that this basic test works well on highly volatile oils such as citrus oils, but not with viscous essential oils like vetiver and sandalwood.
You can also add a drop of essential oil to water. “If the water becomes discolored or turns milky, then it has been diluted with water and an emulsifier has been used to keep the essential oil and water together,” she says.
Finally, Shute recommends using your sense of smell. “Our sense of smell is often underrated as a tool in determining the quality of an essential oil, but it is perhaps the most powerful tool we have.” With practice, you can strengthen it. “For instance, first smell an excellent-quality essential oil, then immediately smell a questionable or low-quality essential oil. There should be a distinct difference in the quality and effect of the aroma,” she explains.
-
Shute recommends the following:
· Lavender: An all-around beneficial essential oil for first aid, luscious lavender promotes sleep, helps heals wounds and supports healthy skin
· Eucalyptus Globulus or Eucalyptus Radiata: Great essential oils for cooler months, these freshly scented oils support immunity
· Peppermint: A strong, minty oil, peppermint is used to boost energy, ease aches and pains, and traditionally, to support the digestive system
· Sweet orange: A calming yet uplifting addition to your home kit, sweet orange can enhance emotional well-being
· Tea tree: The microbial tea tree oil is a forerunner in a first aid kit, treating zits, insect bites and much more
· Rose or Neroli: Though pricey, these delicate floral oils can support emotional well-being during periods of high stress or grief
· Frankincense: A comforting, aromatic oil to allay turbulent emotions and relieve skin concerns
Neeti Mehra writes about sustainability for The Spruce. As a researcher and consultant, she has edited three magazines during her career covering a broad range of topics. She is committed to sustainable, slow, and mindful living. She personally uses essential oils as a mood booster and particularly enjoys tea tree, rosemary, lavender, and lemongrass, using them in baths, a diffuser, or applied on her skin after diluting them.
For this article, she researched and shortlisted reputed essential oil brands based on their offerings, transparency, reviews and other key criteria. To get a complete perspective, she also spoke to experts Jade Shutes, Founder & Director of Education, The School for Aromatic Studies and Marge Clark, founder of Nature's Gift Aromatherapy and the author of Essential Oils and Aromatics.
The 7 Best Oil Diffusers of 2022
Top 10 Best Essential Oil Brands in 2022 – Reviews & Comparisons
Have you ever wondered, what are the best essential oil brands? Who should you buy your essential oils from and why?
Those are very good questions! With so many companies selling essential oils today, it’s hard to know what to look for. Of course, you only want the best quality oils that are safe to use at a fair price, right?
The rising popularity of essential oils has led to an influx of essential oil brands. Some companies push to offer lower and lower prices, compromising oil quality by adding synthetic compounds to their products. While pure essential oils have a multitude of benefits, fake oils can be harmful to you.
This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through these links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read my full disclosure policy here.
Here are my best tips to help you select an essential oils brand that’s right for you!
Contents
- How to Choose Your Essential Oil Brand
- Quality Control
- Company Reputation
- Selection & Price
- Top 10 Best Essential Oil Brands
- 1. Young Living
- 2. doTERRA
- 3. Plant Therapy
- 4. REVIVE Essential Oils
- 5.
Rocky Mountain Oils
- 6. Edens Garden
- 7. Mountain Rose Herbs
- 8. Jade Bloom
- 9. NOW Essential Oils
- 10. Aura Cacia
- Quality Control Comparison
- Price Comparison
- Test Winners
- Learn More About Essential Oils
How to Choose Your Essential Oil Brand
There are many professional, trustworthy, and reputable essential oil companies. I recommend you get to know an essential oil brand first before you get their products through your door. After all, you’re trusting them with the well-being of yourself and your family.
The essential oils brand that is best for you will depend on a mix of things. How do you plan on using the essential oils? Do you need lots of oils or just a few? What price are you comfortable paying for your oils?
The essential oils industry is not regulated by the FDA. This makes comparison shopping quite difficult. Some essential oil brands use terms like “100% pure” or “therapeutic grade”. Others use different names for the same thing. Some brands choose not to use any of these terms at all.
So how do you know if you’re shopping for good quality essential oils? How do you know they are safe to use around your family or home?
Here are a few things to look out for when evaluating an essential oil brand:
Quality Control
The most important thing is that the essential oils sold are without chemical fillers, additives or synthetics. Most companies prove this by sending their oils to independent 3rd party labs, which perform a GC/MS (Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry) test to start, and sometimes a multitude of other chemical tests, as well. The best brands make these test results easily available to the consumer.
The next point of quality assurance lies in where the essential oils are sourced. Many plants have native countries where they flourish and thrive best, and different farmers will have different standards of production. The best oil brands have a special relationship with their suppliers and distillers, and visit them regularly to ensure the integrity and quality of raw materials supplied.
Company Reputation
It is important to know who owns an essential oils brand. I prefer companies that have been in business for a while, rather than start-up companies that may still have lots to learn. A well-established essential oil company will also have an accessible customer service team, which is paramount to keeping customers happy.
Peer reviews are also huge in the essential oils industry. You want to buy from someone with a good track record, which doesn’t happen overnight. Check what other customer reviews are saying. Better yet, do you know anyone in person who could talk to you about their choice of oil brand? Amazon is a great place to read some customer reviews and dig into some of the star ratings if you have the time. You can learn a lot!
Selection & Price
It is frustrating to shop with an essential oil brand that doesn’t offer everything you’re looking for. I like to check out if the brand also offers related aromatherapy products for sale, such as carrier oils, diffusers, or accessories. The best brands offer special promotions or incentives such as bonus points or exclusive access to new oils, too. It pays to shop with a trusted brand repeatedly!
Last but not least: What price range are the essential oils sold at? It has to be fair! Some oils are naturally more expensive because the raw materials are more expensive to get. But the very commonly sourced oils shouldn’t break the bank.
Top 10 Best Essential Oil Brands
Have a look at my top 10 best essential oil companies that will sell you a great essential oil. Their oils sold are pure, potent, and safe to use. You’re going to be very happy when your essential oils kit arrives in the mail. But there are differences in quality control standards, company reputation, selection and price. So choose the brand that works best for you!
1.
![](/800/600/http/i.pinimg.com/736x/a8/e1/ad/a8e1ad8aa463f31b0d9313ab5a76a60e--natural-oils-natural-healing.jpg)
(4 / 5)
Young Living Essential Oils has been one of the leading essential oil brands in the industry for a while. It was founded in 1993 with headquarters in Lehi (Utah) and offices in Australia, Europe, Canada, Japan and Singapore. Their company structure is a “MLM”, meaning multi-level-marketing. It is a revenue-sharing business model where people become independent distributors or consultants. They then encourage friends and family members to shop through them. Each sale pays the consultant a commission, and the buyer has to carry that cost as part of the oil price.
Young Living’s Everyday Oils Starter Kit Collection.
Check Price
Quality Control & Purity
On the front of essential oils quality, Young Living seem to be the real deal. They use a proprietary Seed to Seal process to make their essential oils. It is a system that controls the cultivating, harvesting and distilling of many of their oils. For some plants, Young Living owns their own farms across the world. This gives Young Living the unique ability to verify their quality standards at every step of the process.
You can buy Young Living essential oils from your local Independent Distributor. There are also qualified online distributors such as 911HealthShop.com that sell legitimate YL oils. They are also available on Amazon.com.
Selection & Price
Young Living products encompass essential oils, diffusers & accessories, nutritional supplements, and personal care products. Their line of Thieves® products specifically is very popular.
Young Living oils will be one of the most expensive essential oils you’ll buy. You have to decide whether Young Living quality standards, production ethics and company structure are worth it to you.
Young Living Review
2. doTERRA
(4 / 5)
doTERRA essential oils was founded in 2008 by a group of health-care and business professionals, some of which used to work at Young Living. The founders all shared personal experiences with the life-enhancing benefits of essential oils. heir mission statement is to “bring a new standard of therapeutic-grade essential oils to the world”.
Their headquarters are in Pleasant Grove, Utah, with offices around the world. like Young Living, they are also a multi-level-marketing (MLM) company. doTERRA offers membership and wholesale programs.
doTerra Introductory Essential Oils Kit.
Check Price
Quality Control & Purity
doTERRA tests each batch of essential oils with their Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® (CPTG) quality protocol. It is a way to ensure potency, purity, and consistency from batch to batch. Unfortunately, this protocol is a company-internal process only. So despite its appealing name, it is far from industry-encompassing.
On the bright side, doTERRA sources their essential oils from growers across the globe. Their global botanical network encompasses farmers and distillers in 40 different countries.
doTERRA offers full insight into the consumer journey on their website Source to You. The website provides information from oil sourcing, to delivering the bottle to a consumers’ hand. GC/MS quality reports are also available for download on this website.
Selection & Price
The doTERRA selection of oils is targeted at wellness applications. Apart from 100% pure essential oils, the company also offers nutritional, spa, and other healthy living products.
While doTERRA is also still in that higher price bracket due to its MLM company structure, you can get started with a kit of 3 oils for around $20 on Amazon.
doTERRA Review
3. Plant Therapy
(5 / 5)
Plant Therapy was established in 2011 and sells high quality essential oils at a reasonable price. They offer a solid product line-up of single oils, blends, sets, roll-ons, diffusers, carrier oils and accessories. It is a true one-stop-shop essential oil brand.
You’ll also often find a good deal or promotion when shopping with Plant Therapy. Keep your eyes peeled for banners, ads, or giveaways on their website. Use code EOHAVEN and enjoy 10% off your order!
Plant Therapy’s popular 7 & 7 set is a perfect starter kit.
Check Price
Quality Control & Purity
Plant Therapy puts their oils through solid third party testing to ensure quality. They guarantee that their oils are 100% pure and of the highest quality. They were one of the first essential oil companies to make their test results available for direct download on their website. Awesome!
You can buy Plant Therapy products on their online store (use code EOHAVEN for 10% off)- or through Amazon.com.
Selection & Price
Plant Therapy offers a huge selection of products. From single oils to blends, carrier oils, diffusers, carrying cases, jewelry and books, you can really shop your heart out here. They also offer quite a few organic essential oils, a specially crafted KidSafe line, and a line for pups & ponies. Plant Therapy also carries CBD oil, household products, and personal care & beauty items. If you like making DIY recipes, you can also find your ingredients here, such as cocoa butter or beeswax pastilles.
The price point of Plant Therapy oils is really fair. Plant Therapy offers a 100% money back guarantee for 90 days. If for any reason, your purchase doesn’t fulfill your needs, you can return it for a full refund.
Plant Therapy Review
4. REVIVE Essential Oils
(4.7 / 5)
REVIVE essential oils is a newer essential oil brand. They offer a “Compare to MLMs” section where you can easily cross-compare your favorite MLM blends to REVIVE’s alternative options.
The company is one of pure essential oil people. You can buy great quality, carefully sourced essential oils at REVIVE. They also offer wild crafted essential oils, which are oils made from wild harvested plant materials and not plants grown on farms. Last but not least, you can also buy a select variety of USDA certified organic oils.
REVIVE offers a great range of essential oils for sale at fair prices.
Check Price
Quality Control & Purity
REVIVE essential oils come directly from distillers, farmers and producers. They do not cultivate their own farms, but rather work with people native to the craft in their own specific home country. GC/MS results are available for each batch of essential oils and directly downloadable from their website.
Selection & Price
You can buy 93 single oils, 40 blends, 11 different essential oil kits and 7 carrier oils at REVIVE. You’ll also find 5 CBD oils, 3 diffusers, and a few other accessories (such as empty glass bottles for DIY recipes) in their online store. This is a huge assortment and rivals any other popular essential oil brand on the market today.
Essential oils prices at REVIVE are fair. Not too steep, but also not too good to be true. It’s definitely a respectable, reputable brand that I shop with often.
REVIVE Essential Oils Review
5. Rocky Mountain Oils
(4.9 / 5)
Rocky Mountain Oils (RMO) offers a full product line, including select USDA Certified Organic oils. The company is based out of Orem, Utah. They’ve been operating since 2004 and are one of the leading essential oil brands available today.
Rocky Mountain Oils carries a beautiful Certified Organic Tea Tree Oil.
Shop Here
Quality Control & Purity
To prove their oils’ quality, Rocky Mountain Oils provides full GC/MS test results from an independent third-party test lab. Additionally, the company has created their proprietary S.A.A.F.E Promise™, which stands for Satisfaction, Authentic, Analysis, Free of Adulterants, and Effective and Pure.
If organic oils are important to you, Rocky Mountain Oils can deliver. Look for the correct “USDA Certified Organic” label on select oils.
Selection & Price
Not only can you buy 100% pure essential oils at RMO, you’ll also find a comprehensive line-up of other natural wellness products in their online shop. The products include skin care, cleaning, natural supplements, and aromatherapy blending supplies.
For the quality offered, Rocky Mountain Oils is really competitive in their pricing. Even for organic varieties, their prices are still below the cost of a MLM company. Thus, RMO oils are very accessible to anyone getting started and still looking for rock-solid quality.
Rocky Mountain Oils Review
6. Edens Garden
(4.8 / 5)
Edens Garden essential oils has been selling essential oils since 2009. For a few years in a row now, they have been voted #1 Non-MLM Essential Oils Company by Dr. Pappas’ Essential Oil University.
Established in San Clemente, CA, Edens Garden CEO Grace says that her dream was “to build a business that valued people over profit.” This means, Edens Garden offers affordable essential oil products without compromising on quality.
At around $85, this is an amazing deal for an all-around essential oils starter kit.
Check Price
Quality Control & Purity
Edens Garden ensures that every oil received by a customer is a 100% pure essential oil, of their best possible quality. Edens Garden (EG) essential oils follows their cornerstone E.D.E.N.S. pledge, standing for Effective, Dedicated, Educated, Natural, and Safe. It is a company-internal promise and no other oil brand uses it.
EG oils are all tested in batches before bottling. The oils are stored in a temperature sensitive room with minimal light exposure. This ensures the therapeutic properties are not compromised.
Selection & Price
Edens Garden offers over 150 oils and counting! They come out with new blends and health & beauty products all the time. From bath salts to room sprays, hand sanitizer and perfume, Edens Garden has you covered.
I should note, EG packaging is also quite pretty! Receiving your EO goodies in the mail will feel like a total gift to yourself.
I love how approachable Edens Garden essential oils are. You can get their nice-looking “Top Synergy Blends Set” for around $50 on Amazon. That’s a really nice, home use starter kit that won’t break your wallet.
Edens Garden Review
Buying from a company like Edens Garden with a large assortment is fun and satisfying.
Shop Here
7. Mountain Rose Herbs
(4.5 / 5)
Mountain Rose Herbs is a brand dedicated to all things organic. They strive to sell the absolute finest quality of pure essential oils. All their products are certified organic, and an attitude of “People and Planet before Profit” runs through their whole company.
Popular Lavender Essential Oil is sold in Certified Organic.
Shop Here
Quality Control & Purity
Mountain Rose Herbs also holds quite a few certifications and awards for their product sourcing, including a non-GMO project certification. Overall, this brand is making some awesome commitments to better, green business practices. If you like this ideology, this is your company to support.
Selection & Price
The product line-up at Mountain Rose Herbs (MRH) includes anything an aspiring aromatherapist would need. You can find many specialty oils and specialty accessories at MRH. The best thing you can do is have a look at their website and shop for the oils you’d like.
Mountain Rose Herbs essential oils come in a variety of price ranges. Keep in mind, all oils are certified organic, so the extra dollars spent may be worth the investment.
Mountain Rose Herbs Review
8. Jade Bloom
(4. 3 / 5)
Jade Bloom Essential Oils is a family-owned company with a mission to “change the way people think about health®”.
Headquartered in Draper, Utah, Jade Bloom not only offers online shopping, but also one retail store location at 12300 S. 380 W. #101.
The single most unique feature about Jade Bloom is their free essential oils university. It’s a fun program with lessons and schedules, to learn about essential oils.
Jade Bloom’s Starter Pack is a Good Option for Beginners.
Check Price
Quality Control & Purity
The essential oil products are 100% pure, and you can look up GC-MS reports by batch number, using this tool provided on their website. Jade Bloom essential oils are packaged in their signature green glass bottles, which makes them easy to identify among other essential oil brands. The green still ensures that light does not disrupt the oils’ integrity and individual properties.
Selection & Price
Jade Bloom offers over 130 oils to choose from. You can definitely build your library of oils here. The company also sells blends, carrier oils, starter kits, and roll-on products. They also sell an exclusive Sensitivity line, which is created especially for people with sensitive skin, children, and the elderly.
I appreciate the affordability of Jade Bloom essential oils, while not compromising quality and testing protocols. If you’re on the Jade Bloom newsletter, there are also always special promotions running that can save you even more.
Jade Bloom Review
9. NOW Essential Oils
(4.2 / 5)
NOW essential oils offers a comprehensive natural product line-up at an attainable price. NOW essential oils are part of the NOW Solutions brand. As a company, they manufacture and distribute over 1,400 natural foods, dietary supplements, and personal care products.
Now Organic Orange Essential Oil.
Check Price
Quality Control & Purity
NOW oils are natural and 100% pure. The company runs an in-house full facility laboratory and uses external third party testing only when necessary.They put their oils through Gas Chromatography (GC) testing and Infrared Spectometry. But it’s all in-house, leaving some questions about accountability.
Selection & Price
NOW oils offers a selection of well over 100 essential oils. A small portion of NOW oils’ assortment are also USDA certified organic essential oils, even though offering organic doesn’t seem to be their main focus. The prices for NOW oils are extremely fair, making them easily attainable for anyone. You can also find them on Amazon, which is a bonus for quick & easy shopping.
NOW Foods Review
10. Aura Cacia
(4.6 / 5)
Aura Cacia Essential Oils is a unique brand in the mix of essential oil companies available on the market today because they’re a co-op structure (part of the Frontier Co-Op) rather than a corporation. With that, the leadership input is based on all member’s ideas, values, and desires, making for a community feel and direction.
Established in Eastern Iowa way back in 1976, they had started bottling essential oils by 1979 in response to requests from stores.
Aura Cacia’s Discover Essential Oils Kit is a Great Starter Option!
Check Price
Quality Control & Purity
Aura Cacia essential oils are packaged in amber glass bottles, which ensures that light does not disrupt the oils’ integrity and individual properties. The essential oil products are also 100% pure, not containing any additional bases, fillers, or additives.
Selection & Price
I love the affordability of Aura Cacia essential oils, while not compromising quality and testing protocols. Their bottles contain 7.4 mL instead of other “standard” 10 mL, so just be aware of that when comparing pricing.
While not all their oils are certified organic, they do have some certified organic oils in their line-up. If organic is important to you, shop for those specific product and look out for the correct “certified organic” label.
Aura Cacia Review
Frequently Asked Questions
What are pure therapeutic grade essential oils?
Essential oils aren’t regulated by the FDA. There is no agency or organization that certifies or grades essential oils as “therapeutic” or “medicinal grade”. Each essential oil company can decide on their own how they wish to label their oils in this regard. Most reputable companies choose to steer away from these terms now, though there are a few who still pursue them for marketing purposes.
Are organic essential oils better?
Essential oils are concentrated extracts from plant materials. With organic farming practices, the plant materials have to meet higher quality and purity criteria before they can be labelled “certified organic”. Thus, organic essential oils should be more potent compared to their regular counterparts, because their plant material ingredients are kept more pure.
Where is the best place to buy essential oils?
You can find essential oils at local drug stores, pharmacies, or big box stores. But many of the best essential oil brands don’t sell through smaller retailers. I would recommend to buy your essential oils directly from the brand website, or through Amazon. Many popular essential oil brands have their own seller profile with Amazon, so you are still buying from them, but your oils will be shipped through Amazon.
What is a GC/MS report?
GC/MS stands for Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry. It is a scientific analysis that identifies different substances within a batch of oil. It is used for checking the quality of essential oils, and ensuring that there are no synthetic additives, fillers, or other chemicals present in the oil tested.
Quality Control Comparison
This comparison chart quickly compares each brand’s essential oil quality standards and practices.
Young Living | Proprietary Seed to Seal® production process.![]() |
doTERRA | Proprietary Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® (CPTG) quality protocol. “Source to You” production process. |
Plant Therapy | Third-party GC/MS tested. All test results fully disclosed on their website. |
REVIVE | 3rd party GC/MS testing. Reports available to download from website. |
Rocky Mountain Oils | Independent GC/MS testing, plus proprietary S.A.A.F.E. Promise™. |
Edens Garden | Proprietary E.D.E.N.S Guarantee. |
Mountain Rose Herbs | Independently tested and quality controlled using third party GC/MS testing. |
Jade Bloom | Public GC/MS batch reports available on their website. |
NOW Essential Oils | Uses their own team to conduct quality tests and ensure oils matches their internal standards. |
Aura Cacia | Internal Quality Standards and Control Mechanisms. No 3rd party testing.![]() |
Price Comparison
It’s not always about money, of course. But essential oils should be priced fairly. Some companies have more inflated prices because they spend more on marketing and selling their oils. Family-run businesses seem to have the least overhead and the most fair prices for good quality oils.
Price Comparison (Lavender Oil) | |
---|---|
Young Living | ~ $32/15 ml* |
doTERRA | ~ $28/ 15 ml* |
Plant Therapy | ~ $7/10 mL |
REVIVE | ~ $9/10 mL* |
Rocky Mountain Oils | ~ $23/10 mL* |
Edens Garden | ~ $10/10 mL* |
Mountain Rose Herbs | ~ $15/15 mL* |
Jade Bloom | ~ $9/ 10 mL* |
NOW Essential Oils | ~ $16/ 60 mL* |
Aura Cacia | ~ $12/15 mL* |
* Prices as on Amazon. com or supplier’s website(s) at the time of writing and subject to change without notice
You can see a more detailed price comparison here.
Test Winners
I hope my reviews and comparisons have helped you see the differences between essential oil companies. Have you made your choice of essential oil brand to start buying from?
- My personal test winner for overall best essential oil brand, is Plant Therapy essential oils. They offer great value for your money, especially if you’re just getting started. You can get a kit of 10 oils for around $50! This almost begs for you to try essential oils.
- If you’re looking to explore a fun, new brand that is keeping up with the more established competitors, have a look at REVIVE essential oils. Their oils are great quality, fairly priced, and ship quickly. Anyone switching over from an MLM like Young Living or doTERRA will find their blend comparison chart super useful.
- Third, if you have a bit of a higher budget range, I also quite like Rocky Mountain Essential Oils. They are a bit more money than Plant Therapy and REVIVE, but their quality is outstanding and never disappoints. I think you’ll especially enjoy the blends, and their USDA Certified Organic oils are fantastic!
- Fourth, I do also like Eden’s Garden essential oils as they have great starter kits that are easy to use, and the oils included are useful. EG prices are fair, which is always appreciated. Their blends are unique and well-loved.
- Mountain Rose Herbs would be my fifth favorite just because of their full-on commitment to all things organic. I really like their company culture, and like to support a great bunch of people! You can find a plethora of oils in their line-up: anything you may want or need, they’ll have it in stock.
Learn More About Essential Oils
I have created my website around helping YOU get started with essential oils in your life. If you’d like to learn more about aromatherapy and essential oils, check out the following resources:
- Are Essential Oils Safe to Ingest?
- How to Use Essential Oils
- Blending Essential Oils
Further Reading: “What are Essential Oils?” On encyclopedia.com
10 essential oils that will invigorate, soothe and give joy
Health
Aromatherapy is considered a form of alternative medicine that uses the beneficial properties of essential oils. These scents can help regulate emotions, memory, and feelings of sleepiness and alertness. ELLE has selected the top 10 fragrances that everyone needs to use.
1. Lavender
Lavender essential oil is considered one of the most useful in aromatherapy. It helps to achieve inner harmony, eliminates depression and anxiety, brings clarity and calmness to thoughts and emotions. Experts recommend applying a couple of drops of lavender oil to your pillow - this will help you fall asleep faster and better.
2. Rose
There is a theory that the rose was the first plant from which essential oil was obtained. It is established that this happened in Persia as early as the 10th century. Today, rose essential oil is considered as "feminine" as possible: it enhances the feeling of one's own sexuality and self-sufficiency, stimulates creative and intellectual development. Aromatherapists recommend rose oil to boost self-confidence.
3. Lemon
Lemon oil is a natural immune booster, helps relieve headaches, improves mood quickly. The bright, bitter and invigorating aroma of lemon encourages creativity and activity. The aroma of lemon is under the auspices of the Moon - it increases intuition and gives prophetic dreams. This oil is nature's best adaptogen, helping to adapt to social change.
4. Jasmine
This fragrance has long been considered a companion of mysterious, sensual and self-confident women, but jasmine has been used no less actively in medicine. Aromatherapists use jasmine oil to combat depression and stress. It promotes rapid relaxation and also increases libido. It is recommended to add a few drops of oil when taking a bath or in combination with a body cream.
5. Verbena
Book lovers associate the fragrance of this plant with the main character of Gone with the Wind. The legendary Scarlett O'Hara used a perfume with the scent of lemon verbena. The essential oil of this plant is a natural aphrodisiac that awakens desire, fantasy and sensuality. The effect of verbena is both energizing and stabilizing. It increases mental stability and mental productivity, helps to correct one's own mistakes in relationships.
6. Petitgrain
An optimistic fragrance that instantly lifts your mood and sets you in a life-affirming way. Petitgrain oil, or oil from the leaves and shoots of bitter orange, in the history of aromatherapy was called nothing more than "old age oil", "youth elixir". Back in the Middle Ages, it was considered one of the most effective skin care products. Petitgrain is an excellent essential oil for the treatment of nervous exhaustion, sadness and loneliness. Its aroma takes away the feeling of overwork, fatigue, heaviness, filling it with inner strength and energy.
7. Spruce
The fragrance, which is associated with the carelessness of winter holidays, is almost the main assistant in the fight against stress. It is believed that a few drops of spruce essential oil allow you to get rid of vanity, create a feeling of a special event, serve as an ideal background for self-knowledge and self-improvement, and open up new communication opportunities.
8. Basil
Today, basil is almost the main spice plant, without which it is impossible to imagine the national culinary masterpieces of the Mediterranean. Its aroma belongs to active tonic essential oils - basil clarifies the mind, quickly eliminates nervousness, and allows you to restore psychological stamina and concentration. This is the best oil to fight complexes and self-destruction.
9. Mint
The aroma of this plant is useful for those preparing for public speaking. Peppermint essential oil is said to relieve stress and instantly boost self-confidence. Energetically, this is the smell of renewal, restoration of vitality. In the emotional sphere, the nature of the impact of peppermint oil is restorative. Mint helps to cope with psychological exhaustion, overcome the effects of prolonged stress, and also promotes mutual understanding between people.
10. Gardenia
Aromatherapists find gardenia essential oil to add a sense of comfort and luxury to a home. It is recommended for use in atomizers and air humidifiers. The smell of gardenia fills with lightness and serenity, restores inner harmony and promotes peace of mind. This is an absolutely feminine fragrance that subtly reacts to the lunar cycles. So, it is during the period of the full moon that it manifests its properties to the maximum.
Lifanova Julia
Tags
- Psychology
- Health
- A-SSUE
Best essential oils with a cold
Published: 03/13/2019 updated: 10. 03.2021 Views: 135449
Essential oils can be used as an additional therapeutic and prophylactic agent during a cold. With their help, you can reduce the manifestations of headaches, runny nose, cope with inflammation in the throat, improve mood and increase tone. The main condition is to use only natural oils and not exceed the dosages recommended in the instructions.
How to choose the oil?
Essential oil is a multi-component mixture of various chemical substances. Therefore, in some cases, individual intolerance is possible (dizziness, increased heart rate, ringing in the ears, increased pressure, itching and redness of the skin, shortness of breath).
With extreme caution, essential oils are recommended for use in children, the elderly, patients with chronic diseases of the liver, cardiovascular and nervous systems. It is not recommended to use oils for pregnant women, people with hormonal disorders. It is strictly forbidden to use essential oils for inhalation using a nebulizer, as this can lead to the development of severe pulmonary heart disease.
Before using an essential oil, perform an individual intolerance test.
If you plan to use oil:
- For steam and "cold" aromatherapy inhalations, put one drop on a cotton pad and take 5-7 breaths. If after 5-10 minutes there is no discomfort, the oil can be used.
- for skin, acupressure, mix 1 drop of essential oil with 1 teaspoon of any vegetable oil. Apply some of the mixture to the crook of your elbow. If within 10-12 hours there is no irritation and redness of the skin, everything is in order.
Top 10 essential oils
Eucalyptus
In medicine, the essential oil of Eucalyptus globulus Labill is used, which is obtained from the leaves and branches of the tree. It has antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory action. Used for steam inhalation.
Carnation
Clove oil is a powerful antiseptic. It has antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal activity. It can be used for aromatization of rooms with the help of a water aroma diffuser.
Geranium
The oil is obtained from rose geranium (Pelargonium roseum). The medicinal properties are due to the presence in the composition of more than 120 terpenoids - biologically active substances with antiseptic, disinfectant, antispasmodic, expectorant action.
Cinnamon
The source of cinnamon oil is the bark of trees of various species from the Laurel family. Perfectly tones, gives strength, “purifies” the air of viruses and enhances the activity of other oils. Cinnamon oil is often faked, choose only time-tested manufacturers.
Tea tree
Essential oil of tea tree leaves (Melaleuca alternifolia) has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral effects; enhances the body's immune defenses.
Lemon
A well-known antiseptic and powerful antioxidant. Diffusing lemon essential oil will help fill the room with freshness, get rid of headaches.
Lavender
The source of the oil is officinalis lavender (Lavandula officmalis). The composition of the oil contains about 300 different organic compounds: vitamins A, C, E, acids, tannins. Lavender oil helps to cope with nasal congestion, so you can do “dry” inhalations with it: drop 3-4 drops on a handkerchief, inhale for 1-2 minutes.
Rose
It has a restorative and tonic effect, relieves fever, harmonizes and improves mood.
Mint
Facilitates breathing with nasal congestion, has a slight vasoconstrictive effect. It is used for inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, relieves headaches.
Thyme
Wild or field thyme oil (Thymus serpyllum) contains a large amount of thymol, therefore it has a strong antiseptic effect.