As you may have surmised, the EO world can be quite snarky.
To tell the truth, in my opinion. there is not a whole lot of difference between the premium essential oil companies that include DoTerra, Young Living, Rocky Mountain, Spark Naturals, Florihana, and others. These are all reputable companies that sell quality products that are 100% pure. Does this surprise you?
Here are my thoughts.
High Quality Essential Oil Companies are Similar
The difference between most reputable EO companies, in my opinion, is their marketing strategies and price. The key word here is reputable. I am not talking about companies that promote fake oil along with a bunch of fake reviews on Amazon.
So here is the scoop.
I personally do not like MLMs and pricing schemas that require a monthly purchase or distributor agreement to get the best price. For that reason, I have steered away from DoTerra and Young Living. That, plus the fact they are extremely expensive for what you get.
I have stayed with Spark Naturals because I have gotten to know the people behind the product and trust them. Their prices are fair and the only oil in their line that I hated (really hated) was Jeddy’s Blend. For a while, I was heavily courted by Rocky Mountain and used their oils for a short trial period. I liked them but at the time (this was about a year ago) they had a revolving door of people working for them and no one really explained why. Plus – and this is a huge one for me – their Lavender oil smells funny.
No One Essential Oil Company Is Perfect
Spark Naturals is not perfect. I dislike their coupon code policy and have been told by their CEO that it is being phased out. Then again, it is still active. (My discount code, GAYELEVY, entitles you to 10% off most orders. ( But other than that, I am comfortable with Spark Naturals (thus the “Spark Girl” designation) and continue to endorse them.
I should say a word about NOW Foods, Plant Therapy, Edens Garden and others. There is nothing wrong with the budget-friendly oils except the fact that they are mass produced and thus likely to be less picky in their source material (the plant, herb, and flowers used to make the oils). For example, each batch received at Spark Naturals is individually tested to ensure all of the right botanical components are there in the right proportions. I am sure the other premium brands are picky that way too.
Still, to save money, I often use these bargain brands in my cleaning supplies and soaps since the product is going on my cleaning rag or down the drain and not being applied to my skin. I use a bit more of the budget oils than I would from a premium brand (say 20 drops in my cleaner instead of 10 or 12).
Does any of this make sense? I sure hope so because I try very hard not to say that Spark Naturals is the BEST but rather the brand I choose to use myself because I trust the company, their ethics, and the purity of their products. Plus, I get good results where it counts so why change?
Summing It All Up
Whew, I didn’t mean to go on and on. By all means, let me know if you still have questions. At the end of the day, stay in your comfort zone and I am sure you will be fine.
Yours for a Joyful Life,
Gaye
Strategic Haul
Just the basics. These are the EO essentials that I recommend. For additional items, view my Resources page.
Spark Naturals: Spark Naturals is the brand I prefer, especially for health and wellness purposes. For the best price, purchase your oils directly from their website. Note also that shipping is currently free to all US locations. New: Use code GAYELEVY to get 10% off most orders.
Spark Naturals, my favorite EO company, is once again honoring my 10% discount code. Using code GAYELEVY at checkout, you will get another 10% off both regular priced and sale items. Free shipping to US locations. Always.
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Spark Naturals Amazon Store: Although you may pay a small amount more, you can also purchase most Spark Naturals products at their Amazon store.
NOW Foods Essential Oils: To me, these are not as potent as the oils from Spark Naturals but they work just fine in cleaning products. They come in large bottles so you can afford to use larger amounts. Try their Tea Tree oil or Natures Shield Protective Blend in your cleaning products.
Essential Oil and Roller Ball Opener: Where have these been my entire EO life? This recent purchase has made using essential oils so much easier. Instead of prying off the orifice style droppers with my nails, I now use this nifty tool to get the job done. Ditto the tops of roller ball bottles. Well worth the $5 or $6 cost.
Glass Liquid Droppers: It was only recently that I discovered the value of droppers that have measurements on the side. What this means is that instead of dropping oils into my blend one drop at a time, I can now, for example, use the markings on a dropper to measure 1 ml of each oil I am using in a 50/50 blend. I just did this yesterday with lavender and cedarwood, a calming diffused blend that I frequently use when I need to relax. You will love these glass droppers and of course, they can be used over and over again.
The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy: This book, by Valerie Warwood, is my essential oil bible. I purchased the first version in the late eighties and have never looked back. Highly recommended for your home remedy and first aid library.
Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser by AromaSoft: As with many of the products I promote, this diffuser is not going to be the cheapest on the block, although $20 is not bad especially when I used to pay $60 or more for a diffuser. This BPA-free diffuser puts out a strong mist that can fill a room. All that in spite of its size. Plus, it comes with a lifetime warranty.
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Spark Naturals, my favorite EO company, is once again honoring my 10% discount code. Using code GAYELEVY at checkout, you will get another 10% off both regular priced and sale items. Free shipping to US locations. Always.
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I have used oils from several different companies. My only major problem was when I purchased some oil from Emergency Essentials – it was already diluted with olive oil. Not a big issue but not what I expected.
My other issue has been not so much with the companies themselves but with their reps. Some are quite forceful and insist that the oils they sell are the ONLY good oils and constantly put down other companies and their products. To me this is a big red flag and I immediately steer away from them. I had to ask one rep several times to quit sending me emails, newsletters, and samples before she actually stopped.
Currently I work with Barefut Essential Oils as an affiliate-not a MLM rep. I like the oils but as they don’t carry a huge variety I also purchase from other companies as well including Spark Naturals.
What you are saying is so true. I felt it was important to let readers know that in spite of what some aggressive reps might say, there is no one EO company that ranks totally superior to any other. Even though most (but not all) of my own oils are from a single company, there are many fine companies to choose from.
Of course diluted oils sold in a misleading manner are a definite thumbs down as well as some super cheap brands that are not the real thing, in spite of what the label says. As I like to say, good oils smell nice plus, and if the price is too good to be true, they are likely a fake.
Some of the smaller, boutique EO companies have some very nice oils. You definitely won’t find these quality oils in your local supermarket!
Best to you, Mary, for a wonderful holiday. I can’t believe 2018 is almost over.
Gaye,
I had some major health issues where I wasn’t getting satisfactory answers from the medical community. So I went deep into the research and found some credentialed Herbalists and Aromatherapists, and discovered a world of practitioner grade products and expertise that is way beyond normal retail products and services. No doubt it is at the upper end when it comes to price, but if I’m going to put it on or in my body, then I’m willing to pay for top quality. Likewise, I expect to receive top quality results – and I do! I have no commercial ties to these people other than I’m a customer paying full retail price, but the “highest and best” I’ve found in the world of essential oils is the Wisdom of the Earth company in Sedona AZ. They have classes, books, certification programs, etc., but most of all they have a full line of EOs. Upwards of 250 products. They have a catalog where you can search for an EO based upon a specific ailment or issue. If I had to nominate a product or company as “totally superior” in the USA, it would be this team: http://wisdomoftheearth.com/
Thanks for sharing your experience. It is always good to learn from others that have a positive experience with an essential oil company!
I agree with you Gaye about the MLM oil companies…they are so expensive. I haven’t tried Spark yet, but plan to. I appreciate your recipes for salves, etc. I print them out & have a notebook dedicated to EO, nutrition & holistic medicine. Thanks again for all the info.
Gaye, you have spoken the truth! I have been an aromatherapist for many years, long before it became the “in” thing. An essential oil must be labeled as “pure essential oil”. If not, it is a blend. My problem with a blend is not knowing the carrier oil; I prefer to blend my own. At my herb shop I carried Starwest Oils which never disappointed. They were very affordable & I never had a complaint. Just because you pay more money does not mean you get superior product. I prefer grapeseed oil as a carrier oil; it doesn’t become rancid as sometime happens with almond or olive oils. Learn to make your own blends & save money.
Hi Gaye! Because of you and your writings, I have begun ordering from Sparks Naturals. I joined both of their monthly oil clubs, Regular and Premium, and have started a wonderful collection of oils that I use daily for diffusing and cleaning. Thanks so much for getting me started in this wonderful ‘smelly’ world. Although I have done my own research into all the different companies, I rely on your vast knowledge and expertise to guide me through. You have been a big inspiration for me to learn more about the oils and use them in different ways. Thanks! Franne
I only use EOs to make my house smell nice. So what is important to me is that the EO produces a strong smell with just a few drops. So that is why I avoid NOW and other budget brands.
I have noticed that Florihana EOs are a lot stronger smelling. I only need a couple of drops of Florihana in the diffuser. Also, I have noticed that Florihana and other brands don’t smell the same. Bergamot, for example. If I use 2 drops of Florihana, I get a strong flowery smell. But I can use 20+ drops of NOW and get a faint lime peel smell.
Florihana has disappointed me with their pine/fir/spruce EOs. You’d think they’d smell great, and they don’t! I actually discarded the bottles after one use. And their lavender smells weird. I am using it up by just adding one drop at a time to other EOs in the diffuser.
yes, you make perfect sense! and your candor and clarity are priceless.
I personally have used Earth Sonnets for years. It is privately owned by Jenni Johnson. The oils are pure and excellent. These oils are from Butterfly Express, and she rebrands them to her own Earth Sonnets brand. I always feel like I have found my own private “gold mine!” She is also a wealth of information. Many times I have emailed her with a question, and she replies to me personally within 24 hours. The prices are very affordable and much less than the MLMs out there which I think are ridiculously high priced. She also runs monthly specials at an even greater discount on five selected oils each month. I highly recommend Earth Sonnets!
Hi Carol Ann – Thanks for sharing. I have heard good things about Butterfly Express so knowing about Jenni, Earth Sonnets, and your first-hand experience is great. I am always on the lookout for quality sources of essential oils, especially since the company I usually use does not carry certain oils.