I’ve been wanting to really get into into essential oils for years but kept putting it off because I didn’t know which essential oils to buy! Anyone else?
There are so many brands to choose from. So how do you know what to even look for to figure out which ones are good and worth the money and which ones aren’t?
I set out to at least answer that question today with this post. I read up on what people well-versed in the ways of essential oils say is important, and condensed their suggestions into these five tips!
Here are five simple things to look for to help any beginner choose which essential oils to buy!
1. Consider the cost.
Wondering why essential oils can be so expensive?
For any kind of oil, it takes a whole lot of plant to make a small amount of oil. Some plants cost more than others or require more plant matter per ounce of oil, so that’s why some types of oil are more expensive than others.
When considering prices, if the price being offered for oils seems too good to be true, it probably is.
If you’re going to buy essential oils, you want them to work. If the quality is terrible, they likely won’t do anything for you.
Thankfully, for most uses a small amount of oil is all that’s needed at one time because it’s so concentrated, so one bottle can last a while. You may want to use less expensive brands of oils for things like cleaning, and more expensive ones for personal care uses.
2. Consider purity and type of oils.
Unfortunately, “purity” of essential oils is not well regulated, so when choosing which essential oils to buy, don’t always trust an oil brand just because it claims to be pure. Terms such as “therapeutic grade” or “clinical grade” are also not standardized, so they don’t have a lot of meaning and can’t be relied on for credibility.
Keep in mind that oils for perfume, fragrance, and flavoring do have valid uses, but they are different in form and production than essential oils and can’t necessarily be used for the same purposes.
The best way to ensure essential oils are truly pure is to find a retailer you trust. You can ensure a brand is reputable by asking people you know and trust, or by seeing if there are reviews on Amazon or other websites. If you decide to buy from a retailer who sells essential oils as their primary business focus, it’s likely their product will be valid since their reputation will determine their income.
3. Check the label.
Ensure each oil is identified with its scientific or botanical name. (For example, Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender) Oil would be listed under ingredients.)
The more information that’s included, the better: country of origin, date of distillation or expiration, and methods used for extraction. It should also have a “Keep Out of Reach of Children” statement.
Including these types of information shows the manufacturer is willing to be transparent and gives them more credibility.
4. Prioritize organic or unsprayed oils.
If oils are not produced from organic plants, any pollutants on the plants can be highly concentrated in the oil. Organic oils are certified as not being sprayed with chemicals and means their production has met regulated standards.
Unsprayed means the farmers aren’t certified as organic but haven’t sprayed their crops with chemicals.
5. Look for additional signs of credibility.
The more transparent a company is, the more likely they are to be producing quality products.
The disclosure by a supplier of quality test (MS/GC) results is another sign of credibility. So is a willingness to answer questions about products. Affiliations and memberships such as being a part of the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA), and having trained aromatherapists on staff are more positive signs to look for when choosing which essential oils to buy.
What brand do I use?
Personally, I have been using Rocky Mountain Oils for about a year now, and I’m in love with their products! Their oils are of the highest quality, providing MS/GC test results for all oils, which confirms their purity. They also carry many organic oils. And they provide a lot of information about each and every oil they sell including the botanical name, country of origin, extraction method, and more.
Another big plus is that shipping is free on all items. And, they offer free returns for any reason on any items (even if opened) up to 90 days after they were purchased!
I also found this list of recommended independent essential oils suppliers to be really helpful if you’re looking for more specific recommendations. I also used her article to source some ideas for this post.
You might also like my post of 12 essential oils uses for the home.
