Best Essential Oil Brands Based on In-Depth Reviews

Améo Essential Oils is a product line of Zija International, a multilevel-marketing company based in Utah. Zija specializes in weight management and nutritional supplements as well as essential oil products for topical and internal use.

Peppermint, lavender, and tea tree essential oils from Zija. Claudia Rodríguez/Consumers Advocate

While the company sets high standards to ensure the quality of their products and seems genuinely committed to offering their farmers living wages and decent working conditions, we're not too thrilled about the company's business model.

Zija offers their members a loyalty rewards program that gives them discounts for recurrently purchasing products from the company. They also have a "distributor" program about which they offer little information.

Screen shot zijainternational.com June 12, 2019

The marketing materials they use to advertise their rewards and distributor programs employ ambiguous language that can be misleading for those who have little knowledge about how these types of companies operate.

To read more about our thoughts on multilevel-marketing companies, visit our Helpful Information section.

Safety

In our opinion, Zija could do more to warn consumers about the potential dangers of essential oil usage in children, pregnant women, and people with serious medical conditions. You can find some of this information on their FAQs page, but this section isn't easy to access and offers few details when compared to the rest of their website.

The company does use a map key to let customers know which oils need to be used in conjunction with a carrier oil and offers suggested uses for each of their products, but these don't come with additional safety warnings. For example, there's nothing on their site warning consumers not to use citrus oils topically before sun exposure, which could result in serious burns.

Those interested in knowing the chemical constituents of their essential oils can look up the batch number on the bottom of their essential oil bottle and enter it in the search bar at the top right corner of the page titled "The Zija Difference."

There, they'll be able to see details like where the plant was harvested (with pictures), read about the tests performed on the product, and see a video explaining the effects of that particular essential oil on human cells, according to tests performed by the company.

Sustainable Sourcing

Zija offers a good deal of information on their moringa plantations, stating they use a careful sourcing process that's environmentally responsible. They also take the time to explain that the nutritional content of their moringa oleifera varies significantly depending on the area where it's grown and how it's harvested.

On the company's website, you can hear short audio clips from company representatives discussing different aspects of  "the Zija Difference." One such clip by Dr. Joshua Plant states that the company recognizes the importance of sourcing from the right farms, but also goes to great lengths to support the farmers who grow the ingredients that go into their products.

Zija states they offer their farmers fair labor conditions and safe working environments and, because of their eco-friendly practices, they are also able to ensure their farms are ecologically sustainable.

For their moringa products, the company has invested in finding a genetically-pure species and growing the trees in nutritiously-dense soils without chemicals. The leaves, seeds, and fruit of each plant are then harvested by hand and shade-dried to ensure a high nutrient concentration.

Consumers can read all about the company's shade-drying practices and learn how this process affects the chemical composition of the supplements they go into in the company's "The Zija Difference" page.

Quality & Testing

As for their essential oils, Zija states they use two methods of extraction: steam distillation and cold pressing. They also take care to explain that in order to produce quality essential oils they have to pay meticulous attention to every part of the extraction process, from the preparation of the plant materials to the time, temperature, and pressure the plants will be subject to inside the extraction chambers.

An informational video on the company's website shows how their essential oils are harvested, dried, extracted, tested, and packaged to maintain high-quality standards throughout the entire process. Zija's manufacturing facilities are FDA-certified for Good Manufacturing Practices as well as by the National Sanitation Foundation.

Screen shot zijainternational.com June 12, 2019

The company works with California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) and is in partnership with Pharmatech Labs, a state-of-the-art facility that employs Harvard-trained scientists. According to Zija, Pharmatec tests each batch of Améo Essential Oils to ensure they match the quality of those used in clinical and peer-reviewed scientific studies.

To confirm Zija's claims about the purity of their oils and the thoroughness of their quality standards, we decided to test their peppermint, lavender, and tea tree oils through an independent lab. Améo Essential Oils tested negative for adulteration.

Consumer Education

Zija's website is not the most intuitive to navigate, as it's designed to tell the company story as an interactive narrative. However, it is packed with detailed information about the company's practices and processes, including videos on everything from their plant harvesting to the final product packaging.

We found Zija's FAQ section to be quite comprehensive, but not so easy to access. The page addresses some of the most common consumer questions like the difference between their organic and non-organic oils, their recommended use, and other safety disclosures.

In our book, information regarding the use of essential oils on children, pets, pregnant women, and people with serious health conditions should be prominent on the page and explained in full. This is essential for consumer education and the best way to combat misinformation and keep customers from being taken advantage of by companies promising their products can cure illnesses and chronic conditions.

Zija also has a blog with articles on health and wellness. At first glance, it's obvious that a lot more resources have gone into making that section of the web page both visually appealing and easy to navigate. We wish we could say the same about their FAQs page.

While the visual aspect of the blog can enhance the customer experience, we have to note that some of the articles published on that page endorse company products and aren't really educational resources for consumers interested in learning more about essential oils.

Aromatics International began in 2005 as an aromatherapy barn in upstate New York. Today, the company imports and exports essential oils directly from distillers and co-op distributors in over 60 countries. Once bought, the oils are thoroughly tested and kept in a dark, cold room at 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit.

The first thing we noticed upon entering the company's website was that they use rather flowery language to market their products, calling their oils vibrant and alive, pure, beautifully perfect, clean, and magical. They also use terms like "100% therapeutic quality," stating it's a catch-all term for their essential oil philosophy.

The order received from Aromatics International. Claudia Rodríguez/Consumers Advocate

They classify their products as "certified organic," which means the distiller is Certified Organic, "wildcrafted," which means the distiller harvested plants that were growing wild and distilled them, and "unsprayed," which means the distiller isn't certified organic but is growing the plants without chemicals, herbicides or pesticides.

Safety

Aromatics International states they have "crafted" blends that are effective and safe to use as directed. We read through their product descriptions and found their blends are diluted in carrier oils, making them safe for topical use. They also advise consumers to further dilute their stock blends at a 1%, 2%, or 3% dilution.

A section of their website is dedicated to the safety and shelf life of their essential oil products. They state that, when used at a 1% dilution, their oils can be used on pregnant women and children over the age of 10. The company also recommends that customers do a patch test before applying the oils directly on a large area of skin.

Screenshot www.aromatics.com June 12, 2019

We were impressed by Aromatic International's diligence in explaining how essential oils can affect young children and lactating mothers. Besides giving detailed instructions on how to dilute each oil, they also have a blog post in their "Aromatics Learning Corner" that provides additional information for parents, including tips on which oils to avoid and other potential health concerns for children.

When you browse the company's essential oil products, you can switch between several tabs and read details such as the properties of the oil, suggested recipes, additional resources, specific safety information, the oil's batch history, consumer reviews, and consumer questions with answers from the company.

Sustainable Sourcing

Aromatics International imports essential oil products from small-scale distillers and producers across 60 different countries. They also harvest their own certified organic lavender and work with local farmers to produce hops, calendula flowers, arnica blossoms, St. John’s Wort blossoms, ponderosa pine needles, and yarrow.

The company declares its commitment to sustainable sourcing and teaching about this subject on their "Our Story" page. They further explain their partner producers are committed to replanting, selective harvesting, "permit-granted" harvesting, and other unstated measures to ensure the sustainability of the plants they use for their essential oils.

Of course, as a retailer, the company's only way of ensuring sustainability is to be selective and, as they state, work with partners long enough to know they can be trusted. Aromatics also claims they go above and beyond to support their distillers' efforts and projects but doesn't provide further details.

Quality & Testing

Aromatics International is very vocal about the expected shelf life and batch distillation dates of their essential oils and provides detailed information about the chemical constituents of each of their products through GC/MS results displayed on their product descriptions.

They also take the time to explain how the tests work and state they are of utmost importance as the precise chemical breakdown of each oil directly affects their therapeutic benefits and safety concerns.

Screenshot www.aromatics.com June 12, 2019

They further explain that adulterated oils or perfume oils won't have the same therapeutic effects and could cause allergies, headaches, and other chemical sensitivities.

We tested three of the companies oils in-office as well as in an independent laboratory. The results came back from the lab without indicators of adulteration.

Consumer Education

Aromatics International states they are committed to their local communities and involved in educational initiatives to inform the general public about the uses and benefits of aromatherapy and essential oils. Their website also provides sample recipes for their products, a blog with truly informative articles, and a "Learn" section with detailed information about their products and essential oils in general.

Additionally, the company endorses the Aromahead Institute, which offers online aromatherapy courses. The institute also provides a free introductory course that addresses the different uses of essential oils and their safety concerns and offers informative articles about the use of essential oils in children.

While the introductory course is free, their Aromatherapy Certification Program requires tuition. Still, they are certified by different regulatory organizations like the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy and the Alliance of International Aromatherapists, just to name a few.

Artisan Aromatics is a small boutique company that imports oils from mid-sized and small-scale distillers and suppliers from around the world. Although small in scale, the company states they are committed to producing oils in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.

Peppermint, lavender, and tea tree essential oils from Artisan Aromatics. Claudia Rodríguez/Consumers Advocate

Besides selling essential oils, hydrosols, natural perfumes, and related accessories, the company also offers a unique product called enfleurage oils. These oils are truly artisanal and handcrafted in small batches using traditional methods developed in the 18th and 19 centuries.

Safety

We were very impressed with Artisan Aromatic's blog. Unlike other companies who only feature covert endorsements of their own products, Artisan publishes other informative articles that are actually enlightening, well-researched, and well-written.

Screenshot www.artisanaromatics.com June 17, 2019

On such article published in March deals with the "Safe and Effective Use of Essential Oils." Written by the founder and former Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, Joie Power, Ph.D., the post exposes predatory practices within the essential oil industry and warns consumers about the dangers of ingesting essential oils.

Besides the educational materials published on their blog, the company dedicated a section dedicated to explaining the different tests they perform on essential oils

Sustainable Sourcing

Artisan doesn't have a separate section that solely addresses their sustainable sourcing practices, yet throughout their website you can find details that prove the company's commitment to sustainability.

For example, on their product description for sandalwood essential oil, the company states they've chosen to source this oil from Australia as opposed to India due to the devastation of sandalwood forest for essential oil production in that country.

Screenshot www.artisanaromatics.com June 17, 2019

Their blog also features an article on the three essential oils consumers should think twice about purchasing: Frankincense, Rosewood, and Sandalwood. The article explains there are certain species of these trees that are vulnerable, threatened or endangered and, as such, should not be harvested for essential oil production.

Unlike other companies we’ve looked into, Artisan Aromatics doesn’t sell essential oils as a lifestyle choice or trend to keep up with, but as an ancient practice with medicinal properties when used in the right context and for the right reasons.

Quality & Testing

Artisan Aromatics states they have all of their essential oils GC/MS tested by independent labs to ensure their suppliers continue to meet their standards. However, because they order small batches of one pound of oil or less each week, it makes it hard to carry out GCMS testing on every batch.

Besides ordering in small batches to ensure freshness, the company also bottles their oils by hand after an order is placed. Despite their policy of bottling only after receiving orders, the company is still able to ship most orders within 2 days.

When we had the company’s oils tested by an independent lab, the results came back with adulteration markers for their lavender oil. For more information on our tests and what they mean, visit our Helpful Information section.

Despite their lavender oil coming back with indicators of adulteration, we admire the company's transparency in admitting their current means doesn't allow them to test each batch of oil they purchase on a weekly basis. This was among the few companies on our list that convinced us of their commitment to quality and customer service.

Consumer Education

Artisan Aromatics is one of the few companies that take the time to inform consumers about the importance of understanding essential oils before purchase. In fact, as soon as you enter their website you’re greeted with a banner that explains that satisfaction with essential oils depends on choosing the right oil and using it properly.

Screenshot www.artisanaromatics.com June 17, 2019

They also acknowledge that, in order for consumers to make informed decisions, they need to be provided with complete information on the botanical sources of the oils they’re looking to purchase, suggestions for their best methods of use, precautions for safe use, and guidance from professional aromatherapists.

And these aren’t just empty words on the part of the company; we found that, out of all the companies we reviewed, Artisan Aromatics has the best selection of quality educational materials and resources to help their customers know exactly what they’re purchasing, where it comes from, and how to safely use it.

Aura Cacia essential oils are sold through Frontier Co-op, a member-owned business supplying herbs and spices as well as natural and fair trade products in the United States. The co-op business model promotes equality and ensures fair wages for all members, it also allows members to have a voice when it comes to company decisions.

Tea tree, lavender, and peppermint essential oils from Aura Cacia. Claudia Rodríguez/Consumers Advocate

It's quite refreshing to find businesses who are adopting business models that benefit all employees, not just owners and top-tier sales representatives. Aura Cacia appears to be one such company, setting high standards for sustainability and selling fair trade products that benefit the communities that produce them first and foremost.

Safety

Aura Cacia's website has a detailed section on essential oil safety, including a dilution guide and other recommendations. Like other companies on our list, Frontier states essential oils are not safe for internal consumption, should be kept away from children, pets, pregnant women and lactating mothers, and that people with serious health conditions should consult a doctor before using them.

Screen shot auracacia.com June 12, 2019

Their "Explore Essential Oils" section has several articles on essential oil blending and the company's featured products. They also have a section dedicated to child safety and kid-friendly activities involving essential oils.

Sustainable Sourcing

Frontier Co-op has established Frontier Foundation and the Simply Organic Giving Fund, programs that are funding continuing scholarships for tuition assistance at the University of California Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS).

CASFS aims to transform the way people grow and distribute food in a way that is sustainable and promotes social and environmental justice. Those interested in reading more about Frontier Co-op's scholarship and its past recipients can do so one the company's webpage.

Besides their efforts to change agriculture in the United States, the company is also part of the Well Earth Program, which seeks to find and develop ethical sources for high-quality botanical products. Member companies help improve the infrastructure and product quality of their suppliers while investing in community projects such as organic crop trials.

Screen shot auracacia.com June 12, 2019

As for essential oil sourcing, the company uses a global strategy to find botanicals where they grow naturally and buy products from growers who are committed to replanting. They work in partnership with other co-ops and women-owned enterprises that hand-pick their plant materials and have been in business for generations.

Frontier Co-op provides very specific examples of the measures they take to ensure their products are sustainably sourced. They state they have personally traveled to Bulgaria, Morocco, Madagascar, and Australia to meet their growers and help their communities directly.

They also state they were among the first companies to convert their supply of sandalwood from an endangered species in India to an Australian variant that is sustainably produced, regulated, and renewable.

A few more details we were impressed with were that the company monitors the carbon emissions directly related to its business, use mostly solar energy or natural gas and diesel, has implemented a number of green policies at its headquarters, and has a recycling and waste management program in all four of their facilities.

Screen shot auracacia.com June 12, 2019

Quality & Testing

As we've mentioned before, we had three essential oils samples from each of the companies on our list tested for adulteration through an independent lab. 

As it turns out, essential oil sourcing is hard to track, and there are distillers out there that have found ways to engineer chemical compounds that are so similar to the biological ones naturally found in plants that it's almost impossible to detect adulteration.

The GC-MS test conducted by APRC detected synthetic markers in Aura Cacia's lavender oil. If you're interested in learning more about our test results, visit our Helpful Information section.

Consumer Education

Although their website lacks the in-depth consumer education resources we've seen offered by other companies, we were impressed by Frontier Co-op's business model and community initiatives. Among the companies we've reviewed, they have been one of the most vocal about the social and environmental impacts of the essential oil production.

Based in Pleasant Grove, Utah, doTERRA is one of the biggest players in the essential oils industry. Founded by a group of executives formerly employed by one of doTERRA’s top competitors, the group followed its former company’s lead and established themselves as a multi-level marketing operation.

Multi-level marketing relies on a non-salaried workforce (i.e. “Wellness Advocates” which currently number 2 million in doTERRA’s case) selling a company’s products or services.

Anyone can sign up to be a Wellness Advocate for a $35 fee, renewable at $25 after the first year—this includes a website, sales and promotional materials, and access to products at wholesale prices, or 25% less than retail.

Additionally, Wellness Advocates can earn bonuses and commissions for recruiting other members, paid up to seven levels down. Commissions depend on personal volume (PV), as well as the combined organizational volume (OV) for the Advocate’s team. However, Wellness Advocates may need to pay up to $100 a month to stay active in doTERRA and receive their commissions and bonuses.

Quality & Testing

doTERRA makes the bold claim that its essential oils are the best on the market, tested according to “the strict CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade®” quality protocol—which the company itself invented, trademarked, and designed.

The truth is, there is no independent body that regulates or accredits the essential oils industry, though the International Organization for Standardization does specify what constitutes an essential oil.

Peppermint, lavender, and tea tree essential oils from doTerra. Claudia Rodríguez/Consumers Advocate

This isn’t to say that doTERRA essential oils are bad products—on the contrary, after we tested their oils ourselves through an independent lab, we found their oils were among the few on our list that came back without markers for adulteration.

Safety

doTERRA states that essential oils can be used aromatically, topically, and internally with no dilution (though they do mention that carrier oils should be used for initial topical applications, and that internal dosing should be carried out according to professional guidelines and/or label recommendations). The company also provides information on each oil’s mains constituents, which part of the plant the product is made from, and the collection method.

We do like that doTERRA includes a disclaimer informing consumers that their internal and topical use recommendations have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and that the product is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

However, wellness advocates and other non-company websites still make claims such as “Supports cardiovascular and nervous system health when consumed internally*.” These sorts of assertions landed doTerra in hot water as recently as 2014, when the FDA issued the company a warning letter for affiliates promoting their oils “for conditions that cause them to be drugs.”

doTERRA is currently venturing into healthcare too, establishing its Prime Meridian Clinics in Nashville, Phoenix, St. George, and Pleasant Grove. Prime Meridian’s goals are to provide “allopathic and holistic care, lower costs, ease of accessibility, and improved health outcomes." The idea is to offer integrative healthcare, combining traditional medicine with holistic practices, including essential oils, nutritionists, acupuncturists, and chiropractors.

Screen shot doterra.com June 12, 2019.

Sustainable Sourcing

doTERRA clearly states on its website that it sources its 100+ oils from more than 40 countries, more than half of which are in developmental stages.

Screen shot doterra.com June 12, 2019.

For this reason, the company has developed an initiative called Co-Impact Sourcing. The program aims to create sustainable jobs with reliable incomes, based on timely payments at fair prices. The company also encourages growers and harvester groups to form co-ops, for increased bargaining power. Through the Healing Hands Foundation®, doTERRA also supports developmental projects, including schools, infrastructure, and potable water systems.

Consumer Education

One of the things we liked about doTERRA was the abundance of educational resources on its website for both consumers and sellers. They include a robust section on the company’s story, the possible uses of essential oils, and a Resources tab with several subsections such as blog, training, tools, events, and leadership.

Prospective customers can also obtain additional reading material in Spanish and Chinese beyond brochures or flyers, including magazines and ebooks. For their part, the company’s Wellness Advocates can gain access to doTERRA University, which focuses on tips for hosting product “trainings,” for potential customers, and on building a network of other members. 

It is important to note, however, that we did notice that some of the information on their website is ambiguous, or frankly misleading, as in the case of the health claims that are prominently featured on each essential oil’s individual page. We also did not evaluate the quality or impartiality of the training materials provided by the company. 

Edens Gardens is not a multilevel-marketing company, meaning they sell directly to consumers. According to their website, the business was founded on the premise of giving people access to high-quality essential oils at affordable prices.

Edens also sells a number of other essential oil products, including blends, soap bars, perfumes, and salt soaks. They state all their products are non-toxic, cruelty-free, and tested for quality and purity. On a less positive note, they also claim their oils are "therapeutic grade,"  a term we've found to be problematic in the course of our research.

Peppermint, lavender, and tea tree essential oils and packaging from Edens Garden. Claudia Rodríguez/Consumers Advocate

As we'll discuss later on, the term therapeutic grade is one made up by essential oil companies and means their products meet their own standards of quality and purity. There is no unbiased source or regulatory entity that oversees the essential oil industry, which means companies can make up their own labels and market their products in ways that can be misleading to consumers who don't know the difference.

Safety

Browsing through the free resources on the company's website, we read a comment by a customer asking whether their essential oils could be ingested. Edens Garden replied that they only recommend the internal consumption of essential oils under the guidance of a licensed aromatherapist or medical practitioner.

Besides this tidbit, we found Edens Garden's website devoid of a lot of safety information we think is important to share with customers. For example, the company sells essential oils that are purportedly safe for children 2+, yet they don't make any safety disclaimers on the page or state how these products are different from other oils.

Their product descriptions do have a general disclaimer warning women who are pregnant, nursing or under a doctor's care to consult a physician before using essential oils. They also state their oils should not be ingested, used undiluted on the skin, or applied over abrasions or broken skin.

Sustainable Sourcing

There is little to no information about sustainable sourcing on Edens Garden's website. Their "Intro to Essential Oils" talks about how an entire rose bush might only produce a single drop of essential oil during distillation, but doesn't explain what they do to help replenish the plants their distillers harvest.

Quality & Testing

For the most part, there is little information about Edens' processes on their website. They do state, however, that the essential oils they source are "carefully distilled" and extracted from leaves, plants, seeds, roots, and resins. Their FAQs page further explains their oils are either steam distilled, cold pressed, or solvent extracted, taking care to explain what each one entails.

We purchased three of the companies oils and tested them in-house as well as through an independent lab. The results weren't at all surprising to us given the lack of clear information about where Edens Gardens purchases their essential oils and how they ensure quality.

Screen shot edensgarden.com June 12, 2019

As it turns out, the lavender oil we purchased from the company came back from the lab with indicators of adulteration. To read more about these lab results, visit our Helpful Information section.

Consumer Education

Edens Garden has a blog section on their website with informative articles and videos. Most of the articles we saw there addressed the different uses and benefits of essential oils and provided tips regarding skin care and how to choose between products.

We quickly noticed these articles were general in nature and not at all extensive. One, in particular, struck us as rather misleading due to its title: "How Essential Oils Help Tighten Your Skin and Fight Wrinkles." The article itself talked about inflammation and even urged customers to use sunscreen, very general advice for an article with such a title.

Founded by herbalists, this small company started as a mail-order business in 1987 and opened their first brick-and-mortar store in Eugene, Oregon in 2016.

Today, Mountain Rose Herbs specializes in herbs & spices, teas, aromatherapy products, home goods, health, and bath & body products. They also produce their own extracts, elixirs, and syrups.

The company’s commitment to sustainability is unmistakable, boasting an impressive list of sustainable business practices. From fair trade and zero waste to packaging and energy efficient facilities, Mountain Rose Herbs is one of the two most sustainable companies on our list.

The packaging received from Mountain Rose Herbs is 100% recyclable. Claudia Rodríguez/Consumers Advocate

Regarding their essential oils, the company offers a large selection of certified organic and high-quality essential oils.

Safety

Besides labeling all of their essential oils “for external use only”, Mountain Rose Herbs doesn’t provide much information regarding the safety precautions of these concentrated chemical compounds.

We found a few articles about “How to Use Essential Oils Safely” on their blog and a short video explaining the basics of essential oils, but the company falls short on providing in-depth safety information about their oil products.

Consumers wanting to read more about the individual safety precautions of the oils they're looking to purchase will have to make due with the two or three sentences regarding safety precautions (oil specific and general) on each of their product descriptions.

Sustainable Sourcing

Mountain Rose Herbs commitment to working green is both admirable and impressive. The company has a Zero Waste Program, helps restore local ecosystems, installed 100 photovoltaic solar panels and an electric vehicle charging station, and became the first company in Oregon to achieve a Zero Waste Facility Information from the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council.

Also, since 2012, Mountain Rose Herbs has maintained a trade certification in accordance with the Fair for Life standard, a program to ensure human rights and fair working conditions are maintained at each stage of their supply chain.

But what about their essential oils? In a section called “Sourcing of Botanicals”, Mountain Rose Herbs discusses their criteria for purchasing botanicals, which includes looking for certified organic or pesticide-free plant products that are sustainably harvested.

However, the company fails to disclose information regarding the farms or countries where they source their essential oils. “From farm to bottle”, but where are these farms? This lack of transparency creates a problem, as it leaves consumers in the dark regarding important details about the company’s essential oil supply chain.

What’s more, Mountain Rose Herbs is one of the few companies on our list that don’t provide online access to GC/MS reports. Concerned customers must contact the company directly to receive that information.

Quality & Testing

Mountain Rose Herbs has their own laboratory and quality control team that work closely with the American Herbal Products Association. They also have a section called “Quality from the Farm to You” where the company states that “before any herbal products are allowed in our facilities, we request a “pre-ship” sample for analysis. This sample is analyzed using organoleptic (sensory) and laboratory methods, and if approved, it is authorized for order.”

This statement is ambiguous at best, as it doesn't provide any details beyond stating they analyze the samples using an organoleptic test, which means either visually analyzing, smelling, or applying the oil directly on the skin.

We're not saying an organoleptic test isn't valid, but it’s no substitute for the complex testing that should be carried out in a laboratory to truly ensure the purity of an essential oil—especially in an industry plagued with adulteration.

Mountain Rose Herbs sells 100% pure essential oils for aromatherapy purposes. To confirm it, we sent their peppermint, lavender, and tea tree oils to an independent lab to test for adulterations.

Both lavender and tea tree oils came back negative for any adulteration but addition of menthol, menthyl acetate, and Himalayan Cedarwood were detected in their peppermint oil. 

Screen shot mountainroseherbs.com June 12, 2019

Consumer Education

Mountain Rose's blog features content on everything related to the company and its products. There, consumers can find information on a variety of topics, from recipes and herbalism to body care and beverages.

The company dedicates an entire segment of their web page to herbal education where they display a handpicked list of recommended teachers and schools. The company also organizes The Free Herbalism project, a community-based initiative that includes botanically inspired lectures and live music.

However, as with the safety precautions, the company lacks educational resources for consumers wanting to learn more about essential oils and their uses.

NOW has been in the natural products industry since 1968. Although they are better known for their nutritional products, the company has a comprehensive line of essential oils and aromatherapy kits.

Peppermint, lavender, and tea tree essential oils from NOW. Claudia Rodríguez/Consumers Advocate

NOW hasn’t invested a lot of resources on their essential oils page, perhaps due to their broad line of products. Their website is easy to navigate, however, and it does feature a few short articles on essential oils and general wellness.

Safety

The company doesn’t have a lot of information on essential oil safety on their website. We found one article on their resources page that supposedly addressed FAQs regarding this topic, but were dismayed to find they only answered three questions regarding essential oil use very superficially.

The company does have a page dedicated to material safety data sheets for all their essential oils, something we were pleased to find.

Screen shot nowfoods.com June 12, 2019

Sustainable Sourcing

We couldn’t find any information on Now’s website about their efforts to ensure sustainable sourcing. Neither do they state exactly where their oils are produced or make many any attempts to inform customers about the importance of sustainability.

We did find an infographic about the company’s “Green Commitments.” It shows NOW has invested in energy-efficient lighting, recycled shipping boxes, a recycling program for both their solid waste as well as their e-waste, a water conservation program, and a solar energy system.

The company also received a LEED Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for one of their facilities in Sparks, Nevada.

Quality & Testing

NOW has an article on their resources page that talks about why consumers should care about essential oil quality. Their post details how they purchased several different types of essential oils from a well-known online retailer and had them tested in their internal labs.

According to them, 12 out of the 18 oils they tested came out with markers of adulteration. While they don’t offer more details about the results of those tests, they take the opportunity to link back to their essential oils page and encourage consumers to purchase oils from a reputable brand with dedicated quality control methods.

Screen shot nowfoods.com June 12, 2019

While we agree that consumers should purchase oils from companies that are committed to quality assurance and essential oil safety, we have to point out some of the Now’s comments are rather one-dimensional.

You see, adulteration markers are hard to detect, and some suppliers have developed sophisticated ways of synthetically producing chemical compounds naturally found in essential oils. Moreover, it takes a lot of resources to have essential oils properly tested, and we know about that because we tried it ourselves.

We picked three NOW brand essential oils ordered directly from the company’s website and had them tested by an independent lab. As it turns out, their peppermint oil came back with addition of menthol and menthyl acetate, while their lavender oil came back with synthetic markers of linalyl acetate.

To read more about our tests and what they mean for you as a consumer, make sure to check out our Helpful Information section.

Consumer Education

Although NOW does have a “NOWledge Center” we didn’t find any articles that were extensive or well-researched on the topic of essential oils.

Plant Therapy brands itself as “a people first company,” devoted to its customers, employees, and the community. It also strives to bring quality essential oils from ethical, sustainable sources.

Plant Therapy's colorful packaging. Claudia Rodríguez/Consumers Advocate.org

Their featured products include a KidSafe line, a Pup & Pony brand for dogs and horses, as well as large variety of blends and natural scents for the home.

Besides the company’s vast variety of products, another aspect that stood out to us was their affordable prices. However, as we've mentioned before, price doesn't necessarily assure quality when it comes to essential oils.

One thing we liked about Plant Therapy is their collaboration with Robert Tisserand, one of the world’s leading experts in aromatherapy and founder of the Tisserand Institute.

Safety

Plant Therapy has an entire line of essential oils that have been developed especially for children aged 2-10. The KidSafe line is designed to help with a variety of issues or ailments that commonly occur during these years, such as congestion, ear infections, and common colds. The line was designed and is overseen by expert aromatherapist Robert Tisserand, which shows the company’s commitment to the safety of their consumers. 

However, we spoke to several experts that don't recommend the use of essential oils in children because there haven't been enough studies to conclude oils are safe for this demographic. The scientific community agrees that further research is necessary.

The same thing applies to the company’s products for dogs and horses, Pup & Pony. This line includes essential oil blends to help dogs and horses deal with anxiety disorders, motion sickness, maintaining good health, and even dealing with being alone.

Screen shot planttherapy.com June 12, 2019

Preliminary research suggests that essential oils may have some benefits for dogs and many holistic veterinarians incorporate essential oils into their practice. However, more evidence is needed to safely conclude that essential oils are safe for dogs and horses.

Plant Therapy doesn't recommend their oils for ingestion, except under the supervision of a medical doctor or aromatherapy expert, and they discuss this subject on their blog.

Additionally, each oil comes with a description, directions, test reports and the following disclaimer: “The International Federation of Aromatherapists does not recommend that Essential Oils be taken internally unless under the supervision of a Medical Doctor who is also qualified in clinical Aromatherapy. All cautions listed for individual oils do not include those cautions from ingestion.”

Sustainable Sourcing

Although Plant Therapy claims their oils are sourced from ethical, sustainable sources, we were not able to find evidence to confirm these statements.

Each essential oil comes with a detailed product sheet. For example, their lavender oil description provides information about the botanical name, country of origin, extraction method, plant part, strength of aroma, safety precautions, and whether the oil is safe for children.

However, it’s worth noting that the specific details about the plant's country of origin are not provided. In this example, their lavender essential oil could come from either Bulgaria, Spain, France, or Greece.

This lack of transparency creates a problem, as consumers don’t know exactly where their oils come from, how they are harvested, and the working conditions of the people who harvest them.

Screen shot planttherapy.com June 12, 2019

Quality & Testing

Plant Therapy states that “purity and quality” are equally important and that they “test every single batch of oils for in-depth information on each chemical constituent with GC-MS testing, as well as evaluating each oil’s color, consistency, and general appearance to give you the most accurate information possible.”

Screen shot planttherapy.com June 12, 2019

Every bottle from Plant Therapy has a specific batch code, indicating the exact batch of oil that’s in the bottle. This batch information is directly linked to the testing reports for each oil. These test reports are public and consumers can see them by going to the essential oil’s product page and clicking on Test Reports.

Plant Therapy not only offers these third party GCMS reports, but all of the GCMS reports are signed by the chemist to ensure that no editing was done on these reports.

To confirm Plant Therapy's claims about the purity and strict quality assurance of their oils, we picked three of their essential oils and sent them to an independent lab for a GC-MS test. As it turns out, two of their oils tested positive for adulteration. The lab results detected synthetic markers of linalyl acetate on their lavender oil and addition of menthol and menthyl acetate on their peppermint oil.

Consumer Education

We have to give it to them, Plant Therapy really goes out of their way to provide their customers with valuable information. From videos and blog posts to essential oil guides, Plant Therapy’s website is filled with educational resources. The company values are present in all the content they publish, whether it’s their clean water project (Planting Kindness), their partnerships with universities or their charity events.

However, we must note that besides their collaboration with Robert Tisserand, they don't do much to provide consumers with safety information about their oils. We feel Plant Therapy could do more to educate their customers about the safety risks of using essential oils as well as provide more details about their sourcing and testing procedures.

Another non-MLM company on our list is Rocky Mountain Oils, which sells fair trade-compliant and USDA organic essential oils and other nutritional products. It's worth noting that not all their products meet these standards, yet the company does offer a good selection of organic and fair trade items.

Peppermint, lavender, and tea tree essential oils from Rocky Mountain Oils. Claudia Rodríguez/Consumers Advocate

While they're not a multilevel-marketing company, Rocky Mountain does have an affiliate program that rewards influencers, writers, and bloggers for posting about the company's products on social media.

Safety

Something we really liked about Rocky Mountain is that they have a whole section dedicated to the safe use of essential oils on children. They even have a chart that breaks down which oils are safe for kids of specific ages.

The company also states that when using essential oils on children, parents should do so sparingly and with extreme caution.

Screen shot rockymountainoils.com June 17, 2019

Rocky Mountain is one of the few companies on our list that explains in detail how to dilute oils for safe use. They even include instructions on how to safely dilute oils for use on children and provide this information on their individual product descriptions.

Sustainable Sourcing

There is little to no information about sustainable sourcing on the company's website. They do, however, use sustainable packaging and are among the first companies in the industry to start a bottle recycling program.

If you have empty essential oil bottles at home, from any company, you can send them to Rocky Mountain directly or look up a local glass recycling center on their website.

Recycled packaging from our order of Rocky Mountain Oils. Claudia Rodríguez/Consumers Advocate

When we ordered three essential oils from Rocky Mountain we did indeed receive our oils safely enclosed in sustainable packaging. This was the only essential oils company we ordered from that delivered their products to us in recycled paper and cardboard.

Quality & Testing

Rocky Mountain states they purchase essential oil products from suppliers that meet their "stringent product quality guidelines." They test hundreds of samples from their suppliers before purchase, ensuring none of their oils have adulterants, contaminants, diluents or synthetics. They then test the oils once more after purchase to ensure quality and purity.

Unlike other companies, Rocky Mountain offers detailed information about their process, from how the plant materials are sourced to how the essential oils are bottled. Like other companies, they also make the results of their GC/MS testing available online for prospective customers to view while browsing through their product descriptions.

As we've mentioned in other reviews, we ordered three bottles of essential oils from Rocky Mountain and had them tested in-house as well as by an independent lab. Addition of menthol and menthyl acetates were detected in Rocky Mountain's peppermint oil. 

To read more about our tests and their results, visit our Helpful Information section.

Consumer Education

Rocky Mountain has a "Learn" section on their website with different resources for those interested in learning about essential oils. The page is easy to navigate and features four sections on the basics of essential oils, health and wellness tips, natural cleaning solutions, and advice on holistic beauty, all of which endorse the company's products.

Their blog, however, is a much more informative and offers articles on essential oil safety in children. There are also a number of other articles dealing with the benefits of particular essential oils and their uses as household cleaners, health remedies, and even aphrodisiacs.