I don’t sell a certain brand of essential oil and I am not partial really, either. I have some favorites, but I have no bias as far as having anything to gain from pushing a certain brand. I just wanted to get that out of the way since it seems anymore, so many essential oil brands are clouded with pushy sales pitches and this leads to a lot of misinformation as well as sales for much higher than a person would spend somewhere else. I don’t have a problem with those that sell essential oils, but there are definitely some bad apples out there.
Now that we have that out of the way, let’s look at why you are really here; you want to save money on essential oils and you want to know how to do it. First, let’s talk about a few plain facts:
There is no such thing as “therapeutic grade” essential oil. There is no grading system from the FDA that deems anything a certain grade when it comes to essential oil. This doesn’t mean, however, that there are not purity issues between brands. I am not going to talk about the brands I think are better than others as my main purpose of this post is not to sell you on a certain brand, but rather help you afford some oils as I find even lower grade oils are OK for most uses (NOT internally, though, in my opinion).
If you are still with me, here are some ways you can save money on essential oils that are practical. You will need to do your own research on the brands you come across this way and decide if they are right for you.
How to Save Money on Essential Oils
Look for essential oils at places like Marshall’s and TJ Maxx. I find them there nearly every time I go in the cosmetics and personal care sections. They are some pretty reputable brands, too. I can usually find them for $5-$7 each bottle.
Buy online from herbal supplement companies- Many companies that sell herbal supplements also sell either their own brand or another brand of essential oils as the world of essential oils has become more mainstream. This is a good way to get them as some of these supplement companies offer freebies or rewards that allow you to get discounts with frequent purchases.
Check out Amazon- You can buy well known brands of essential oils on there occasionally as people stop with their personal sales businesses. eBay is another great place to look. (This is an affiliate link to the essential oils page on Amazon with all kinds of brands they sell. I am not bias to any of them and buying here costs you nothing extra but supports my site, so thank you.)
Buy a larger amount of oils in a kit- Some essential oil companies and distributors allow you to buy a kit as a customer or as a potential seller/consultant at a huge discount. Even if you never sell them yourself, these starter kits can have several hundred dollars worth of oils for less 75% off or more when sold as a kit.
Always use carrier oils and be sure not to waste oil- Don’t toss out oil bottles until you have used all of the oi in them-every drop counts! Using carrier oils like sweet almond oil and coconut oil not only is good practice for essential oil safety, but it helps the oils go further.
Skip out on buying blends- You can usually make your own for much cheaper and make far more. Blends usually say on them what exactly is the oils in them so its just a matter of finding the right combo.
Don’t go overboard and buy too many- Most households only need a few of the main ones for most ailments or uses. These are generally Lemon/citrus, lavender, eucalyptus, tea tree and peppermint. The good news is these are some of the cheapest ones so if they are all you can get, you are going to have more than enough for most uses and needs.
Encouraging! Thank you. I’m just starting to use essential oils and I am intimidated by what I don’t know.
While there is no regulating body when it comes to essential oils, there definitely are better grades of oils and it all comes down to sourcing and purity and the ethics and mission of the company producing the oil. Most oils come from wearhouses that distribute oils to wholesale buyers who then adulterate the oils and repackage/resell agin in bulk/wholesale quantities. Again the process of adding, enhancing, repackaging and messing with the products repeats. By the time it makes it to the tiny little bottles we see for $5 to $10 it is no where near pure, safe or beneficial to the body or mind. You should know exactly what you are putting on your skin and even in the air if you are diffusing. INTERNAL is a whole other topic! While the FDA might not recognize “therapeutic grade”, It does in fact exist. Of course the FDA will not regulate oils, especially because those companies that have high standards, provide scientific research and third party testing results and have acquired natural product numbers for therapeutic uses including internal use. These high quality oil producers are taking dollars away from big pharma which directly affects the cash flow to ….guess who? YEP the FDA. If you are ok not knowing what lerks in your cheap oils, go ahead slap em on and inhale. If you are concerned with your health and purity, meaning no microbes, parasites, pesticides, synthetics, additives, fillers, fragrance, dyes, petroleums or solvents, have been used or added, then I would highly recommend a company who willingly provides that information to the consumer. I only know of one so far.
Chantelle, There are definitely differences in quality, as there is with everything brand by brand, but ‘therapeutic grade’ does not exist. It is simply a marketing term. It is certainly up to every person to do their own research on how the oils they are purchasing are being produced, but lower cost does not always mean lower quality just as higher cost does not equal better quality. My only goal in this post was to help people save money on essential oils, not to promote any single brand. Thanks for stopping by!