This is a bit of a complicated question, because you may have tried an essential oil before. In fact, it’s almost impossible not to have smelled, applied or ingested an essential oil. So-called “essential oils” are in our lotion, shampoo, candles, Glade scents, and even candy and foods. But these oils are partially or fully synthetic, and often diluted or chemically manipulated.

Even the essential oils found on the shelf at a health food store and labels 100% pure may not be true essential oils. (In fact, FDA regulation says that only 5% of that substance has to be the particular oil for it to be labeled 100% pure.) So the true purity of essential oils is only regulated by the integrity of the company that produced it.

So let me ask you again, have you truly had an experience with essential oils?

A real, strong, produced-by-a-plant-for-its-own-medicinal-benefit essential oil?

If you haven’t used a therapeutic grade essential oil before, you may not have had an opportunity to experience what true essential oils offer. But you can!

What are essential oils?

Truly pure essential oils are cold-pressed or steam-distilled from various parts of certain plants known possess medicinal properties. These essential oil packets are there to aid the plant: some act as an insecticide, others attract pollinators, and still others help the plant heal from damage.

Are they safe?

Therapeutic grade essential oils are safe. Essential oils have been used for thousands of years by many different cultures. Their health benefits were widely recognized, and traditional extraction of these oils rendered them safe and helpful. When extracted and stored properly, the chemical compounds remain in a stable state. These compounds are recognized by your body as natural substances, and your body knows what to do with them. They are helpful, not harmful or taxing, to the body.

But as we saw earlier, just because an oil is labeled as 100% pure doesn’t mean it is pure, safe and natural. In fact, many of these oils carry a warning label against internal ingestion, or using on children. This shows the lack of quality of the oil in that bottle. Some oils are created by combining some chemicals in a lab. Other oils are manipulated (having things added or removed) so they chemically resemble a different oil. Even if taken from nature, modern extraction techniques can cause essential oils to become unstable or denatured. Additionally, if desiring to make a profit, suppliers and distributors may dilute the essential oil but advertise it as pure. Unfortunately, the basic testing required by the FDA does not filter out oils made using these techniques, so additional labeling is required to know the oil you are buying is safe to use.

Why is this important? Because how that oil was produced tells you if it is safe, and if that oil will be effective. Essential oils are complicated, and the percentages and interactions between the various compounds that make up an oil are beyond what we understand. It is not something that can be manufactured in a lab. True essential oils, like many other things in nature, are equal to more than the sum of its parts.

How do they work?

Essential oils can be used several ways: aromatically, topically and internally. Each of these methods affects the body directly, so it is important to use only therapeutic grade essential oils no matter how you are going to use them.

Aromatically: When essential oils are diffused you inhale micro-beadlets, each containing thousands of chemical compounds ready to have a positive impact in your body. These chemical compounds interact directly with the sensors in your nose, which causes a signal to be sent to different parts of your brain, including the hypothalamic and pituitary glands. These glands are responsible to maintain your body in a state of homeostasis. It is incredibly important  to use therapeutic grade essential oils for aromatic use because of the direct connection to the brain. Toxins present in lower quality essential oils can cause confusion and harm in your body.

Topically: When applied topically, the helpful chemical compounds present in the oil are concentrated to a localized area. The best time to use this application method is if the health concern is in a defined area, or located on or near the skin. Applying essential oils to the bottoms of the feet allows for systemic absorption, and is useful when taking oils internally is not desired. Everything that has contact with our skin has the potential to be absorbed, so it is once again important to only use therapeutic grade oils.

Internally: There are some instances when taking essential oils internally is helpful. After ingestion, the chemical compounds absorb into the bloodstream, where they are free to travel to any part of the body that is requiring support. There are instances when essential oils should not be taken internally, such as in children under the age of two. And, again, only pure, certified therapeutic grade essential oils should ever be taken internally.

Why dōTERRA?

Let me tell you why I get my oils from dōTERRA. DōTERRA essential oils are 100% pure, verified by third-party testing of every batch! DōTERRA cuts out the middle-man, sourcing directly from the farmers who know how to grow and extract a particular essential oil in the way that has been passed down through generations. They provide these areas (many impoverished) with the supplies and security they need to produce a high-quality oil. They pay a fair price to the farmers, and in return the oils they receive are high quality and unadulterated. To get the highest medicinal value possible, dōTERRA sources from all over the world, selecting areas where the plants grow well, maximizing the medicinal strength of the oils. I use these oils for myself, and I recommend them to my patients. With dōTERRA, there is assurance of consistent quality and safety. In fact, the same bottle you can get delivered to your home is used in research labs and hospitals around the United States.

How do I order?

Ultimately, how you get these oils is up to you. Be sure you’re getting undiluted, unadulterated oils. 

And this is why I chose dōTERRA. The results of that testing are available to me. I know that every bottle I purchase from dōTERRA is 100% pure, unadulterated oil. . 

You can too!

There are two ways to purchase essential oils, as a retail customer or through a wholesale membership.

Retail Customer: you can purchase essential oils and products from dōTERRA at retail prices. You always want to purchase your oils directly from dōTERRA. Oils sold through any other retailer may be adulterated. If you would like to purchase retail oils, you can here.

Wholesale Member: The best way to purchase essential oils is through a wholesale membership. Becoming a wholesale member allows you to get 25% off any dōTERRA purchase. In addition to other benefits, it allows you the opportunity to join the Loyalty Rewards Program, where you accrue points you can use toward free dōTERRA products. The $35 initial membership fee is included in a purchase of any enrollment kit. Some of the most popular kits are detailed below. There are even more to choose from, which you can find here.

Family Essentials Kit
and Beadlets

Home Essentials Kit

Natural Solutions Kit

5 mL bottles:
Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint,
Melaleuca, Oregano, Frankincense,
Deep Blue®, dōTERRA Breathe®,
DigestZen®, dōTERRA On Guard.

Also Includes: 
Peppermint Beadlets
and
dōTERRA On Guard® Beadlets

15 mL bottles:
Frankincense, Lavender, Lemon,
Melaleuca, Oregano, Peppermint,
dōTERRA Breathe®, DigestZen®,
dōTERRA On Guard®

5 mL bottle:
Deep Blue®

Plus: 
Petal Diffuser

10 mL bottle: PastTense®

15 mL bottles: Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint, dōTERRA On Guard®, Frankincense, Melaleuca, Wild Orange, dōTERRA Balance®, DigestZen®, AromaTouch®, dōTERRA Serenity®, dōTERRA Breathe®

doTERRA On Guard® Collection: dōTERRA On Guard Beadlets, doTERRA On Guard Toothpaste, dōTERRA On Guard Hand Wash with 2 Dispensers, dōTERRA On Guard Sanitizer Spray

Other Products: dōTERRA Lifelong Vitality Pack®, DigestZen TerraZyme®, Deep Blue® Rub, Fractionated Coconut Oil (4 oz), dōTERRA Lumo Diffuser, Wooden Box, dōTERRA Breathe® Vapor Stick, Correct-X®, PB Assist®+, dōTERRA Salon Essentials® Protecting Shampoo, dōTERRA Salon Essentials® Smoothing Conditioner