The 14 Best & Safest Essential Oils Brands Reviews & Guide 2024

Today, let’s talk about the best and safest essential oil brands.

When it comes to essential oils, it’s crucial to consider certain features.

It’s smart to check the details of the product and the company that sells it.

Here are some guidelines for choosing safe and pure essential oils.

Which brand has the best essential oil?

As you shop for essential oil, think about these questions:

• Is it labeled as a pure essential oil, or is it a perfume or fragrance oil?
• Does the label provide both the common name and the botanical name of the plant?
• What part of the plant is used, and how is the oil extracted from it?
• Are the oils tested for purity and quality? If so, can the customer access this information?
• Does the company offer customer support and a satisfaction guarantee?
• Is it a brand that requires membership to purchase?

That may seem a lot to remember, but the world of essential oils can be tricky to navigate.

Since the oils tend to be marketed as cosmetics, they aren’t strictly regulated like drugs are by the FDA. (1) Therefore, choosing the safest essential oils can be challenging.

That’s why we reviewed the best brands of essential oil here today.

The top brands clearly identify their products. They assess them for quality and make that information available to the public. They also provide customer support.

Tips for essential oil safety

Even if you purchase the best essential oil, it’s still critical to enjoy it safely.

The Tisserand Institute is a leading voice in the world of aromatherapy. They have some crucial reminders for choosing safe essential oils and using them wisely.

For example, did you know that these plant oils are up to 100 times more concentrated in the bottle than they are in the plant itself? (2) It’s necessary to dilute them before using them on the skin. (We’ll discuss proper dilution in a moment.)

When people have adverse reactions to essential oils, it’s usually related to improper use without dilution. On the skin, it can lead to redness, itching, and swelling soon after application.

Worse, a person can develop a long-term allergy to an essential oil. Then, they cannot use that oil ever again.

Please dilute the oils with a carrier. Examples of carrier oils include coconut, grapeseed, or sweet almond for massages or topical treatments. Next, there’s Castile soap, polysorbate 80, and Natrasorb for the bath.

How to dilute essential oils for the bath

Here’s an illustration of proper essential oil use. Imagine that you want to take a bath with lavender oil to relax.

If you fill the tub with water and add a few drops, they float on the surface. Your skin will come into direct contact with the undiluted oil. Although lavender is not as risky as cinnamon, clove, or lemongrass, it can still trigger allergies.

It’s smart to disperse essential oil by mixing it with a carrier first. Then add the mixture to the water and stir.

You might put 5 drops of lavender in a tablespoon of Castile soap or shower gel. Or you could combine it with the same number of drops of Solubol or polysorbate 20 or 80 (3).

With this method, you’ve protected yourself from adverse reactions, and you get to enjoy a relaxing bath.

How to dilute essential oils for a massage and other treatments

For a massage or topical treatment, the way you dilute the essential oil depends on 3 factors.

What matters is the age of the person receiving the treatment, whether the treatment will happen once or continue regularly, and how severe the need is.

I’ll explain. Picture a teenager with acne. They want to use tea tree oil each day to clear up the problem. Therefore, they can use the adult dosage of 1 drop of essential oil per 1 teaspoon of carrier like rosehip oil. That’s a 1% concentration.

Otherwise, perhaps there is a six-year-old with night terrors. His parent could put one drop of lavender into two teaspoons of sweet almond oil and massage his feet. That’s a 0.5% concentration.

After that, maybe mom is going nuts trying not to scratch a mosquito bite. She could put 5 drops of peppermint oil in a teaspoon of coconut oil and stop the itching almost immediately. That’s a 5% concentration.

If it’s a one-off situation, it’s usually okay to use a higher concentration. But for regular use, or for treating children, it’s vital to stick to a low concentration.

What about ingesting essential oils?

Few brands suggest ingesting essential oils. They always say it’s important to follow the advice of a licensed practitioner.

There are, however, a few types of food-grade essential oil. But I’m going to leave this topic alone as I’m not a medical professional.

The different types of plant oil

While we’re on the topic of consuming essential oil, let’s get a few details straight.

Food grade oil is diluted with an edible carrier oil. You might find basil or oregano oil created for cooking, for example.

Then, there’s “therapeutic grade” essential oil for skin application and aromatherapy. This category doesn’t actually exist by official FDA standards. It’s an invention for marketing purposes. But generally speaking, it describes the typical essential oil that’s uncut with other ingredients. It’s made from plants that are grown naturally, sometimes organically.

Next, there’s cosmetic grade oil that tends to be a blend of steam-distilled and lab-formulated components. It may be what’s in your shampoo.

Lastly, there’s commercial-grade oil for candles, incense, and cleaning products.

Tips for safe aromatherapy

Did you know that you need to be extra careful using a diffuser around pets and babies? They are more sensitive to the oils. If you choose to diffuse essential oils around them, please provide plenty of ventilation and don’t prolong the activity for more than 15 minutes.

In fact, it’s a good idea to never directly inhale essential oils for more than 15 minutes. One example is using a vaporizer or steam inhalation.

On the other hand, if you are fragrancing your home, you might leave the diffuser on for half an hour.

Finally, since essential oils are flammable, please keep them away from candles or other open flames.

Best & Safest Essential Oils Brands

Now, let’s review the best and safest brands of essential oil. I’ve listed them in alphabetical order below.

Aura Cacia

With four decades of experience, Iowa-based Aura Cacia offers some of the best essential oils money can buy. For almost three decades, they’ve been a part of the Frontier Co-Op.

Therefore, they sell directly to the public, and they also use their profits to support others. They run the Positive Change Project with grants for girls and women.

Moreover, they offer a full satisfaction guarantee.

Aura Cacia Relaxation Kit

Here’s a sampler that showcases some of Aura Cacia’s top-selling products. It includes bottles of lavender, patchouli, sweet orange, and the Chill Pill blend.

Chill Pill includes the other oils plus sweet basil and Roman chamomile. It’s appropriate for diffusing or diluting and applying to the skin.

The kit comes with a Learning Guide with recipes and tips for using the oils to relax.

All of the essential oils from this brand are tested by gas chromatography, optical rotation refractive index, sensory evaluation, and specific gravity. They are not tested on animals and do not contain artificial fragrances.

Cliganic

When San Francisco-based Cliganic says they sell USDA-certified organic oil, they have proof. Their company was granted the most recent certification in November 2018. In case you have trouble finding them on the USDA website, they are listed as A to Z Beauty, doing business as Cliganic.

They began with the idea of avoiding artificial ingredients in natural products. They refuse to include GMOs and animal derivatives.

Also, each batch of essential oils is purity-tested by a third-party laboratory.

Cliganic USDA Organic Aromatherapy Essential Oils Set

Here are the top 6 oils that Cliganic sells. The set includes orange, lemongrass, tea tree, eucalyptus, lavender, and peppermint.

All of the essential oils are certified organic. They are not diluted and contain no fillers or alcohol.

They are bottled in the USA and comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee and a 90-day warranty.

doTERRA

This essential oil brand was founded in 2008 in Utah by former employees of Young Living, another business in the same state.

It’s a multi-level marketing company, which means they don’t sell direct to the public. Instead, an interested party signs up as a distributor and pays a fee to resell the products. It’s almost worth it to sign up as a member simply to get the discount. These oils are expensive.

It’s possible to find products from these third-party sellers online. However, it’s not a practice encouraged by doTERRA.

On the plus side, the company has established their own protocol for ensuring quality and purity. They call it Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade (CPTG).

doTERRA – Introductory Kit

The small 5 mL bottles in this kit include peppermint, lemon, and lavender. It’s a sampler with instructions and suggested uses.

If you’re curious about the brand and want to compare their products to equivalents from another brand, it’s probably the least expensive way to do it.

Edens Garden

Edens Garden was founded in 2009 in a garage. This woman-owned business is one of the top essential oil companies that doesn’t do multi-level marketing.

The idea is to sell straight to the customer without any strings attached.

The company offers over 250 oils that are free from fillers and toxic chemicals. Each batch is tested for purity by way of mass spectrometry and gas chromatography. Anyone may review the test results.

The plants from which the oils come are sustainably-sourced from around the world by a team of experts.

Moreover, the customer support is excellent. They have certified aromatherapists available to answer questions.

Edens Garden Top Essential Oil 6 Set

Here’s a set with all the basics that anyone interested in essential oils should try. It comes with peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus, tea tree, sweet orange, and lemon.

They are recommended for diffusion and topical application with dilution. You might try adding a drop to your lotion or shampoo.

Fabulous Frannie

Fabulous Frannie is located in Southern California. They don’t manufacture essential oils, but rather source them from trusted distributors.

Each oil is tested by way of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry before the company purchases them. The distributors provide Fabulous Frannie with a Certificate of Analysis for each batch. Then, customers can access those certificates.

None of the oils are diluted or cut with other ingredients. They are steam-distilled or cold-pressed straight from the plant parts.

Although it’s not ideal, they admit that sometimes pesticides are necessary to preserve the crops used to make the oils.

Fabulous Frannie – Aromatherapy Top 14 Essential Oil Set

Fabulous Frannie pulls out all the stops with more than a dozen of their favorite essential oils in this set.

It contains tea tree, tangerine, sweet orange, spearmint, rosemary, pine, peppermint, patchouli, lime, lemongrass, lemon, lavender, grapefruit, and eucalyptus. Each one is packaged in an amber glass bottle with a dropper cap.

By dropper cap, I don’t mean a glass eyedropper. I mean those little plastic inserts that keep the oil from pouring out too fast.

Each of the oils is appropriate for massage, aromatherapy, diffusion, personal care, and homemade cleaning products.

GuruNanda

GuruNanda is also located in California. The founder is Puneet Nanda, a real-life yoga guru. He’s trained in Ayurvedic medicine.

Meanwhile, it’s Muskaan Nanda, who creates the essential oil blends for the company. She is an aromatherapist who majored in neuroscience.

Each of the company’s essential oils is certified pure after testing with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.

Guru Nanda (Set of 6) Therapeutic Grade Essential Oil Blends

Get benefits from more than one oil at a time by blending them. Sweet orange and lavender are an excellent combination to induce sleepiness.

Or you can enjoy premade blends like these, created by experts. The set comes with 10 mL bottles of Tranquility, Immunity, Breathe Easy, Relaxation, Calming Sleep, and Harmony. They are packaged in a magnetic storage box.

Use them for aromatherapy, massages, and skin care.

Healing Solutions

Healing Solutions has headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona.

Their distillation facility is GMP-certified and FDA-registered. It also carries Kosher and ISO 9001 certifications.

Plus, they have an in-house GCMS (gas chromatography, mass spectrometry) testing facility.

There are analysis reports for many of their 170 essential oils on their website, and they are currently adding more. Their goal is to provide the information for each batch according to the lot number.

They sell straight to consumers without any multi-marketing mumbo-jumbo. As a result, their prices are lower than some of the other brands. They also have a satisfaction guarantee.

Healing Solutions Aromatherapy Top 6 Sampler Essential Oil Gift Set

Here’s a set with peppermint (pharmaceutical grade), rosemary, sweet orange, lavender, frankincense (Boswellia Serrata), and eucalyptus. The bottles are packed in a gift box.

NOW

NOW has facilities in the USA and Canada. You can take a virtual video tour on their website if you’re curious about their operation. It covers how they progress from receiving the raw materials to product development, testing, and shipping.

They are a family-operated business that’s been around since 1968. Besides essential oils, they also make nutritional supplements and foods.

Everything is tested for purity and quality, both in-house and by third-party laboratories.

They follow GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and have partnered with Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for quality control. Many of their products are non-GMO Project-certified.

3-Pack Variety of NOW Essential Oils

Here’s an economical set of three essential oils: lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus.

A similar set with citrus oils like lemon and orange is also available.

Also, check out NOW’s large bottles of single oils like peppermint or lavender.

A Complete Set of Blend Oils From Now Foods (6)

NOW offers pre-made blends like Romance, Mental Focus, Clear the Air, Sleep, Peace, and Cheer up Buttercup.

Plant Therapy

Plant Therapy is based in Twin Falls, Idaho. Many of their essential oils are certified organic through ECOCERT ICO.

They point out that the term “Therapeutic Grade” is just for marketing. If you want to know if an essential oil is pure and high-quality, you have to look at other standards.

They don’t just run gas chromatography and mass spectrometer tests. Their oils also have to pass an organoleptic test to make sure they look and smell and feel as they should. They’ve contracted with essential oil expert Robert Tisserand for that latter function.

As for testing in general, Plant Therapy does aroma. But they also contract with various third-party laboratories. You can check the analysis reports for each batch.

Furthermore, they have certified aromatherapists on staff to answer customer questions.

Finally, the company offers a 90-day money-back guarantee. They provide a full refund with free return shipping if you aren’t pleased with their oils.

Plant Therapy Top 6 Organic Essential Oil Set

Cover all the basics when you get this set with lemon, peppermint, sweet orange, lavender, tea tree, and eucalyptus globulus. All of the oils are USDA organic.

What might you use the oils to do?

Diffuse lemon and peppermint in the morning to wake up. Try lavender and sweet orange at bedtime to unwind. Tea tree is antimicrobial to treat fungus and acne. And eucalyptus helps clear airways for easy breathing.

If you have children, take a look at Plant Therapy’s KidSafe oils.

PURA D’OR

PURA D’OR is a 10-year-old family company in California. They pay close attention to details.

For example, when they use water in a product (like shampoo), they filter it with 7-stage reverse osmosis, then distill it.

Their facility is solar-powered to go easy on the environment. And when they source raw ingredients from around the world, they follow sustainable, fair-trade guidelines.

All of their USDA-certified organic oils are hand-crafted by the company in small batches. Next, they are tested for purity by third-party laboratories. They undergo a 9-point assessment by the end of the process. The scientists check pH, viscosity, and do a blotter test. There’s also an organoleptic evaluation.

In the end, if you’re not satisfied with the oils, they offer a full refund.

PURA D’OR 16pc Essential Oils Wood Box Set

If you are thinking of purchasing essential oils as a gift for someone, this is a beautiful set. It includes 10 mL bottles of standard oils plus exotic extras.

It has rosemary, lavender, lemon, eucalyptus, patchouli, peppermint, basil, tea tree, bergamot, ylang-ylang, turmeric, cedarwood, tangerine, and lemongrass.

Feel free to use them for aromatherapy, soap making, skincare, and more.

Rocky Mountain Oils

Rocky Mountain Oils is located in Orem, Utah. (I find it interesting that there are so many essential oil companies located in the Western United States, especially in Utah.)

They were founded in 2004, before doTERRA, but they are not a multi-level marketing company. Instead, they sell directly to the public. That’s how they keep prices down.

Since there is no regulation in the essential oil industry, they’ve developed the S.A.A.F.E. Promise system to ensure quality and purity.

Their supply chain starts when they source ingredients through vetted suppliers and sample them before purchase. The raw components are tested for contaminants and diluents.

The laboratory performs mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, refractive index, and organoleptic testing on the essential oils.

In addition, they perform spot checks throughout the process to maintain quality control.

After purchase, you have 90 days to request a refund under their hundred percent satisfaction guarantee.

Rocky Mountain Oils Immune Strength Essential Oil Blend

The Immune Strength blend consists of clove bud, cinnamon bark, orange, lemon, oregano, thyme, mandarin, rosemary, nutmeg, eucalyptus, and ginger root. As you might imagine, it’s spicy with citrus and herbal undertones.

It’s undiluted and not ideal for skin application. Instead, diffuse it and add it to your homemade cleaning products. Your house has never smelled so good.

Woolzies

Woolzies sells essential oils manufactured in India. But they weren’t an essential oil company in the beginning. They started by selling natural dryer balls made from New Zealand sheep wool.

But since they’ve become a popular seller, I added them to the reviews today.

They state that their oils are food-grade and 100% pure. Unfortunately, I was unable to get more information than that.

Woolzies 100% Pure & Natural Tranquil Essential Oil Set

This collection of oil blends includes Meditate, Balance, and Breathe.

Meditate has an earthy aroma that combines vetiver, patchouli, clary sage, sandalwood, clove, geranium, and lavender.

Balance has a floral scent from geranium, orange, no Rowley, chamomile, Spruce, myrrh, and Rosewood.

Breathe improves focus with peppermint, frankincense, eucalyptus, tea tree, laurel leaf, lemon, thyme, cardamom, myrtle, and cypress.

Woolzies suggests diffusing, inhaling, and applying these oils to the skin (once they are properly diluted).

Young Living

Young Living was established in 1993. They are a multi-level marketing company based in Utah.

What sets them apart from the typical essential oil company is that they own the farms where many of the herbs for their oils are grown. They cultivate peppermint, lavender, basil, melissa, and more.

But they also harvest crops from global farms.

They own their own essential oil distillery to manufacture the oils. To ensure quality and purity, they developed the Seed to Seal process, which involves purity testing.

Everyday Essential Oil Collection by Young Living

This set contains 5 single oils and 5 blends. They are packaged in 5 mL bottles.

The singles include lavender, melaleuca (tea tree), peppermint, lemon, and frankincense.

Then, the blends are Joy, Purification, Stress Away, PanAway, and Thieves Vitality. Thieves is one of the most frequently imitated oils on the market.

The packaging describes the ingredients of each blend. Happily, many are organic.

Conclusion

Essential oils can enhance your life in ways that will astound you.

They’re handy when you want to perk up your mood, relieve stress, improve your skin’s health, or do a deep-clean around the house.

Purchase them from reliable brands that provide proof of their purity and quality.

Then, enjoy the essential oils safely to reap all the benefits.

If these reviews are useful to you, help others find what they need by leaving a comment below.

Sources:

1. https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-products/aromatherapy published August 24, 2020, accessed September 30, 2020

2. https://tisserandinstitute.org/safety/safety-guidelines/ accessed September 30, 2020

3. https://tisserandinstitute.org/safety/bath-safety/ accessed September 30, 2020