What to Know Before You Buy

Making an Informed decision

When it comes to choosing essential oils and supplements, not all products are created equal. Understanding the key factors that determine quality, safety, and effectiveness is essential to making an informed decision. This guide will help you recognize what to look for and why doTERRA stands out in the industry.

How to choose essential oils: A Buyer's Guide

Selecting the right essential oils requires more than just picking a pleasant scent. Here are some important considerations:

• Purity: Look for oils that are 100% pure and free from fillers, synthetic additives, or contaminants. Adulterated oils can reduce effectiveness and may even cause adverse reactions.

• Potency: A pure oil is free from fillers and synthetic additives, but that doesn’t mean it’s potent or high quality. True quality comes from sourcing the right plant species, growing them in optimal conditions, and ensuring a high concentration of beneficial compounds.

• Look Beyond the Label: Simply reading a label isn’t enough. Mislabeled or adulterated oils are among the most common forms of fraud in the essential oil industry. Many brands claim to sell "100% pure" oils, yet independent testing has revealed that some contain synthetic additives.

• Sourcing Matters: The best essential oils come from plants that are grown in their optimal environments. Ethical and sustainable sourcing ensures higher quality, better potency, and better therapeutic benefits.

• Testing and Transparency: Quality can be measured. Third-party testing verifies both the presence of beneficial compounds (potency) and the absence of contaminants (purity). A high-quality oil should contain the optimal ratio of active compounds for maximum effectiveness.

• Extraction Methods: Proper distillation and cold pressing techniques preserve potency. Poorly extracted oils can lose their beneficial properties, even if they’re technically "pure."

• Reputation and Reviews: Choose brands with a strong reputation for quality and integrity. Look for customer reviews and scientific validation of their products.

• Source Traceability: A key part of quality assurance is being able to trace the oil back to its source If a company can’t trace an oil back to its source, there’s a risk of inconsistency, contamination or adulteration. Many brands rely on brokers, making it difficult to guarantee quality. doTERRA, however, has exclusive contracts with farmers not brokers, ensuring both purity and potency.

• Fair Wages & Ethical Practices: Many essential oils come from remote countries where labor can be exploited. doTERRA goes beyond corporate responsibility, ensuring fair wages for farmers and investing in their communities, which leads to higher product quality.

doterra Vs Store-Bought Oils

Many essential oils sold in retail stores are diluted, synthetic, or mislabeled. Here’s how doTERRA stands apart:

• Certified Pure Tested Grade (CPTG): doTERRA’s rigorous testing ensures their oils are free from contaminants and consistently pure. Purity alone isn’t enough—doTERRA’s rigorous testing ensures oils have the correct chemical profile for optimal effectiveness.

• Global Sourcing for Maximum Potency: Plants are harvested where they grow best, ensuring higher-quality essential oils with maximum therapeutic benefits. doTERRA partners with farmers worldwide to harvest plants in their natural habitats, producing the most effective essential oils.

• No Fillers or Synthetics: Many store-bought oils contain additives or diluted blends, reducing their effectiveness. doTERRA ensures its oils remain 100% pure.

• Transparency and Testing: Every batch of doTERRA essential oils undergoes testing, and results are available for public review through the Source to You website. Each bottle has a GCMS report, ensuring accountability.

• Sustainability and Ethics: doTERRA prioritizes fair trade, responsible sourcing, and giving back to communities through its Co-Impact Sourcing initiatives. When growers are taken care of, the product quality is better, creating long-term sustainability.

• Scientific Research: Most essential oil brands simply sell oils—they don’t invest in research. doTERRA has a full-time scientific team, conducting studies to advance essential oil science and ensure optimal potency in every bottle.

What to ask before buying essential oils

Before purchasing essential oils, ask these key questions to ensure you’re getting a high-quality product:

Is this oil 100% pure, or has it been diluted with fillers or synthetics?
Is this oil both pure and potent? Purity alone isn’t enough—does it contain the correct levels of active compounds?
How was the oil sourced? Was it grown in its ideal environment for maximum potency?
Does the company provide third-party testing results? Can you verify purity and potency through GCMS reports?
What methods were used to extract the oil? Low-quality distillation can destroy beneficial compounds.
Does the company practice ethical and sustainable sourcing? Are farmers fairly compensated to ensure quality?
Are there educational resources to help me use essential oils safely and effectively?
Is there full source traceability? Can I verify where the oil comes from, or does the company rely on brokers?
Does the price reflect the true value of the oil? Essential oils vary in price depending on yield and labor intensity. If all oils are priced the same, it may indicate synthetic fragrances rather than true essential oils.
Is there a GCMS report for every batch? Outdated or missing test reports can be a red flag for inconsistent quality.

By asking these questions, you can confidently choose essential oils that align with your health and wellness goals. With doTERRA, you’re investing in purity, potency, and ethical sourcing, ensuring you get the best essential oils for your needs.