The 11 Best Places to Buy Essential Oils of 2022

The use of essential oils is a much talked about trend these days, but aromatherapy techniques have been used for almost 6000 years in countries like India, China, and Egypt. Essential oils are derived from flowers, roots, leaves, stems, and sometimes fruit. Aromatherapy has been studied in more recent years to determine its effects on the human brain and emotions, as well as its role in mood, alertness, and stress management.

Reviewed & Approved

Plant Therapy sources its ingredients globally from individual growers, boasts all cruelty-free testing, and emphasizes education for safe, effective use. We also like GNC's new line of NOW brand oils thanks to their supreme purity.

Research shows that various smells have a profound effect on mood swings and changes. It is believed that mood is a direct result of what the senses take in, and therefore the more pleasant the sensory experience, the more pleasant the mood. This is the theory behind pairing the use of aromatherapy and essential oils with other therapeutic techniques to help decrease symptoms of depression, anxiety, trauma, insomnia, racing thoughts, and even improve meditation practices.

Essential oils can be used in several ways, including applied directly to the skin, in a bath, and in a diffuser. A good company will include educational information about how to use the oils, as well as be transparent about how their oils are processed. Look for pure oils extracted from organically grown plants and free from additives, which will be reflected in the price.

Here are the best places to buy essential oils for safe aromatherapy.

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Plant Therapy

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Plant Therapy maintains a close relationship with its farmers and growers. Based in Twin Falls Idaho, the plants are sourced from individual growers around the world to ensure they grow in their most ideal climate. Plant Therapy also employs certified aromatherapists to ensure that the precisely formulated blend of oils deliver the most effective results possible.

They offer many organic oils and all testing is cruelty-free. Plant Therapy focuses on education and even offers dilution charts to ensure effective and safe use.

GMC

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Their line of NOW brand essential oils are 100-percent pure oil and not diluted with any other ingredients. The oils are steam-distilled, which is a process used to separate temperature-sensitive organic compounds such as aromatic substances.

Some oils are organic, like their top-selling lavender scent which offers calming effects and is known to improve sleep.

The Vitamin Shoppe

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With the focus on health and wellness products, The Vitamin Shoppe recently rolled out its Vthrive brand of essential oils. The line includes 14 types of oil including lavender, orange, and tee tree. All oils are made with 100 percent pure, USDA-certified organic oils with no added ingredients.

The line offers a good variety of scents, like cinnamon which is known to promote alertness and help you feel awake and energized. The oil labels offer clear guidance on oil extraction methods (steam and cold-pressed) to ensure oil quality and transparency.

Enfleurage

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Enfluerage specializes in all things aromatic. It is the first and only store in New York that brings aromatics from the natural world. They work directly with distilleries from six continents and do not allow any additives in their oils.

The oils are blended carefully to help heal specific issues, from insomnia to stress to weak immunity and even digestive issues. Enfluerage even offers online classes to educate and make sure customers are getting the best results possible from their oils.

Rocky Mountain Oils

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Established in 2004, this company focuses on education, quality, and customer satisfaction practices. Many of their oils can be used in diffusers, topically, (see specific instructions for each type of oil), and even added to cleaning products.

Located in Orem, Utah, this company focuses on several layers of rigorous third-party testing to ensure efficiency and quality. All oils are tested by their on-site chemists before bottling to further ensure quality and purity.

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Known for carrying unique and high-quality clothes from independent, small name designers, Anthropologie has begun to carry more stay-at-home friendly items as well, including beginner essential oil kits.

Beginner kits can be great gifts or an inexpensive way to explore various scents and uses for yourself. Anthropologie currently carries CAMPO and Vitruvi essential oil brands. Both lines use only 100 percent pure and organic oils with no additives.

Edens Garden

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This company is family-owned and operated, and maintains some of the most transparent operations to keep customers informed and educated. They offer virtual training sessions to help customers make the best oil selections for their needs.

These oils are third-party tested for quality, they are sustainably sourced, cruelty-free in testing procedures, and contain zero fillers, chemicals, additives, or fragrances.

Now Foods

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These oils are getting a lot of buzz due to their high-quality ingredients, but surprisingly affordable pricing. While a few of their oils are synthetic, the company offers many organic oil options as well with transparent labeling and oil processing information.

The company offers detailed descriptions of their processing procedures and clearly labels all combinations of ingredients used in each scent. This is a great option when considering affordability in conjunction with good quality.

Native Remedies

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Either cold-pressed or steam-distilled, these oils are free of additives and chemicals, though they are not marketed as organic. They do offer an ingredient database to allow customers to research each ingredient used, helping the customer feel very informed and able to make good purchasing decisions.

This line is marketed as medicinal rather than as a fragrance.

Aromatics International

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This company impressively puts itself through some rigorous testing procedures to ensure that all oils are of therapeutic-grade and quality. Family-owned and operated, all oils are made from plants that are pesticide-free, organically-grown, or wildcrafted.

Each bottle is topped with nitrogen gas to prevent the oxidation process which can affect the quality of the oil during its shelf life. This company was founded on education and community and seeks to continue growth with these two goals as top priorities.

Neom

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These oils are marketed specifically as fragrances rather than as medicinal options. This brand focuses on mood improvement through scent. Based in the UK, they can easily ship to the United States.

This brand is unique because it focuses on all products being 100-percent clean, not just organic or all-natural. The website does a great job of informing the customer of all ingredients used and sustainable operating procedures employed. This brand is not only known for its quality, but for its stylish aesthetic as well.

Final Verdict

Aromatics International is a great option for beginners and experienced oil users alike. There is an abundance of options from carrier oils to diffuser oils, easy to access and in-depth education with all of their products, and layers of third-party testing. They offer a variety of scents and products ranging from essential oils, carrier oils, hydrosols, and diffusers.

What to Look for When Buying Essential Oils

Transparent Information

Good oil brands are very transparent about where the plants are grown, how they are sourced, how the oils are extracted, and the bottling process to ensure quality. High-quality brands employ certified aromatherapists and/or chemists to create oil combinations that will deliver the desired healing effects.

Purity

A quality oil is made from plants raised organically and contains zero additives. A good brand will provide information about their standard of quality, ingredients, and processing procedures. A high-quality brand will use multiple types of third-party testing to ensure quality. Oils and plants should be organic and 100-percent pure with no additives or chemicals.

Price Reflects Quality

Organic plants shipped from around the world and then carefully processed to increase quality is not a cheap process. The price will reflect this. If you find oils that seem remarkably cheap, chances are you’ve found a bottle of oily chemicals. In the world of essential oils, you most certainly get what you pay for.

Education

It is very important that you research each type of oil used and follow instructions carefully to avoid skin burns or irritations if used topically. Some oils are considered “hot oils” and must be diluted before topical use. A good company will offer in-depth education and instruction on each type of oil to ensure confident, effective, and safe use. A good oil company will provide education and instructions for the most effective and safe use for each and every type of oil it sells.

Medicinal or Fragrance?

Some oils are produced and marketed as medicinal and advertise healing properties for everything from migraines to digestive issues. Other oils are marketed as fragrances to be used on the skin or in a diffuser as a mood enhancer. This is an important distinction as oils used for fragrance only are not meant to be ingested.

Why Trust Verywell Mind?

As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Mary K. Tatum, MS, LMHC, has worked with people struggling with depression, anxiety, and trauma for 17 years. Since going into private practice, she has always had either peppermint or lavender essential oils in her office. Mary chooses to use a diffuser in both the waiting room and the therapy office.

The oil in the waiting room helps calm people before they begin to talk about difficult topics. She uses the scent of the oils in her therapy office to help with a technique called “grounding,” where the five senses help bring patients' focus away from trauma and into the “here and now.”

Personally, she uses peppermint scented essential oils in a diffuser in her own home to help with focus when working and to maintain a serene mood. Serenity has been her daily mantra over the last year.

Plant Therapy

GNC

The Vitamin Shoppe

Enfluerage

Rocky Mountain Oils

Anthropologie

Eden’s Garden

Now Foods

Native Remedies

Aromatics International

NEOM Organics