Smells good!
September 24, 2011 11:39 AM Subscribe
Where is the best place to get essential oils?
I'm looking into making my own health and beauty products as well as household cleaners with fewer chemicals. The recipes I'm finding all call for essential oils.
Budget is a consideration, but I understand that good essential oils are expensive. If I'm buying something to use for it's specific properties I don't want cheap stuff that's been diluted with lesser oils that won't give me what I need. For example I read I can use plain lavender oil mixed with water as an antibacterial spray. Obviously I want the lavender oil to be as pure as possible. Quality over quantity.
I don't live in a town with an abundance of retail opportunities, so I'm mostly looking for online suppliers. I do have a local health food store, so if there is a retail brand that is widely carried and excellent I'd like to hear it.
I'd also love any sources that might have some kind of list of what the properties of the oils are. I'm finding lots of aromatherapy stuff and I'm more interested in things like anti-inflammatory for skin care or anti-bacterial for cleaning solutions.
Any websites with recipes for health and beauty products or cleaning stuff would also be welcome!
I'm looking into making my own health and beauty products as well as household cleaners with fewer chemicals. The recipes I'm finding all call for essential oils.
Budget is a consideration, but I understand that good essential oils are expensive. If I'm buying something to use for it's specific properties I don't want cheap stuff that's been diluted with lesser oils that won't give me what I need. For example I read I can use plain lavender oil mixed with water as an antibacterial spray. Obviously I want the lavender oil to be as pure as possible. Quality over quantity.
I don't live in a town with an abundance of retail opportunities, so I'm mostly looking for online suppliers. I do have a local health food store, so if there is a retail brand that is widely carried and excellent I'd like to hear it.
I'd also love any sources that might have some kind of list of what the properties of the oils are. I'm finding lots of aromatherapy stuff and I'm more interested in things like anti-inflammatory for skin care or anti-bacterial for cleaning solutions.
Any websites with recipes for health and beauty products or cleaning stuff would also be welcome!
Response by poster: Thank you lizifer! Those are right about the prices I was expecting.
posted by TooFewShoes at 1:03 PM on September 24, 2011
posted by TooFewShoes at 1:03 PM on September 24, 2011
Frontier has excellent quality control and good prices, and you may be able to get a wholesale account.
posted by theperfectcrime at 1:09 PM on September 24, 2011
posted by theperfectcrime at 1:09 PM on September 24, 2011
Oh, I forgot to mention, Frontier owns Aura Cacia, another excellent brand.
posted by theperfectcrime at 1:12 PM on September 24, 2011
posted by theperfectcrime at 1:12 PM on September 24, 2011
Mountain Rose Herbs are excellent.
posted by MexicanYenta at 1:52 PM on September 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by MexicanYenta at 1:52 PM on September 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
I've dealt with Liberty Natural in the past. Top-notch products.
posted by troll at 2:15 PM on September 24, 2011
posted by troll at 2:15 PM on September 24, 2011
I recommend DoTerra or YoungLiving. Pricey, but probably the highest quality available.
posted by Lutoslawski at 3:10 PM on September 24, 2011
posted by Lutoslawski at 3:10 PM on September 24, 2011
There's this great-looking package of essential oils for sale at Amazon. I haven't gotten them myself but it's a good deal and seems to be well-reviewed.
posted by hungrytiger at 3:32 PM on September 24, 2011
posted by hungrytiger at 3:32 PM on September 24, 2011
Seconding Mountain Rose Herbs. They are almost all certified organic as well.
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 5:22 PM on September 24, 2011
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 5:22 PM on September 24, 2011
Info on the Mountain Rose quality levels.
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 5:28 PM on September 24, 2011
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 5:28 PM on September 24, 2011
I recently ordered some fragrant oils (different, I know) for soapmaking from New Directions Aromatics. While I can't say anything about their essential oils, they do offer a large selection, and I was very pleased with how my order was handled -- everything was very carefully packaged, and I even got a hand-written thank you card with a code for a discount on my next order.
Not a shill, I promise, I was just really really happy with their product and service
posted by trunk muffins at 7:24 PM on September 24, 2011
Not a shill, I promise, I was just really really happy with their product and service
posted by trunk muffins at 7:24 PM on September 24, 2011
Wholesale Supplies Plus. They certify that their essential oils are pure. The only issue I have with them is that they seem to run out of certain items when I want them NOW. But the quality is excellent.
Also, From Nature With Love has a pretty good selection.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 3:43 PM on September 25, 2011
Also, From Nature With Love has a pretty good selection.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 3:43 PM on September 25, 2011
Mountain Rose Herbs is awesome. I have ordered from them and their stuff is very good quality.
posted by oneirodynia at 3:46 PM on September 25, 2011
posted by oneirodynia at 3:46 PM on September 25, 2011
... and just so you can compare prices, half an ounce is about 15 milliliters- making that first linked site extremely expensive, especially for non-certified organic products (fwiw, I make a lot of my own perfumes and skincare so I shop regularly for essential oils).
posted by oneirodynia at 4:00 PM on September 25, 2011
posted by oneirodynia at 4:00 PM on September 25, 2011
I've also used New Directions Aromatics, and I was happy with them, but it did take a long time for my order to arrive because they're in Canada. Of New Directions, Wholesale Supplies Plus, and Mountain Rose, I would say that WSP has the best prices and fastest delivery, New Directions has the best selection, and Mountain Rose takes their essential oils the most seriously. They are all excellent suppliers though. I've never had an issue with any of them.
posted by MexicanYenta at 4:05 PM on September 25, 2011
posted by MexicanYenta at 4:05 PM on September 25, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by lizifer at 12:25 PM on September 24, 2011