Exploring the Pros and Cons of doTERRA

If you’re a newbie to essential oils and are wondering which brands are worth your time, you’re in the right place. In this blog post, I’ll share my experience reviewing doTERRA’s website as if I were a new customer. Spoiler alert: It’s a mixed bag, so let’s dive in. Here is: Exploring the Pros and Cons of doTERRA.

Who is doTERRA?

doTERRA is a well-known player in the essential oil market, and they operate as a multi-level marketing (MLM) company. Right off the bat, this can be a controversial business model for many, but beyond that, I was curious to see if their products hold up in terms of quality, sourcing, and transparency.

First Impressions of the Website

As I navigated doTERRA’s website, I was greeted by various tabs: “Shop,” “Our Story,” and “Discover.” It’s clear they’re proud of their products, especially their focus on internal use of oils, which, to be honest, raised a red flag for me. Internal use of essential oils is a debated topic in the aromatherapy community, and while doTERRA is all for it, I advise against casual internal consumption without professional guidance.

What I Look for in Essential Oil Brands

When evaluating any essential oil brand, I like to focus on a few key factors:

Transparency in sourcing – Where do they get their oils, and how are they harvested?
Educational resources – Are they providing information to help customers use oils safely?
Third-party testing – Do they provide test results (like GC/MS reports) to verify the purity of their products?

Now, let’s see how doTERRA stacks up.

Sourcing: Above and Beyond

One thing I appreciated about doTERRA is their sourcing information. When I clicked on the “Explore Sourcing” tab, I was taken to an entirely separate page filled with detailed information about where each essential oil is sourced. For instance, I looked up Blue Lotus, and they provided data about when it was harvested, its growing period, and even what percentage of the flowers are used by doTERRA. That’s more than what many companies offer, and I have to give them credit for that.

However, it’s worth noting that sourcing transparency doesn’t automatically guarantee that the product is superior. Still, I was impressed with the level of detail they provided.

Internal Use: A Controversial Approach

One major sticking point for me is doTERRA’s strong emphasis on the internal use of essential oils. For example, on their Bergamot page, they suggest adding a few drops to water for internal benefits, such as supporting a healthy nervous system. This is concerning because essential oils are highly concentrated substances, and ingesting them without professional advice can lead to adverse effects. Proper dilution and guidance from a certified aromatherapist are crucial if you ever consider internal use.

I did notice that they mentioned dilution when using oils internally, which is a positive, but the casual nature of these suggestions can be misleading. Internal use should be done with care and purpose, not as a daily routine.

Pricing: A Premium Cost

Next, let’s talk about pricing. One of the first things I check when reviewing essential oils is whether the prices are consistent with the sourcing and quality. Unfortunately, doTERRA’s prices are significantly higher than other top-tier brands. While they claim to offer the best sourcing and quality, I’ve found other reputable brands that offer high-quality oils at half the price. In my opinion, much of the price inflation comes from the MLM structure rather than the actual quality of the oils.

Safety Information: Could Be Better

When it comes to safety, I was left wanting more. While doTERRA does provide general safety guidelines for each oil (e.g., dilution recommendations, keeping out of reach of children, avoiding sunlight after application), I feel like the information was somewhat vague. As a customer, I want detailed instructions on how to use each oil safely.

For example, on the Bergamot page, there was a general warning to avoid sunlight after application, which is great for photosensitive oils. But I also didn’t see any warnings about the potential risks of ingesting oils, which would have been helpful.

Third-Party Testing: Hard to Find

Finally, let’s talk about third-party testing. One of the most important things I look for is whether a brand provides GC/MS (Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry) reports, which verify the purity and composition of their oils. doTERRA does offer these reports, but they aren’t easy to find. You need a Quality ID from a purchased product to access the reports, which is a bit inconvenient.

Personally, I prefer companies that make their GC/MS reports readily available on their product pages. It shouldn’t be a scavenger hunt to verify the quality of an essential oil.

Final Thoughts: Would I Buy from doTERRA?

That’s it for Exploring the Pros and Cons of doTERRA, doTERRA offers a lot of great features like detailed sourcing information and a polished website. However, the issues with internal use recommendations, high prices, and the difficulty in finding test reports make me hesitant to recommend them. While they do go above and beyond in some areas, I believe there are other brands out there offering similar quality at a much more affordable price without the MLM structure.

If you’re someone who values transparency and high-quality essential oils but wants to avoid the MLM model, there are plenty of alternatives that can provide top-tier oils without the inflated prices. Ultimately, it’s essential to do your research and choose a brand that aligns with your values and needs.

You might also like this review on Plant Therapy

Essential Oil Brands We Approve Of

EDEN’S GARDEN: the best-smelling blends/synergies
MOUNTAIN ROSE HERBS: a rustic organic brand with lots of other good products like teas etc
PLANT THERAPY: great prices and blends/kits for families
REVIVE: amazing prices, dupes for the popular brands
ROCKY MOUNTAIN OILS: DIY/usage videos on their socials
SIMPLY EARTH: the one for DIY lovers & sub box lovers

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Disclaimer:

Essential oils can be potent and may interact with certain medications or cause allergic reactions. It’s essential to consult with an Aromatherapist before using essential oils, especially if you have any pre-existing health conditions or are pregnant or breastfeeding. I am now a Certified Aromatherapist! I you’d like to schedule a consultation with me email me at hello@toreynoora.com

Exploring the Pros and Cons of doTERRA