Young Living Essential Oils Vs doTerra Oils: Which One Is Right for You?
DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this post. It is for information purposes only and should not be interpreted as medical advice. It is not a substitute for your doctor’s care plan or advice.
Are you interested in high-quality pure essential oils? Have you asked the question? Do essential oils work?
The answer is yes. This review is on Young Living Essential Oils Vs doTerra Oils.
Will compare the top two essential oil brands. In the pure essential oil industry.
So that you may make a sound decision about quality essential oils.
Let me first start by saying I am a skeptic at heart. And detailed when it comes to sorting through all the information out there. To find out what really works and what really doesn’t.
I am personally concerned as well as many others. About manipulations in the alternative medical field.
But I’m also concerned about manipulations in Western medicine. I know there are abuses on both sides.
Young Living and doTERRA.
If you’ve been looking into essential oils at all, chances are you have come across YL and DT.
You’ve had people tell you “Young Living is the best!” or “doTERRA is the purest”. Or something like that.
Young Living was founded in 1993. doTERRA was founded in 2008. They are two good-sized multi-level marketing companies.
Which take in “tens of millions of dollars in annual profits from the sale of rival products.” According to the Salt Lake Tribune.
What To Look for In an Essential Oils Company
The Essential Oils Company Should Sell Quality Oils
The oils need to be as high quality as possible without being astronomical in price. They should be:
- extracted properly under low temperature and low pressure
- produced from plants grown in their native locations where they grow naturally
- made from wild-crafted natively grown. And/or not removed entirely when harvested and/or organic plants if it’s possible.
Essential Oils Should Be Pure
The oils must not have anything added to them, nor have anything taken out that should be “left in”.
Deceptively it is normal for oils “experts” or oil companies. To add things to essential oils too make them “go farther” and thus be cheaper to produce.
These companies can either make more revenue by selling a “mediocre” product at a high price. Or they can offer a low-grade product at a great price.
Essential Oils Should Be Sold at an Affordable Price
The oils should be within the reach of most consumers’ budgets.
As with everything else, there are unpredictable grades of quality. The company that I have chosen is of the right high quality.
But even that company’s owner acknowledges that they are comparable. Even higher quality oils are available.
But the prices of these oils are so excessive that it has made them unaffordable to most people.
Essential Oils Should Be Effective
The oils must work. This is important. We want the oil to do something, and not just smell nice.
The Company Should Provide Education
Ideally, the oil company will offer opportunities to learn how to safely use oils. To provide healthy options for the treatment of medical and emotional issues.
The Dark Side of The Oils Industry
I don’t have documentation for all this but here is some of the “dark side” of the essential oils industry.
Potential Problems with the Oils Industry
Some of the companies distill at high pressure and elevated temperature. To get more oil out faster.
Despite it being known in the oil industry, low temperature and low pressure are the way to go.
Some oils are contaminated with chemicals, fragrances, or cheaper oil.
Some oil companies allow for oils to be labeled “pure” with only 3% of the pure oil in the bottle.
There are health food store brand oils that are labeled “pure”, but it’s tested with 75% propylene glycol.
If the price seems too good to be true, it is.
False Certificates
Some oil company owners have sold insignificant amounts of two varieties of oil to a smaller company.
“Complete distillations” or “redistillation” vs “first distillations”. While there is no official standard for how oils are distilled.
Oil is being reheated to make them smell more pleasant.
Chemical Solvents
Some companies are distilling with solvents.
Safety Violations
There are some companies without good reputations.
I did some detailed reading, and this is what I ended up finding and realizing about the two companies.
Young Living vs. doTerra
Time On the Market
doTERRA quickly grew in market share. Reaching a younger demographic with attractive marketing.
Young Living has been around for over 20 years and has had quite a bit of time on the market.
Striking Similarities
Many of their products and blends had the same similarities.
Leadership
The founders of doTERRA were once Young Living executives.
Variety
Young Living has more choices than doTERRA.
Cost
doTERRA was only a dollar or two less than Young Living however, it wasn’t a significant difference.
Marketing
Although doTERRA uses the term “CPTG” as their trademark. It has been proven that this isn’t a certification of any type.
And no other company could use the term “CPTG” to describe their products.
doTERRA has built its reputation on being a “quality” product. But it was discovered that doTERRA and Young Living.
Both use synthetic elements for some of their essential oils.
This isn’t a dreadful thing but it’s safe to say there is no such thing as total purity in the essential oil market.
Business Details
doTERRA
doTERRA was founded by David Stirling, Emily Wright, Gregory P. Cook. Dr. David K. Hill, D.C., Robert J. Young, Mark A. Wolfert, and Corey B. Lindley.
David Stirling was employed as Chief Operating Officer at Young Living. Emily Wright as the personal secretary to Mary Young at Young Living. Dr. Hill and Gregory Cook were also employed at Young Living.
Young Living
Young Living was incorporated by the husband-and-wife team Gary and Mary Young.
Product Quantity and Variety
DoTerra has less exclusive essential oils. Meaning some essential oils are not offered by the company.
Quality Assurance
doTERRA
doTerra contracts with local growers around the world. to grow the raw materials for some of their essential oils.
They also rely on local growers for their expertise in growing. Harvesting and distilling at the proper time.
They prefer to use, where possible, raw materials grown in their home-grown locations.
Third-party distillers distill some essential oils. Some oils are purchased through third parties.
They exclusively use the Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade branding (CPTG). As their seal of personal approval over the purity and potency of the essential oils they sell.
Young Living
Young Living owns their own farms to grow raw materials in. Young Living has exclusively collaborated with growing operations.
Not all oils are personally grown, or from co-op/partner farms. Some are sourced through vendors but are still held to the Seed to Seal standard.
Young Living distills oils on their own and partner’s farms. Their partner farms are subject. To the same quality/growing/distilling standards as owned farms.
They use the Seed to Seal branding to represent their seal of personal approval. Over the purity and potency of the essential oils, they sell.
Lab Quality Testing
Both doTERRA and Young Living order quality lab tests.
doTerra
doTerra’s lab testing is done by Dr. Robert Pappas and other analysts.
Young Living
Young Living does internal testing at their labs on their farms. Young living also orders third-party testing from third-party labs.
Charitable Efforts
Both doTerra and Young Living are involved with charitable activities.
doTerra
doTerra Helping Hands Foundation, their work spreads abroad both locally and internationally.
Young Living
The Young Living Foundation runs five projects worldwide.
My Personal Preference!
I have a preference over the two. I want you to be able to use this comparison to make the right decision for you and your family. No matter where that leads you.
Both companies are legit. Honestly, the qualities of dōTERRA or Young Living essential oils are both incredible.
I would trust Young Living oils on my children just as much as I trust dōTERRA.
They both grow “beyond organic” and do extensive testing on their oils.
I know neither of them has contaminated oils. Like you would find at the grocery store or sometimes health food stores.
Both companies are providing a product that helps people. Both Young Living and dōTERRA offer products that can seriously change peoples’ lives. 
If you’re a skeptic and can’t believe that essential oils can make a difference in your life, I challenge you to try them. You won’t regret it.
Both companies have teamed with hospitals and scientists. To further advance the research and knowledge base of essential oils. This is so important!
Both Young Living and dōTERRA. Are involved in encouraging more extensive research on the benefits of oils.
Both have started to get their hands into traditional hospital settings. Which I think is amazing!
So, those are some ways the companies are both reputable and why I trust them both.
However, I did obviously choose a company to work with, and that company is dōTERRA.
So why did I choose them over Young Living or any other company out there?
Why I Chose doTerra Essential Oils
dōTERRA grows indigenously. This may not seem important to you, but dōTERRA works very closely with their farmers and distillers.
In each plant’s local location. They ensure the plants are grown to specification. Harvested at peak and distilled properly.
Why Is This Important?
The same plant is grown in two locations. Will not yield the same levels of beneficial compounds in both locations.
Plants blossom better in their native regions and habitats. This does not mean they won’t grow in other places.
But you cannot expect the same quality of plants from these two distinct locations.
The soil organisms and nutrients, humidity, rainfall. Sunlight hours, altitude, etc. all have an influence on the plant.
And they play a factor in the oil that is extracted from that plant.
Young Living owns most of their own farms, which can also be a good thing.
However, they grow most of their lavender on their farms in Utah, whereas dōTERRA sources from France.
dōTERRA works closely with farmers. dōTERRA does co-impact sourcing.
Meaning they work with farmers who have often been stuck as the middleman in oil bidding wars.
doTERRA makes solid contracts with them. Most importantly, they pay the farmers YEAR-ROUND. This is something no other essential oil company does.
Unfortunately, most farmers grow plants for the essential oil industry. Are poor most of the year and must make cuts on the production to survive.
My gut and the fact that I’ve used and enjoyed doTerra products were my final decision-maker.
I went with my gut. Well after my good friend in holistic healing Audree Lee, introduced my family and me to doTerra.
It’s not that Young Living is a bad company or low-grade in any way.
It’s that when I researched the two companies, I felt at home with dōTERRA. I knew it was the company for me.
Before I even researched doTerra I had used their Family Essentials Kit. My favorite is peppermint and balance. I love them!
I would like to recommend getting started with the essential oils “starter kit”. That comes with some of the most popular oils to get you started.
May I recommend the Healthy Start Enrollment Kit or Home Essentials Kit?
I believe in the product so much. That I am now a wellness advocate for the doTerra brand.
You are welcome to shop for essential oils and other wellness products through my website.
If doTerra doesn’t have the kind of essential oil, you are looking for checking out Young Living.
I found oils there that doTerra doesn’t carry.
If you are interested in learning more about the business opportunity offered.
I am an Independent Contractor and want to make sure you can get started efficiently.
This is all for my review on Young Living vs. doTerra Essential Oils.
What are your thoughts on essential oils? Do you think they work?
Is this review/comparison enough for you to make a sound decision?
Leave your thoughts and comments in the comment section below. Please subscribe to my email list!
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Essential oils can play a role in natural alternative products that can aid general wellness. Personally I would rather use a natural product like essential oils, than chemically produced pharmaceuticals. I have come across both Young Living and doTerra essential oils, but have not seen the type of comparison between the two brands, like this.
It is very helpful to see the comparison between these two top brands and you have made it easier to make a decision as to which one will fit my needs. Thanks for sharing.
Hi LineCowley! I’m glad I was able to help you make a sound decision regarding both companies. You are welcome! And thank you for commenting.
Both Young Living and doTERRA offer high-quality essential oils, and both have a loyal following. However, there are a few key differences between the two companies. One major difference is price. Young Living essential oils are often more expensive than doTERRA oils. This is likely because Young Living has higher overhead costs.
Hi Emmanuel! Quality essential oils can absolutely be pricey. I tend to think they both are expensive to some degree. But the results are worth the price. Sometimes the price of quality is immeasurable. Thank you for stopping by to leave a comment!