I myself have to wonder about a company who will register a trademark of “Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade” for no other reason than to imply that they have been certified in some way. Not knowing anything else at all about the company, that alone would make me suspicious. The unsuspecting public will take them at their word, when that particular word is meaningless, since they “certified” themselves. If their oils were as good as they say, why wouldn’t they just allow 3rd parties to prove it for them, instead of stooping to questionable marketing?

I completely agree whole-heartedly with the information given by Jennifer. She has done her homework and given very acurate information. Thank you for sharing!

Organoleptic testing by a seasoned professional and the Gas Chromatography (GC) and Mass Spectrometry (MS) tests provide a means of knowing if an essential oil is pure of all contaminants and adulterants and meets the accepted standard for that oil to be considered therapeutic. Every essential oil has a unique content and range of chemical constituents which gives it active properties. If it falls within the standard for that particular oil then one can assume it will not only be effective but that it will act on the body in a predictable manner (no surprises). Because, separate batches of the same oil from the same source can be different depending on numerous factors: harvesting time, when distilled, distillation temperature, storage to name a few–each batch can vary in quality. Just because you get a good batch of oil from a supplier doesn’t mean that the next one will be as good. Most companies do not do this testing because of cost but I have seen an increase in companies stating that they test their oils, but do not say what standard they use, how they test, and what that really means.

I was introduced to doTERRA a couple years ago. As an aromatherapist with a strong aversion to MLMs, and particularly essential oil MLMs, I had many questions, doubts, and hesitations. But, I bought a few, started using them, asked questions, did research into their sourcing, and listened to people who knew the owners to glean what I could about their integrity and purpose. I worried about their encouragement of internal and undiluted use of the essential oils since I had learned that this was not acceptable, except by someone qualified to determine proper use.

My findings and conclusions:
~ doTERRA offers the best essential oils I have ever used. They are pure, effective, and beautiful. I have peace of mind in recommending them and more time to help people since I do not need to spend time assuring quality.
~ doTERRA essential oils are not produced in Taiwan as Jacquie states. Genlight just resells doTERRA products and similar products. doTERRA oils are produced in numerous locales where the botanical source has traditionally been grown–such as Frankincense from Oman, Lavender from France, Peppermint from Oregon. They are sourced from very reputable growers and distillers who are experts and know their business. Yet, every batch of oil they send to doTERRA is tested numerous times in independent labs (not in-house) to assure purity and potency and is sent back if it does not meet the accepted standard for that particular oil.
~ It’s true that there is no official standard established for essential oils but there is certainly an accepted standard that can be found in professional aromatherapy texts. I personally do not think “government” when I hear the word “certified”. I think of something being guaranteed or meeting a particular standard.
~ doTERRA does not, and never has to my knowledge, made any official statement that their oils are FDA approved. The email quoted must have been written by someone who didn’t understand or had heard something untrue. I heard some things going around initially from consultants that didn’t sound right but they have been corrected and my observation has been that doTERRA goes to great lengths to educate their consultants. Obviously, they can’t control what every person associated with them says. It would be amazing if every employee of every company gave you accurate information, every time you contacted them. Also, due to the nature of essential oils and the fact that none of them, from any company, are FDA approved, no one can make any claims as to their effectiveness for particular conditions or how to use them. That would be considered prescribing and treating illness, which is restricted to health care professionals. doTERRA does not publish or sell a book on the use of their essential oils but someone else has. It’s called “Modern Essentials” from Aroma Tools.
~ The executives/owners have integrity and many years of experience and their ultimate goal is to provide the highest quality essential oils possible to their consumers. Their goal is not to make enormous amounts of money. If they are self-serving in any way it was in creating a company to source and sell the purest oils possible for their own personal use and for their families. Yes, many of them worked for Young Living at some point but they all left of their own volition for personal reasons. Later, after doing other things, they got together and decided they wanted essential oils that were “guaranteed” to be pure because they loved using essential oils and wanted to provide a trusted source for themselves and everyone else.
~ The MLM structure was chosen to get these pure and potent oils to as many people as possible. Also, to provide the opportunity to everyday people to make a living selling a viable high-quality product, if they desired and put forth the effort.
~ Price of oils–doTERRA could charge a lot more for the quality of oils they are selling but their prices are good, especially the wholesale prices, compared to other oils I was using, which were of good quality. The reason, again, being to make them available to as many people as possible.
~ I still worry a little about the internal and undiluted use of the oils but due to their purity I am less worried and have not seen or heard about any adverse events associated with these uses. doTERRA does encourage dilution for specific oils such as Wintergreen and Oregano and using the oils on the bottom of the feet, especially for children and the elderly or frail, since the skin is tougher there. Also, many of the people with doTERRA are very experienced using essential oils and because of this experience can say with a good deal of confidence that the oils are not dangerous to any particular group of people, including pregnant women and their babies. They also support valid scientific research on essential oils. I have checked their information with my professional aromatherapy texts and they are accurate.
~ They are a for-profit company. They do have to make a profit or there would no longer be a company. Money is not evil. The misuse of money is evil. doTERRA started the Healing Hands foundation that offers micro loans to people in need so they can start or grow their businesses to the point that they are self-sufficient and able to provide for their families and send their children to school.
~ Yes, many of the executives/owners are LDS (members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the “Mormons”). They probably do pay tithing on their income if they are faithful members of their church. Do you agree with what every executive who runs every company does with the money he/she earns from the products you purchase? Many, if not most, large corporations donate money to causes they are interested in or benefit them. Do you agree with all of those causes? Enough said.
~ It is the nature of many people to lash out at things that feel threatening to them and/or their livelihood, even if those things are good.
~ Lastly, too little knowledge can also be dangerous, or at least, detrimental. Before criticizing one should know the facts so as not to do injustice to themselves and the criticized.

Sorry for the length. I wanted this to be helpful and relevant. I hope it is.

For more information about doTERRA go to http://edenoils.com or for the same basic info in a somewhat less user-friendly format go to doterra.com.
I have a blog on which I have started posting about essential oil use and links to resources to be more self-sufficient: http://thriveforlife.wordpress.com

Thanks for your time.

Furthermore, doterra has connections to the LDS, with seven of their executives being members of thethe church. Considering their followers normally pay a tithe to the church, I expect that some profits of doterra will be going back into the LDS, whose doctrines I do not, and will not support.

I feel annoyed that once again, aromatherapy is the way to make quick money, on the backs of people who take aromatherapy seriously, and have spent time and money to truly understand this ancient art of medicine. If doterra cannot be trusted to be honest about their background and their oils, how are the public to know what they are truly using?

I have enjoyed using their oils, but I will be more circumspect in future.

The more I learn in my studies, the more some essential oil companies disturb me with their selling and ‘education’ practises. They seem to think that anyone can be an ‘Aromatherapist’ to prescribe what and how they like despite the fact that there are conditions that are contra-indicated to certain essential oils etc.

It seems to me that these companies almost disregard Aromatherapists as being unimportant and unnecessary in their global quest for financial gain and profit. I find this situation crazy as Aromatherapists are the only people truly trained in using Essential Oils!!! Aromatherapists can do so much more for people than what these companies sell, we personalise and individualise our treatments and products 100%. Some companies publish books on aromatherapy, however, it is only promoting their products – people are missing out on variety of other oils that are available!

I remember ringing one of these companies with a question regarding one of their blends, the person answering the phone said that they were ‘sales’ people and didn’t have the capacity to answer any questions relating to contra-indications. How can a company sell blends with big claims, then not be able to provide assistance over the phone? I’m sure the blend was excellent, however, at that time I wanted extra details and could not be provided with the information I wanted. That was the day I decided to become the professional myself and find other essential oil suppliers. Honestly, at first I was still a little hesitant (the warnings about not being able to ‘trust’ other suppliers), but I have found other suppliers who have beautiful therapeutic oils. I still like big company essential oils, however, they aren’t my first option any more.

I liked Jacquie’s line about a little knowledge is a dangerous thing – well said.

These days Aromatherapists are trained using the French philosophy for treatment as well as the more gentle English ways – there is something to help us all.

I met some people from doterra and liked their oils. I am a trained aromatherapist, and worked as one for 10 years. I liked the idea of the blended oils, because I feel many people buy the single oils and then really don’t know what to do with them.
Anyway I started to buy them and telling other people about them. One of my major concerns was the internal injestion of essential oils. Although they take E.O.s in Europe, they are given by practionioners who are educated about their various properties, and therefore understand the complexity of the oils, but also the individual reactions one might have to them. I did mention this to an American doterra person when someone came for a seminar in April, and was fobbed off with an excuse.
I went to a seminar on Friday with Dr David K Hill, who was demonstrating his Aromatouch technique. I learnt the Aromatherapy massage as created by Marguerite Maury in the 1970′s, as my Aromatherapy tutor was one of her students in London. There was nothing signicantly different, apart from the oils that were to be used at every stage. One of the blends called Deep Blue ( which does seems to work) contains Wintergreen Camphor, Peppermint, Blue Tansy, and Osmanthus.The other oil to be used was On Guard which contains Wintergreen, Clove Bud, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus and Rosemary. one of the questions asked was” is it safe to be used on a pregnant women?” Dr Hill answered “yes’, and said he would even use these oils in the first trimester. Now I know I may be a little bit rusty, but aren’t oils such as Wintergreen Camphor, Blue Tansy, Osmanthus, Clove Cinnamon,Peppermint, and Rosemary all contraindicated in pregnancy? That statement made me feel uncomfortable.
Someone in the audience then asked him about his connected to YL. He was clearly thrown by the question, and said in the end that he wanted to move onto other toipcs but that he had left the company, because he did not like what they were doing. He also told a few stories concerning patients of his that had cancer, including a man called John that was given two weeks to live, and how he had felt so sad that as a doctor John would have been one of his first patients that would die. Until someone in the audience mention that ‘John’ was also the man in his book that miraclously recovered. This seemd to jog Dr. Hill’s memory, and he said yes that the man had no signs of cancer and was cured. Ummm….
There was another story too, accompanied by tears, how his own son was diagnosed with Leukemia, and he had cured him by using essential oils. By this stage I was ready to walk out.
I reseached and found the verdict as has been mentioned above in Casewatch,
which leads me to believe that Dr. Hill was involved in a situation that nearly killed someone. I also found that, although we were lead to belive that Dr. Hill was a general medical practitioner, he is or was a chriopractor.

I feel very sad that many people are being duped by people who are exploiting the wants of good people to make this world a better place. However, I am afraid that there may be some people who have not been educated in the safe practice and application of E.O’s, which may lead to someone getting ill, or worse still losing a baby. This in turn just leads to the belief that aromatherapy is hocus pocus which is detrimental to the profession as a whole. It is a shame that people who are affliated with the correct authorites and who are making headway with scientific based research in the main stream may be damaged in the longterm but those who are out to make a buck.
If the product is good, tha’ts fine, but a little knowledge is a dangerous thing”.