A very honest answer to a Young Living essential oils question
I got this email about a year ago:
Kristen,
I was wondering what your feeling is about the essential oil craze that is going on now? I am a member of Young Living but it is super expensive so I don't order all the time. I also get from Eden's garden and they are a lot cheaper with the same grade oils. I like them for certain things like air freshener and peppermint is awesome for headache and to help me sleep.
-Sonya
My friend Stacy from Humorous Homemaking is pretty high up in Young Living, so after I got this reader email, I signed up under Stacy and gave oils a test drive (with my own money. Nothing I've gotten from Young Living has been complimentary.)
Today, I'm gonna share my super honest thoughts with you, because my views on essential oils are pretty mixed.
What I DO believe about essential oils (and Young Living in particular)
Let's start with the good!
1. They're natural fragrances.
This is, in my opinion, the best use for essential oils: as replacements for the artificial fragrances that are in personal care and cleaning products.
It does seem rather clear that the artificial fragrances that many manufacturers use are not great for our bodies, and this is a view held not just by people in the essential oil community.
(For example, here's an article from the U.S. National Library of Medicine.)
So, I think essential oils are a safer option than artificially scented candles and plug-in air fresheners, and they're a better option for making cleaners and personal care products smell good.
2. There seem to be some benefits to some oils.
Consumer Reports lists a few benefits that have been studied, such as using lavender for anxiety.
I used the word "some' in this section header, because I have a certain amount of skepticism about oily benefits.
I'm not saying I think every purported essential oil benefit is false, but before I feel positive that the oils do what people say they do, I'd want to see more actual studies, with control groups and such.
There are a zillion anecdotes out there, of course, but the plural of anecdotes is not data.
(This New Yorker article mentions a few studies, but points out that there have been "very few peer-reviewed, large scale studies" on essential oils.)
3. Breathing in good smells is enjoyable and relaxing.
I like diffusing a citrus blend, not for any health reasons or for any particular benefit. It just smells good; fresh and clean!
And anything that makes you stop and take deep, slower breaths is going to have a positive effect on you; not because of what you are breathing, but because you are breathing slowly.
4. Young Living's oils are probably better than really cheap oils.
The cheap oils at Aldi or the ones at craft stores...I feel a little bit skeptical that those are very high quality, and I often see that they are mixed with a carrier oil.
I do think that Young Living oils are, generally, high quality. They offer a seed to seal promise, and they do own a lot of the farms (which are not just in the U.S.), but some of their oils come from partner farms or from other suppliers.
I would imagine this includes things like frankincense oil, which can't exactly be farmed.
However, there still has been some controversy over how pure the YL oils actually are
(Here's another news article about the purity of oils in general, with a mention of some YL testing.)
My essential oil issues (with some specific to Young Living)
While I'm not against essential oils (see above!), I am also not a die-hard convert, and here's a list of reasons.
1. I wonder about the placebo effect.
Without blind studies to rule this out, it's impossible to know how much the placebo effect is in play here.
In my observation, the essential oil community is big on positive thinking and believing that the oils will help, and so I wonder how much of the anecdotal benefits are because of the placebo effect.
The placebo effect is amazingly powerful (Harvard Health link), and honestly, if something non-toxic brings about a placebo effect, I think that's fine and dandy.
However, I'd really like to know if the oils are doing something or if they're not. So, hopefully someone will do some studies!
2. I am skeptical about some of the blend claims.
Is lemon a refreshing, energizing smell that could make you feel perky?
Sure, I can believe that.
But I feel iffy about some of the more specific Young Living oil blend promises.
For instance, there's a Finance oil, and the blurb says it,
"promotes a sense of well-being that encourages positive emotions and increased feelings of abundance. This uplifting aroma promotes a sense of clarity and alertness to help you focus on realizing your financial objectives."
And the Forgiveness oil blurb says that the oil,
"contains an aroma that supports the ability to forgive yourself and others while letting go of negative emotions."
Is it possible that if you diffuse Finance every time you work on your budget, that your brain will begin to associate that smell with financial responsibility?
Probably.
But I am not sure that the actual oil ingredients are bringing about feelings of abundance.
And is it possible that the same thing will happen if you diffuse Forgiveness while you sit quietly and pray? Sure.
But is the actual forgiveness oil doing anything in particular?
I am, at this point, unconvinced.
3. I do not love that Young Living is an MLM.
MLM = multi-level-marketing, like Mary Kay, Avon, Tupperware, Lularoe, etc
I know that YL says they decided on an MLM model because they wanted to be sure the people promoting their product were actually using the product.
(Even at lower levels in Young Living, you have to buy $100/month of product if you want to continue earning commissions, which does effectively guarantee that distributors will be using the products. But it also guarantees Young Living an income from each distributor.)
I'm not writing this post to bash MLMs (if you are in one and your income exceeds your expenses, then I will cheer you on!) but I will just say that for a wide variety of reasons, I do not love the setup of any MLM company.
Slightly related: D. Gary Young, the founder of Young Living, has a history that makes me uncomfortable. (Consumer Reports link)
4. How much benefit is from the ingredients, and how much benefit is from what's NOT in the products?
I do believe that many people who switch to Young Living products (personal care, cleaning products, etc.) experience clearer skin, relief from eczema, better breathing, and so on.
However, I wonder how much of that relief is because of what the products do not contain vs. what they do contain.
If it's about what they do not contain, then you could obtain similar benefits from purchasing natural body/cleaning products from any number of sources, which could be non-MLM and also less expensive.
(For instance, I use bar soap and lip balm from Third Day Naturals. Their products are free of artificial fragrances, they're scented with essential oils, all of the ingredients are things I feel good about putting on my body, and Third Day is a small family company, which is awesome. The soap is $4.95/bar and the lip balm is $2.95/tube. Very affordable.)
5. I'd prefer to eat food instead ingesting an oil.
Young Living sells a line of Vitality oils, which are recommended for ingesting. But it is definitely cheaper to just use actual cilantro, basil, limes, and so on.
6. Some of Young Living's products, such as their diffusers, are really expensive.
For instance, the Aria diffuser (which IS really beautiful) costs over $300. And even a lot of the more basic diffusers are between $60 and $100.
I've had the Young Living starter kit diffuser ($87) for the same amount of time as one from Amazon ($20), and I cannot see any appreciable difference in their performance or longevity.
Which makes you wonder: Why are Young Living's diffusers so expensive?
I understand that you get what you pay for to some degree. A $50 pair of jeans is going to be higher quality than a $12 pair.
But a $500 pair of jeans is probably not appreciably better than the $50 pair.
Young Living's diffusers are hitting me sort of like those $500 jeans; I don't think you're really paying for quality when you shell out $100 for a diffuser.
By the way, if you already have a Young Living diffuser, you might be wondering, "Can I use non-Young Living oils in my Young Living diffuser?"
People from Young Living would probably tell you not to do it, but I can tell you that we've been using other oils in our Desert Mist starter kit diffuser and it is still working just fine.
My Essential Oil bottom line
I have a lot of unanswered questions that can really only be answered with more studies.
Until then, I think essential oils have their place, and can be useful, particularly in place of artificial fragrances.
I have my doubts about some of the claims and about how much credit the oils can be given, but if people are using them and feeling better, then I have no argument with that.
My future with Young Living
Because of the hesitations listed above, I am not going to be a distributor. I will probably buy some basic oils somewhere like Whole Foods, just for scent purposes, but I'm just not in a place to be wanting to spend $100/month at Young Living.
And I am not enthused enough about the products to be a high-producing distributor that can earn more than $100/month.
(Evidence: this whole post. I am just not a good YL salesperson!)
If you do want YL oils, buy the starter kit.
The starter kit comes with a diffuser, 12 of the basic essential oils, some Thieves cleaner, and a few more things too. It's definitely the best YL deal if you are wanting a variety of basic oils to diffuse.
It's what I first bought to try out, and it comes with some good scents, like lemon and citrus fresh (that one is my favorite).
The premium starter kit costs $165, so it's definitely not cheap.
But you can buy the starter kit and as long as you don't join the Essential Rewards auto-ship program, you are not obligated to any future purchases or shipments.
Honestly, though, I'd just go buy some oils from somewhere like Whole Foods or Sprouts and I'd get a dispenser somewhere else. I really like this one (branded "Earnest Living". Ha.) from Amazon.
And now, 1700 words later, we are at the end of what I have to say on essential oils.
What's your opinion on essential oils? I'd love to hear in the comments.
P.S. I labored carefully over this post for hours, trying to be fair and honest, and I hope the post doesn't read like a judgment on people who use essential oils or people who sell them. I'm just trying to honestly answer my reader's question about what *I* think.
Kristen, well before I reached your final paragraph and your comment about laboring for hours over this post, I was impressed by your thorough and thoughtful approach, your willingness to view the topic from perspectives other than your own, and the links you provided to back up many of your statements. So very nicely done! "The plural of anecdotes is not data." I absolutely love this line. It's an excellent point, creatively written. In my humble opinion, your efforts on this post are commendable.
Thank you; I thought it was important to have links because otherwise, I'd just be asking you to take my word for it!
The "plural of anecdotes is not data" line is not my own...I'm not sure where I heard it. But I've used it a time or two because it's such a useful little phrase.
That is the best phrase I have heard in a very long time! “The plural of anecdotes is not data”! I love it and would be interested in knowing the source, but don’t have time to research that, even!
I’m a big fan of facts and science. And you!
@Jenny, the phrase has been around for decades if not generations. My Oxford Dictionary of Quotations doesn't even include it, a hint that it's hard to trace.
I got caught up in the EO craze a few years back with the promises that it would "cure my endometriosis" and "end my infertility." As you can imagine, that was patently false. So I'm a little salty about them and quite anti MLM.
However, I did want to mention that they are HIGHLY toxic to cats; cats' livers don't make the enzymes needed to process them, so ingesting them (and in some cases, just inhaling the diffused steam) can be fatal. So, if you use them to clean, or you diffuse (particularly lavender and melaluca (tea tree oil)), it puts your furry friends at a big risk.
I've taken a LOT of heat over saying that from EO enthusiasts, but the research is out there and easily Google-able. I ended up selling everything I bought at a huge discount, because my Shellikins is more important to me than my house smelling like a New Age store.
Just my $.02.
Love your blog...I've been a LOOOOOOONG time reader:)
@Melanie,
Since diffusing, my dog's have been itchy (more than normal for one and the other never itched at all!) I totally Googled it and yes, animals don't do well with EO.
Since then, I have emailed product support at YL and still waiting for a reply.
@Analisa, YLEO are NOT 100% PURE. I worked as BOM analyst from 2015-2016. The yleo culture is rampant with abuse, threats, intimidation, even retaliation towards any employee who dares to challenge mgmnt.
That is by far the most refreshing review I have ever read on essential oils. I too love them for fragrance, and I am very much concerned with clean beauty, non-chemical cleaning products (I use norwex, another MLM), etc. However, until there are clinical trials and double-blind studies, you totally can’t convince me of the medical benefits of essential oils, although I have also said the exact same thing about the placebo effect being a good thing to my EO loving friends. Even the placebo effect means it worked— however, I’m not an easy candidate for an EO placebo effect since I’m skeptical in the first place.
In other words, I would never rely on orange oil to cure cancer. Until it’s proven, I’d rather use home remedies as a support to medical advice. I also think that EO companies prey on the naïveté of some people. Some EOs have also been shown to be damaging to skin and even cause injuries, etc. If used incorrectly, many are just as harmful as all the chemical cleaners, etc.
That said, while I’m not big on ingesting oil, I do use some of the YL citrus oils to flavor my water (One drop does it). Yes, I could use a real lemon slice, but the oil makes it easy and convenient, and honestly probably cheaper than buying all those lemons to slice up. And no bitter taste from the rind. I sure would love to see some real studies someday though...
I have a diffuser that I plug in every now and again and I can purchase some high quality scents one at a time from Whole Foods, or even at the bigger HEB stores. I only do it for the aromatherapy. All of the other claims sound fishy to me. Science rules.
You did a great job giving a balanced perspective. I really appreciate your work. Bravo. Long-time reader here.
I agree mostly with what you've said. However, I've found certain oils to have medicinal effects for me. For example, I have MS and experience a lot of numbness, balance issues, etc. A roller of Frankincense and Jojoba Oil that I apply to my spine daily really helps with those issues. I've never bought from YL - MLM uhhh. Instead, I buy from a local family owned business that makes their own oils and blends. They aren't the cheapest, but are cheaper than YL, and I am supporting a local business and getting a quality product.
@Candice, Does that company sell online?
@Candice, add a tiny bit of peppermint to the frankincense and it might work even better. Does for me for muscle spasms.
@Candice, I do the Wahls protocol diet for my m.s. and it has eliminated symptoms
You wrote this post with such grace and kindness! Thank you!
Amen, sista. Pragmatism and science for the win.
The one product I've ever thought was worth anything is a tea tree oil salve (Melagel, from Melaleuca, yet another MLM — every couple years I just facebook-ask to find a member who can order me my one thing on their next order). I've researched tea tree oil a little, enough to know that it has genuine antifungal properties (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9055360), and it will cure a yeast-based diaper rash or acne like nothing else. By trial and error, we have found it is also helpful for easing sunburn and insect bites, especially chiggers.
I did buy a vial of tea tree oil from a spice wholesaler some years back and made a salve with it. Something was wrong with it, and it made sores way worse, rather than helping. Not sure if it was the salve recipe or the oil quality or what, but lesson learned. Never again.
One other thing: I received a gift set of rollers geared toward kids, but the promotional language is zero on the science level. One of them smells good and I'm willing to smell like that from time to time, but that is about it.
I loved melaleucca productas but it seems i am one of those rare people allergic to it! And i mean in a very bad way...only trip to the ER for allergy i have ever had.
Whoa, that's scary.
I will always be thankful for modern medicine. The what-if level is astronomical.
I actually avoid tea tree oil stuff for myself because it makes my skin hurt. My skin gets annoyed at practically everything, though, so I didn't really think much of it. My kids (most likely to get bug bites, most likely to get sunburn, thankfully just past the diaper situation) aren't bothered by it at all, though.
@Karen.,
so true about tea tree oil for acne and such. I have bought the cheap 4.99 version from Aldi and my son said it worked great!
Great post! I don’t like multilevel marketing and really don’t like Gary Young. However your stance is objective and informative and I appreciated it. Oils do smell good and are indeed better than artifice fragrance, no doubt about that!
I had a question about using a diffuser around your cat as well. Talk to your vet to be sure, but my cat care book says to not use basically any essential oil around cats.
Next: I have read several articles by Jessie Hawkins, who is studying essential oils in what are, she says, real studies. I'm no scientist, so I can't verify the studies. I haven't checked in for a good while, but she seemed to be more on the up and up as far as what might work and what might not. She was not overly extravagant in her claims for oils, anyway. So there may well be some people doing real studies out there. She is the person behind Vintage Remedies, if you want to look her up.
I appreciate your honesty, and appreciate how hard it is to write that you aren't a fan of MLM's, knowing some of your readers are members, and some of your own friends are. I've been in that situation, and it can be so tricky. For example, I had a couple of family members who earned quite a bit as Amway directors, or whatever distributors get called when they move up enough. Absolutely they used the products extensively themselves and believed in them completely, but I am, like you, not fond of MLM's as a whole.
As far as the claims for oils: I use tea tree oil -- it's great for those rare breakouts, making them go away faster, and for other skin issues. I also use lavender in my laundry and to scent some homemade cleaners, plus it is my very favorite scent, and I just breathe in a little on occasion just for the bliss of it. I also use eucalyptus as a cleaner additive. Peppermint and eucalyptus help deter bugs in some situations. I like to make my own thieve's blend cleaner/disinfectant with essential oils and grain alcohol. I loved to design perfumes from essential oils, but I discovered the scent of a natural oil perfume lasts no longer than a commercially produced perfume does on me, which is no time at all, so I quit making perfumes.
I had no idea YL required distributors to purchase so much each month! Thanks for this post and this information. I have to agree with you on basically everything.
We use essential oils, mostly for comfort (lavendar at bedtime, lemon when I'm tired etc.), but I do blend a few oils to make a thieves-like blend for when my kids are sick. I have a medically complex kiddo with a rare diagnosis, so this is by no means the only thing we do during sickness (albuterol, O2 supplementation, chest therapy, vaccines are all part of our family's wellness drive), but I figure anything that might help is worth a shot. Because our child is medically complex, I check every oil with my pediatrician, who also uses oils in his home for some things, but not for treatment.
My biggest complaint is that every YL oil rep I have met tells me that oils are so much better than medicine from pharma companies because oils have no side effects. That is a false and very dangerous claim. Peppermint oil anywhere near my throat or chest gives me a horrible asthma attack. Any citrus oil applied to the skin increases the risk of sunburn, and I'm pretty sure that's in all people, not just the fair-skinned, red haired population. I would also suggest that using a particular oil every day will cause it to lose its effect after a time, just as Advil used for a large amount of time stops being as effective. It is imperative that oil distrubuters are well educated on possible side effects and proper usage so that users are not hurt by the oils.
I, too, would like to see more double-blind, peer reviewed studies that are not sponsored by the oil companies, in order to see what kind of effect oils have. I would wager that some oils are beneficial for us, and some are just nice to use. But, unfortunately because of the current mindset of most of the medical field, it's unlikely that we'll get rigrous studies done any time soon to help answer those questions.
Well spoken! I had a YL rep reach out to me and tell me that an essential oil regimen could cure my young daughter's type 1 diabetes and we could get her off of insulin. HELLO, her pancreas is essentially dead, she doesn't make insulin at all!
I think MLM's are dangerous in this way -- sending uneducated people out into the world making ridiculous health claims with no education whatsoever.
This would be funny if it were not serious for the reasons you mention. Essential oils as a cure for diabetes--wow.
That is truly frightening -- thank goodness you were not taken in. I imagine that rep believes what she is saying but yikes! It's always surprising how willing people are to try anything except the medically approved (over so many trials) methods that have saved so many lives.
To be clear: having side effects is not a good reason to avoid anything. Water has a side of effect of possible drowning if too much is consumed or if you're in it without knowing how to swim. Life is dangerous and having has side effects. It's prudent for us to be aware of them to the best of our ability.
Just a note: some essential oils are extremely toxic to animals, so please check online before using oils in a diffuser, keep pills far away from pets, and don't let them lick oils that you have placed on your body! There are reports of animals getting extremely sick from diffused oils, so check first!! <3
I'm a biochemist and worked for a company that YL used to make water dispersible products out of their oils. Let me tell you, it was extremely difficult to work with their staff. They were unorganized and the turnover rate in employees was astounding.
I will say that we performed a challenge study with their Thieves Oil. A challenge study is where you purposely load a product with about 5 logs (exponential) of bacteria and pathogens and then see how efficient the material is in either inhibiting or killing off the microbes. Thieves Oil killed off 5 logs of pathogens within 3 days - and that's pretty impressive.
I personally do use some oils: Frankincense has been scientifically proven to relieve inflammation, Lemon oil for cleaning, Tea tree oil for skin issues, lavender on mosquito bites (my daughter is SO allergic), Tea tree oil and geranium oil to repel ticks. And I also prefer to diffuse oils over burning toxic candles and wax.
However, I choose to use Doterra as a preferred customer as there is no required minimum purchase. As a food and supplement safety scientist, I trust Doterra's program more than Young Living. YL touts letting the public tour their farms, even unsupervised. And from a federal regulation and adulteration standpoint - that is scary.
I'm glad to know that Thieves does do what it's supposed to do. I've conducted experiments myself on this oil on a piece of bread - one slice without Thieves, and the other one I applied Thieves EO. After 5 days, the one without had so much mold in it while the other one had very less, maybe only 10% of the bread was moldy.
Having said that, I'd like to address your last paragraph.
With Young Living, the requirement for a minimum purchase is only for those who decide to do it as a business. If you are a regular user, there is NO requirement. So what you said is very misleading. And as it is, the requirement is only for $100 which is very doable if you truly are using the products, as opposed to other MLM companies that require you to have an inventory of their products.
And if you are a scientist, then you should know that the Doterra oils are fractionated. They take out some of the EO constituents and replace them with ethyl vanillin to make their oils smell sweeter, less stronger. So that is still an adulterated product, whereas Young Living is from the plant to the bottle. No less, no more.
Last but not the least, I have been to the Young Living farm twice and in both occasions, I have never had an unsupervised visit. They always have someone there with you to answer your questions. So what you are saying is completely false.
@JDZUBAY,
May I ask, who is regulating this Seed to Seal promise that they claim? No 3rd party has every founded this and seems like a marketing gimmick...believe me, I feel for it too.
Please watch: iilluminaughtii on Youtube and her research on the YL company. It will open your eyes!
If you want the highest quality essential oils, there are plenty of legitimate sellers and manufacturers out there that you can order from. Why do you need to buy from a company that is a MLM firm?
The prices you pay here sound higher than other legit sources with years in business and good reps.
I don't understand why you would opt to continue to buy anything from them even if you do not participate in MLM. It's rare that I don't understand your rationale for your position on something. You've done an excellent job in prior posts explaining your thoughts on a particular topic.
With so many other options, just don't understand sticking to them. Even if you don't participate in MLM, you are still supporting it. Of course, this is your right. But it just doesn't seem aligned with what else you wrote.
FYI: You never have to explain or defend your position on anything. It's nice that you have shared your views and how you came to them, on some topics. It's always helpful to have a greater understanding of how people are thinking and it helps us to, very often, look again at our own perspective on something.
I worded that confusingly; I'm not saying I will for sure order from Young Living when I run out of any particular oils. It's fairly likely I won't, because without being a member, the prices are pretty high.
I'm with you. Definitely not convinced. I've given them a very fair, open minded shot, and no results at all, on multiple fronts. In fact, they are very irritating to my sensitive skin/rosacea.
They do smell nice though.
I feel like I should clarify: I do think essential oils are helpful around the house. I think they definitely are effective sanitizers, great for cleaning, wonderful for freshening the air, probably effective on certain skin ailments (though not on me, because of sensitivity/rosacea I mentioned above), etc.
But all the claims about what miracles they can work on actual body ailments or chronic diseases... I'm super skeptical.
Also the high price of YL is a big turn-off for me. They're not exactly affordable in my opinion.
Plus there's the MLM thing. I'm very much not a fan of MLMs due to being burned/duped in the past.
When I do buy essential oils, I just buy them from our local health food store. Since I'm not ingesting them or using them on my skin, they work fine for us for the few things we do use them for.
I like diffusing essential oils, and also especially like the citrus scents. However, I read that essential oils can be dangerous for cats, so we stopped using. We have just one cat and she seemed fine for the short time we were using the diffuser, but we stopped to be safe. This site has an article about it: https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/blog/essential-oils-cats/
Thank you Kristin for writing this post. Also thank you Traci for this link.
I'd say your review sums up my feelings and experiences with oils pretty well, too. The one additional thought I have is that I can't get many of my oil-enthusiastic friends to acknowledge that there could be negative side effects from using them. They tend to be very, "It's natural, so what's the risk. You might as well try it. Do you want me to make a roller for your child who was just released from the ICU? No, obviously it couldn't possibly interact with any medications or cause problems in someone with compromised organ function."
To my thinking, either they have no effect on my body, in which case they're not doing anything useful, or they *do* have an affect on my body, in which case the effects could be both positive and negative. Sure, the positives could outweigh the negatives for individual oils or individual people—that's what I'd like to figure out! But I can't trust information from people who legitimately don't understand the concept, or worse, are willfully obtuse. It happens a lot with my friends who are really into supplements, too. They won't take ibuprofen, but they can't tell me what's in their "wellness blend" either. Obviously not everyone is like that, and I've been hearing more responsible talk about EOs online over the past couple years, but it's common enough in people I know to be a major frustration for me.
All that said, I don't want to sound rant-y, because I do enjoy diffusing some of them in moderation for the lovely scent (especially grapefruit and other citruses, or a couple fall blends I've tried), and putting a drop on a dishcloth when I wipe down the dining room table, and it's very nice to have alternatives to air fresheners when the weather doesn't permit opening the windows.
Exactly. The idea that something "natural" cannot have side effects, unlike "chemicals" (sigh--everything is chemicals), drives me nuts. Water is natural, with no side effects, but it will kill you if you drink too much of it. Henbane, pennyroyal, all natural herbs that can kill you.
“Everything is a chemical.” YES. Please say it louder for those in the back!!!
You could try reminding them that arsenic is all natural too. 🙂 Sometimes though there is just no reasoning with people.
Kay - "So is arsenic" is always my response to someone telling me that something is good because it's all natural!
Someone I follow on IG (she's crown diamond level I think) posted a story about how it's mind blowing that people all the time ask her if EOs are safe for kids & pets, because duh! of course they are! they are natural & non toxic! I messaged her nicely saying that many EOs are actually toxic to cats & there are EOs that shouldn't be used on kids under a certain age. She messaged me back saying something like "girl, do your own research, do you think I would do anything unsafe with my kids & pets?" and then blocked me. People unknowingly do unsafe things all of the time. This woman also doesn't have pets. I have cats & I have talked to our vet & read what research is out there. The verdict is EOs & cats do not mix. I do diffuse EOs though (maybe once a week), but only when my cats are not in the room & very briefly (I don't just leave my diffuser running & I use a tiny handheld/mini diffuser). I'm very cautious about it. I mainly use EOs in skincare (DIY facial serum). If I need more, I use pura (uses EOs but droplets do not go into the air).
The attitude that because its natural & plant based automatically means its safe & nontoxic from the YL community is what turns me off. EOs can be toxic. YL reps do very little to educate on the safety of the products. It would be refreshing to see a YL talk more about that.
I saw a YL rep put undiluted frankincense on her face. She puts a roller top on the bottle & rolls it under her eyes. Which is just asking to develop an allergic reaction.
I see no YL reps talk about sensitization, toxicity to cats/pets, small kids, etc. Its all just about how nontoxic everything is. I'm sure YL has some good products. I like the idea of the one stop shop. But I cannot bring myself to buy anything because of the companies history & the cult-like attitude from the reps.
I use "nontoxic" shampoo/conditioner, body care items, & cleaning products, etc. But there are many reputable brands out there without the history YL has, that actually takes the time to educate people (plant therapy for example, can't say enough good things about the company).
It's a scam. Everyone wants to believe that if they smell the right oil, they will be happy, healthy and wealthy. Nope. Not at all. That's not how science works. Yes, a certain oil smells nice. But it's not going to prevent a cold.
And MLMs are predatory. I would not buy anything from them.
You succeeded in giving us your honest opinion. And what you wrote makes perfect sense to me so thank you for that.
Thanks for saving me the trouble of putting my exact thoughts on paper! 🙂
Great review, Kristen. My other annoyance is if you dare question an "oily" person, they almost turn into bots and begin to spew the responses they've been trained to use. It gets awkward real fast. I also really don't like when they try various sales tactics, which are SO transparent to me. (This, though, applies to almost all MLMs. Stop trying to convince me of your BEST LIFE EVER and all of your BEST FRIENDS, etc.)
I am a follower of Stacy and I love her, but I have noticed more of her "oily" stuff has begun to creep into her postings and videos. She absolutely has the right to incorporate that, of course, but it does turn me off a little bit.
Long time reader, first time commenter. I loved this post Kristen. I am a librarian, and I am a member of a librarian Facebook group. One librarian recently posted a photo of a book that had melted the plastic of the library shelf making the book completely stick together. A few books returned by the same patron where doing the same thing...melting the library's plastic shelving and ruining the books. Many of the commenters suspected that essential oils where the culprit in melting the plastic. They suspect the patron thought the book was smelly and sprayed it with some kind of essential oil! Just thought I'd share this because I'm sure a lot of FG readers are essential oil and library users. Don't spray books with oil!
Thank you so much for this post. I don't know anything about essential oils, and don't have any interest in trying them.
But I really appreciated your comments on MLMs. I recently listened to the podcast "The Dream," which shows how deeply problematic these structures are for a multiple of reasons. However, I agree with your point about profit: "if you are in one and your income exceeds your expenses, then I will cheer you on!" Say what the internet will for or against MLMs, that is the bottom line: if you are actually making money you can defend it as a business, if you are not making a profit, you ain't got a job. Really that is true of any business.
Yep. I think MLMs often work best for those people who already have a big audience; they have a ready made platform, which simplifies things so much. My friend Stacy does well with Young Living, and my blog platform could work similarly...but I just do not have the genuine enthusiasm for it that Stacy does!
You have such a wonderful way of saying negative things in a respectful way. I wish I shared that quality!
So true!
This is so interesting and you really were fair and honest. Reading the "few problems" with the founder and the whole MLM link was very informative and really set off my alarms -- I don't like to think of people being taken advantage of, and some of his activities sounded less than ethical. I like your point about the placebo effect -- if it works, great. And also your point about pairing the aroma in your mind with certain kinds of thinking -- that really could be powerful. But I bet I could do it with the oils marked down at Ross Dress for Less 🙂
As you said, if someone is very successful with these items -- both selling and using -- then, Mazel Tov! I wish them continued success. I am just too cheap and skeptical to sign up. Thanks for this -- fun to read!
Yes!! Well said. I feel similarly about the CBD movement. So many people spending so much money chasing a marketing scheme. Maybe some day research will prove otherwise.
@Corrine Wilson, yeah, THC + CBD does way more than just CBD, but it's psychoactive which can be a dealbreaker, and is in no way a 'cure' to anything. Can help with some things, but not as much as people like to think.
Also, similarly, be really careful using CBD or other chemicals with animals. Cats livers can't process these chemicals easily.
You did a excellent job. Thank you. I was curious as to what you thought and knew you would give your honest opinion.
It's refreshing to see a review on something like this that sees the good and the not-so-good, wants more than just "because they said so", but does it with kindness. It was a fascinating read for me. Thank you!
I was skeptical at first too about essential oils. After spending most of my Christmas break from school on the couch with headaches and no over the counter meds working, I was willing to try. I reduced my OTC pain meds by an amazing amount. During that one week I was averaging 9 pills/day. After using a sample of Frankincense and peppermint I had only taken 4 pills in 6 weeks! I've only had 2 colds in almost three years. I work in public education and in close proximity to my students. Oils are the only change health wise made. In fact, my class moved to a new school this year and any teacher will tell you: new school =new germs. My mom and I split a $25 membership to get the discounted pricing. We cover that with the items we buy in the first few months. I'd love to see more research too, but for the specific oils I use, I've personally felt and have seen the results.
Where do you buy your oils? A $25 membership sounds like a pretty good deal!
I agree, where do you buy your oils?
Both doTERRA and YL currently have $35 options for new customers. The regular (more expensive) starter kits are a better value, but this is the lowest-priced option to qualify for wholesale discount pricing.
Thank you, Kristen, for such a thorough and honest post! I am a doTERRA Wellness Advocate (after using YL for a while, but I personally prefer doTERRA), and I am grateful to have affordable alternatives to standard personal care products. I make many of my own products with the oils like hairspray, deodorant, and more, which makes it cost-effective.
I agree that it's so important that we continue to find out more about essential oils through scientific research...like this!
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2994788/?fbclid=IwAR1MNG28amNi739Ijp7i8v1_kL2hHO_FD02IsbNvTOtWwRQ23O79skxPqpU
Thanks again!!
I use Doterra but I don't use my diffuser very often hubby does not like that it changes the color of the flame (gas) on the stove. I do use a drop in the shower in the morning so it smells great. I worry about small lungs too, in particular if it is safe for pets.
@Marianne, no, they aren't safe for pets, especially cats.
This is a great post (like always!). I totally agree with you. I do believe in the mental health benfiits of oils and the relaxing atmosphere they can create in my home. I do sometimes diffuse EOs in my classroom, but I don't think they magically help my student's grades ... but create that relaxing, focused atmosphere that may help (and is better than sometimes smelly teenagers or artificial plug-ins!).
Consider trying Rocky Mountain Essential Oils instead. I've found their quality to be the same as YL and often times cheaper. (Plus they are not a MLM). I'm also not paid at all by them, just like them better!
Please do not diffuse EOs in a classroom with kids. I do not know the ages you teach but as a parent, I would be very upset if my kids teacher was diffusing EOs. You do not know if any of the kids will have a reaction to something.
@Krys, agree 100%.
@Krys,
Schools use all kinds of products with artificial scents, but you’d have something to say if it’s oils?
There are more teachers that use artificial air fresheners and perfumes than oils, and I have seen how those affect my friends and family with asthma.
I’m not saying oils are completely safe, but they are most definitely (as stated in the article) not worse than artificial scents, which are everywhere and causing so many medical issues, especially respiratory and skin problems.
I find this to be problematic, people talk and worry about the dangers of essential oils without mentioning or considering the alternatives, which are often worse.
I was fully addicted to candles when I began my YL and DoTerra exploration journey. The black soot I observed on my candles and my husband’s insistence I was going to burn our new house down was all it took for me to research the top companies and pro and cons of products. The Thieves household cleaning products anti-microbial properties and the immediate effects of certain oils on colds, headaches, insomnia, itchy skin, depression convinced me I wanted them in my life. Plus the aromatherapy effects on me were so powerfully therapeutic for my mental health, clarity, sense of well -being, uplifting mood, peace and calm there was no turning back on how I was feeling daily
.
As an Essential Reward member and distributor I’m required a $50 + shipping and taxes purchase each month. I would have spent that monthly on toxic products without anti- microbial properties. And now with their addition of Natures Ultra CBD oil, cream and roller I’m even more convinced because once I put it on my arthritic back, hands and shoulder my pain is relieved. I can move freely and go about my normal life. Therefore my personal research is completed ... it’s called 90% pain relief without harmful drugs destroying my kidneys. Yes it’s not an inexpensive habit but I’m a firm believer that often times, you get what you pay for. Finally, my personal goal was not to sell for an income but to buy wholesale products I had researched would work. So, I never, ever push products on friends but when they visit my home and smell and see the difference they ask and of course I share both information and small samples!
Thanks Maria for this response. Your experience matches mine and as someone who's used supplements all my life (I'm 74), I'm thrilled with the effectiveness of YL supplements on my health. No going back for me!
Its important to note that CBD is not a cure-all for everything. I also have an auto-immune arthritis( psoriatic) for over 30 years. I have psoriasis too and I believe strongly in my medications. I wouldn't be able to function without them. CBD might also help, however, I'd never give up my prescription medications.
Thank you for all that work and for a well thought out review. You echo my sentiments that were arrived at without any study.
I started this post with a little dread and trepidation because I know so many people who have been completely consumed by YL/DT and I hate it. I do sporadically use oils, though, and refer to a great website/FB group “Using Essential Oils Safely” for my questions, it’s run by a certified aromatherapist. This post just serves to convince me further that we would get along pretty well IRL, haha! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
“Certified aromatherapist” hhmmm. I’m going to have to see what that means. As a registered nurse, licensed and certified in various things, I know some certifications are meaningful and some are complete BS!
And Kristen, you are right- VERY little research, if any, proves the value of these oils. They are nice-smelling and MAY benefit some people, but they don’t replace medicine when it’s needed. A sick kid is not a place to experiment!
I’m also a business owner, and know a little about that. Another name for harmless-sounding MLM is PYRAMID SCHEME, right? I’m old enough to have seen so many of these, and so many friends get sucked in. To me, it’s a big scam. It’s shameful how hard they market, especially to (young) women! Essential oils can be useful, but there’s no reason to get them from a company like that! A local health food or similar store where the owner’s reputation and livelihood depends on fair prices, product knowledge, and honesty is where I would shop. Sometimes that might be an online source, but I would never buy stuff like this from a set-up like this! Part of being a responsible, frugal adult is learning to say “no, thanks; I’m not interested”, right!?
I really appreciate this post and your thoughts, Kristen
Mlm has always screamed danger to me. Although I do think YL has a good product. The sales style is a huge turn off. But that’s just me....
I used doTerra oils for a little while. The only thing they caused me were allergic reactions. My body can't handle the oil. I literally had oil coming out of my pores. I also developed skin issues which I am still having. I used the oils more than five years ago. The doTerra folks just ignored me when I told them about my experience with "huh, that's weird. Never heard about that". Needless to say, I find oils a major hoax and I also think the practice of claiming all the health benefits, mixing oils, taking numerous mixtures a day, might actually be everything but a health benefit.
I think it's important to separate Essential Oils and MLMs since there are some excellent EO companies that are no YL or Do. I have vestibular migraines and can honestly say that essential oils have done a lot to improve some of my symptoms. I do not buy from YL or DoTerra for the reasons noted but have found Edens Garden to be high quality and very helpful. I'd hate for people to rule out EOs and how they can help just because of a concern about MLMs. Don't buy the ones you see on sale at Marshalls or the grocery store. When you research EOs you will find other highly reputable brands and you will realize how many people are helped by them. For example - Peppermint oil for headaches is a lifesaver and even non-believers have been helped by it. I do think you have to be open to trying them but I have had such a positive experience that I am always amazed by others who aren't willing to try them.
I wonder if the EOs are bad for my cat how good can they be for my body or .y family's. Like so many other things that sweep through I have to wonder. I know so ma y people who went gluten free who have no
O allery to gluten.it makes no sense to me.
My wife bought some high-quality UK essential oils in an attempt to aid sleep. She dabbed some lavender essential oil, as directed on her wrists. within 20 minutes her breathing became difficult and she started to go into a shock state, gasping for breath and panicky.
We narrowed it down to the lavender Oil. She took a shower to was any of the oil from her skin and within an hour the symptoms subsided.
Please be advised, be VERY careful using ANY essential oils undiluted. Dilute them with a neutral carrier oil for use on skin, or use in a diffuser and then only after checking for any reactions.
I haven't read any comments yet, and I love and agree with pretty much everything you said. You are kind and tactful, always, and I so appreciate that in these days of social media meanness.
I think you did a really good job being fair and balanced. I also bought a starter kit a couple of years ago, and have continued to buy enough (it's basically one purchase per year) to be considered a member, so I get a discount on what I order. I've never sold any or earned any commission and have no intention of ever using it as a source of income.
Like you, I enjoy some of the scents, and I think that natural fragrance is better than a bunch of chemicals. And I think there's some benefit to things like lavender for anxiety, peppermint for headaches, etc. My two biggest objections are the MLM setup and the way people seem to obsess over oils.
I signed up under the chiropractor I go to. She had given me some samples to help with anxiety and trouble sleeping, and they seemed to help. She also wasn't pushy (being pushy is a HUGE turnoff for me), so I felt good about it. Within a few months, I started getting text messages from the person she was signed up under basically pushing me to buy more. That really irritated me! Fist of all, I don't know that person, I had never given her my phone number, or asked her to contact me. I thought it was beyond rude to text a stranger. She doesn't know me, my health, or my financial situation, but wants to bug me to buy more product. I ended up blocking her number.
My second major issue is when people treat oils as the cureall for EVERYTHING. I was in a Facebook group that was supposed to be about ways to use your oils. A lot of people in the group would make very derogatory comments about people being on antidepressants, and people with absolutely NO medical background were encouraging people to get off of medications and use oils instead. That's scary to me, and it makes me very angry to see that. I think oils can be beneficial, and I believe they definitely have their place in a balanced and healthy lifestyle, but when someone who isn't a medical professional starts giving medical advice, I'm out.
It was really nice to see such a balanced post on them. I think you did a great job of hitting a nice middle ground.
kinda reminds me of how people( especially people in animal groups) think that CBD is a cure all for everything.
I also appreciated your comments on this subject. Probably because they are entirely in line with my own. I think that there are benefits to the use of essential oils, but like you indicated, I'm not convinced that their effectiveness is as extensive as some would like us to believe. Since I follow your blog, it comes as no surprise that I cringe at the prices of some of the essential oils sold by Young Living and DoTerra. A friend turned me on to Revive oils. Revive is a direct-to-consumer company and I like their oils. I also like them because their prices are better. 🙂 Just thought I'd put that name out there in case anyone is interested.
I've purchased many oils from Revive! They provide all of their analytical testing such as mass spec reports so you can be positive you're getting pure untainted oils. Not to mention, SO affordable.
I don't mind the oils and use one for my skin. The article on YL and its founder was concerning to me that he did those things, but nonetheless, I think there are medicinal properties in the oils for those that want to try them. Oils can be purchased at supermarkets nowadays, so they're easy to acquire.
I feel about the same way and I share your dislike of MLMs.
I know nothing of this company. My only comment is that essential oils can kill pets. So, be wary of that if you use them, especially in diffusers..
Yes they can!!! Especially cats. Their livers can't handle essential oils particularly citrus scents. Some individuals say lavender is fine but I err on the side of caution and diffuse nothing. I'll keep our funky house smells and clean with vinegar and baking soda because I want my cat healthy.
Boy, this is rivaling the "flying squirrel" sweater for comments. Such a nice reprieve from the rest of the internet! Keep up the good work, Kristen!
I think MLM companies are corrupt and take advantage of vulnerable people (especially young mothers) hoping to make money from home. I don't doubt that essential oils have some merits but I think spending ridiculous amounts of money on tiny bottles is part of a new "wellness" obsession. Our society is currently being brainwashed by "Goop" and "Young Living" cults. My two cents and that's about all I would waste buying anything from an MLM.
Thank you for presenting an honest and balanced view on this hot topic. I have three main concerns about the current essential oil craze and the MLMs it has spawned.
First, essential oil safety, along with safe dilution of essential oils, seems missing from the sales pitch of most who sign up for these big MLMs. Young Living and doTERRA, in particular, say very little about safety or dilution anywhere on their sites. I unsubscribed from several healthy living-type blogs because the authors seemed careless about essential oil safety, recommended dumping oils directly into a bath (oil and water do not mix!), told people that fake, self-awarded labels meant certain essential oils were okay to ingest (Ingestion of such powerful chemicals can destroy delicate mucous membranes inside the body, so it is best avoided), and praised the concept of using oils neat on the skin without dilution (which can lead to serious adverse reactions https://tisserandinstitute.org/new-survey-reveals-dangers-of-not-diluting-essential-oils/).
My second concern is that I hear a lot from people who have signed up for either of these MLMs, "Replace all the yucky chemicals in your life with essential oils! So much healthier!" Essential oils can be effective precisely BECAUSE they are full of volatile organic chemicals. This is also why respecting their powerful attributes by diluting them is necessary. When you are prescribed a powerful medication, it is perhaps 1% the active ingredient, and the rest of the ingredients are included to help the active ingredient do its job safely. Essential oils deserve the same respect because they have the same type of potency.
My third concern about the essential oil MLMs is that they seem to pressure people to use essential oils a lot, for everything, all the time (and, one assumes, mostly undiluted), presumably so that their original bottles can empty out so they will purchase more. This seems very anti-Creation to me, because essential oils are highly distilled bits of nature; this is why they are potent and should be diluted. Every drop is precious. One article I read showed that Americans' use (or overuse) of certain very rare essential oils is driving some heartwoods into extinction and leading to non-sustainable forestry around them (I believe it was the sandalwood/agarwood/palo santo type of oil). This type of behaviour seems to me like the opposite of stewarding Creation appropriately. It is not just about the carbon footprint of the oil but also about the seeming waste.
That said, I do use essential oils. I diffuse oils often (passive diffusion by putting drops on a tissue or cotton ball is my favourite method), and I make my own (diluted, of course!) hair oil, facial serum, and bath oils. I especially like Plant Therapy and Eden's Garden, two non-MLM companies which do provide and emphasize safe dilution information with their oils.
Thank you for being willing to host a discussion on such a polarizing topic!
I tried a high quality oil of oregano to help with cold symptoms. I used as directed and put a moderate dose (as directed) under my tongue. Within a couple of minutes my heart rate was near 200! It gradually subsided.
I scrapped that idea and after doing more reading a couple days later I took a half dose and applied it to the soles of my feet and then put on socks. This didn't create any adverse effects and I do think it helped with my immunity. So my message is to be very careful. After reading here I've learned that essential oils, even when using a diffuser (in other words, not directly applied) can be dangerous to cats. I didn't know that.
@Claire, you thought that breathing in toxic (naturally toxic to cats - natural doesn't mean safe, cyanide and arsenic are natural too) air would be safe for cats? Nah.
Please know that many essential oils are toxic to cats, in all forms!!
After seeing news articles warning how dangerous these oils are to pets why would anybody want to use them? Pets living in homes with diffusers have suffered liver failure and died. If essential oils can kill a pet then I certainly don’t want to use them. And scents for finances and forgiveness ? LOL Sounds like modern day snake oil salesmen
chocolate is also dangerous for pets 😉
@Asia, You aren't infusing chocolate into their air though.
Oils can literally kill pets. Be very, very cautious using it around them.
MLMs are predatory and abusive. They take advantage of people's desperation to provide for their family, all while preaching "You can earn a full time income without having to work hard! Stay home with your kids!" In my opinion, they should be illegal. I'm really not trying to be rude, but your comment "If your income exceeds your expenses then I cheer you on" is problematic because that income is built on the back of vulnerable people (usually women with young children) who have been taken advantage of.
Essential oils are fine I guess, but if you want to purchase them you should purchase from somewhere that is not an MLM (like Hopewell Essential Oils, which is what I use - amazing quality and not an MLM, an ethically run company. I'm not affiliated with them or anything).
Just like you advise your readers of the dangers of credit card debt and payday loans and living outside of your means, you should advise them about the danger of MLMs. (I'm sure the huns will be out in full force hating this comment!) 🙂 The podcast "Sounds like MLM but OK" is a helpful resource.
Again, not trying to be unkind or ungracious but MLMs aren't neutral ground. They hurt people and destroy them financially. Just google "danger of MLMs" and read the first 50 articles that pop up. YIKES.
I 100% agree with you.
Young Living is not a traditional MLM. While they do employ levels of commission, they are not marketing in the multi-level fashion. They are a Direct Sales Network Marketing company. An MLM mean the reps are encouraged to find business people and not customers. They focus on getting others under them to sell the product. In an MLM you usually have to stock product which can be a terrible obligation and weight to bear on your shoulders. Also, you usually have to sign up for auto ship to be a customer and are locked in. Oh, and if you want to cancel your autoship you effectively cancel your membership. NONE of which are what we do in YL.
Products are always marked up by 50 if not 75% or 100% more. Your L’Oreal hair shampoo from Target costs you $7. Target takes $3.50 of that. L'Oreal profits only $2.75 because the rest goes to marketing and overhead costs. The product itself only costs under $1 to make. What gives? ADVERTISING. With a product like Young Living, THEY PAY FAMILIES RATHER THAN BIG BUSINESSES. 50% OF ALL THEIR PROFIT GOES RIGHT BACK INTO THE DISTRIBUTORS’ HANDES. It is amazing really when you start understanding that every single company on the planet is a pyramid. The difference with direct sales: there is no one holding you back and you can work your way right on past all the top executives in the company. You can even out rank your own upline! So much for a pyramid. All of Young Living's top ranking distributors make far more than the company's main CEOs. That is amazing!
So, next time you poo poo a Direct Sales person, consider where you would like to put your money. It really does matter and yes, you may have been brain washed into thinking the opposite. Big Business has a way of lobbying in their favor. As a final note, both Donald Trump and Warren Buffett have said if they ever lost all their money they would start over in Direct Sales. Take that to the bank!
Maybe it depends on the people you work with in Young Living.
Our group in the Philippines, we focus on the benefits of the essential oils, we educate people on the safe and effective usage. We support them through an oiling Community.
If someone asks about the business side, we give them the details. you are not obligated to do the business if you don't want to. You can remain as a casual oiler or you can go high up the ranks if you want to.
we never promised our business members that they will earn this $$$ without doing anything because in real life, we work long hours supporting members and connecting to people.
that's the good thing about this young living business. 9 don't know how other people do it but in our circle, this is how we are.
I haven't read all the comments below but in addition to being a MLM, the products that Young Living (and other wellness companies sell) are unregulated by the FDA. They do not need to prove the benefits or harm of their products since the passing of Dietary Supplements and Health Education Act (DSHEA) in 1994. Listen to Season 2 of The Dream podcast for more information.
@Ellen O'Leary, Health Canada has approved a number of oils and their health claims.
Previously distributors were prohibited from saying “peppermint oil can ease arthritis pain”, but it is now allowed in Canada since approved by Health Canada.
Health Canada bases their approval on science, not anecdotes.
The FDA approved YLs Vitality line for food flavouring, that was also based on science.
Not all drugs approved by health administrations are amazing either… see the opiate crisis caused by pharma and doctors…
You can overdose on lemon oil, for me it gives me eczema on my dace. Drinking a bottle of wintergreen oil might kill you. Citrus oils cause photosensitivity in the sun.
Essential oils are not harmless, but they’re not as dangerous as they’re being made out to be here either. I’ve never heard of anyone committing suicide by EO overdose. They go to western medicine for that. Or drink Drano, that’ll probably do the trick. You might not feel good after drinking Thieves cleaner, but you won’t die.
It’s the misinformation that is most dangerous, and YL follows regulations and provides safety information. They do not promote ingesting oils that are not in the Vitality line. Safety guidelines are found in their catalogues, and topical application is (almost?) always recommended with dilution. Every bottle that contains photosensitive oils has “avoid direct sunlight for __ hours after topical application” on the label. On bergamot it’s 72 hours!
Many distributors do spread misinformation, despite the company’s clearly stated disapproval.
If distributors are caught making unapproved claims, whether it’s about the oils or the business model, they will be kicked out of the company.
People need to be more responsible in their decision making. Almost anything can be dangerous if misused. It’s why practically everything comes with a warning and proper use instructions these days. Including takeout hot coffee, western medication, and essential oils, whether we choose to read the insert/warnings/directions for use or not.
I'm pretty neutral when it comes to essential oils.
I wanted to comment to say that I really appreciate your kind and thoughtful post about it. I think it's a balanced and kind way to moderate a difficult/charged topic.
Pleasant to smell, but too expensive for regular use or diffusing for me. I have a few lesser exclusive brands of some of the fragrances I like.I feel uplifted when I take a few whiffs of tangerine. But I would not spend money on a monthly basis on oils.
I'm a little late to the conversation, but find your article spot-on! I, too, ordered a YL kit through a good friend who was a distributor. However, I was really put off by some of the claims. I still use oils - mostly for cleaning and aromatherapy, but also to treat mild cold and allergy symptoms. I now use Plant Therapy and find their prices and the quality of their oils to be excellent.
I came across your post while doing some research. It is excellently written, and that is coming from a Young Living Distributor. There are absolutely Those who believe an oil is a cure all, while many in my organization are just looking for a natural solution to common products. I personally do not buy every single one of my products from young living, but have found a few things I am absolutely in love with. The oils are a given, and when I am talking to those who aren’t sure what oils to get, my number one piece of advice is make sure it’s a source you can trust. I choose young living because of the seed to deal promise, and because I can go visit the farms and see the process. There are decent oil companies on the market! Just not in grocery stores, hobby stores, etc. I saw you mentioned lip balm that you already love (and I am going to HAVE to try!). Have you tried YLs lip balm? If not, I highly suggest getting the vanilla mint this winter! It’s amazing. And! Their lip balm is right about the same price!
Good job. Thank you.
I have just one question. I am. Wondering where from the distributors salary coming from? They said that the oils are expensive coz of quality seed to seal , where the money for salary comes from?
I mean, I'm sure that a percentage of the oil price goes to pay distributors and their uplines. I have no idea what the actual percentages are, though.
I am studying clinical aromatherapy. Hardly any people in training use MLM companies. They are not organic for a start. And they are very overpriced. I read some of your general comments on essential oils and actually there have been many clinical trials on the therapeutic uses of essential oils. Salvatore Battaglias book is wonderful for this. The problem is that people only know essential oils through beauty products and fail to realise that the chemical compounds of essential oils and understanding these are what’s important. A clinical
Aromatherapist will know and understand these compounds and how they should be used therapeutically. It’s a complicated and very scientific thing. So please do not go saying these are placebo’s as they’re not. And they should be respected. After all, many pharmaceutical drugs have synthesised properties from plants, and we tend to trust those right? The issue with MLMS as you’ve said, is that they undermine the power and background of essential oil’s and therefore undermines the way they work.
@Leanne b, hi Leanne, love your answer.. so, which other practitioners brands of essential oils would you recommend or what could some have a cosult with someone that practices clinical aromatherapy. Also I thought part of the benefit if YL was that they are also fit for oral consumption..
Look forward to your thoughts
Wow yeah you need to have some SERIOUS disposable income to buy this product. "Sell it and they will come, boys, just sell it and they will come". $18 for a single foaming soap dispenser. WOW. No freaking way.
A YL rep claims that when Platinum level is reached the monthly income is not only guaranteed but can be left in a Will and will continue to be paid monthly to beneficiaries
Is this true?
Boy, I really don't know! Maybe someone else who visits this post will be able to answer.
That doesn't sound right to me, because I thought that people even high up in Young Living still had to recruit and maintain teams. But my knowledge of the inner workings of the program are not great.
I might try reaching out to Stacy of Humorous Homemaking for an answer.
This is accurate and actually beings at the gold level.
On some of your starter kits you use 666 and that does not set well with me, plus I would not order those no matter how much savings. Find other numbers to use.
Totally fine to not order oils, but I'm not sure where you are seeing 666.
I do purchase Young Living Oils and have found some that are very beneficial. The Digize for heartburn and mild gastric disturbances works for my family more quickly than antacids. RC (Respiratory Care Blend) seems to help with cold and sinus issues when applied over the sinus cavities, beneath the nose and down the neck. My husband sings and he feels better after diffusing this oil while we sleep. A drop of Frankincense applied to the soft palate of the mouth has helped or totally relieved migraine pain for me.
I agree with you that some the claims for the oils are overly optimistic. I have heard of one oil applied to the big toe at bedtime can prevent snoring. Not sure about this but I have never
tried it.
Thank you for listening to my spiel!
You need to keep researching about the therapeutic effects of essential oils. Also, Young Living's MLM is not at all like Amway, Mary Kay, etc. You do not have to purchase inventory and peddle it. You do not have to sell it to get a discount. I have gotten I really don't see a problem with a corporate entity dedicated to employing millions. YL's global philanthropy is unrivaled. I will say your article is not hateful, but it lacks depth, which makes it misleading. All the criticisms I've read about doTerra and Young Living have to do with them being MLM entities. Not at all about their EOs. As to Young Living's essential oils---they are the only company who doesn't fractionally distill their oils. Look it up. Look up what fractional distillation and rectification means. It's an eye-opener. While I appreciate your attempt, your information, even with your citings you use, are still opinion, and they serve mostly to misinform. I don't think you mean for them to come across as half-truths like so many other articles denegrating MLMs and especially Young Living, but they are still opinion. Keep researching. People who down essential oil use have not used them or studied them enough. So when you are asked another question like the one you did well trying to answer in your article, please provide more depth. Each point you've tried to make here, and did pretty well, could be it's own book. There is so much more to essential oils than anyone can summarize in a trite blog post.
@Sheri Rose, I searched about this joke of a company after seeing lots of videos that accuse it of being a cult / shady MLM / a 'business' with a child murderer as a CEO (it was most probably unintentional, but he thinking is better than more experienced doctors or at least people from his surroundings with experience in medicine is just sad and laughable).
How the hell you dare to even contest any of this person's claims, as she seems to be very well mannered in the way she presents the info. She clearly stated MLM sucks, but wanted to not offend anyone. She clearly stated that essential oils are useless (at best used as fragrances), but wanted to not offend anyone.
And here you come with your usual MLM / cultish propaganda, trying to be 'nice', but in the same time attack the op.
No, she was on point. You are the delusional thinking a company with a guy that was convicted for not posing any medical license when he sold 'products for cancer curing' is any trustworthy. Think I am going for ad hominem? Go and search about CEO's life. A company should be the founder's vision on some matter. If his vision was to avoid legal problems by selling 'magic products', while making shittons of money, congrats.
Nobody needs to research about this company in how great it is, but actually the reverse.
Maybe you are there too, and if you are: I just hope you are not only holding the bags for people like him. And if you are: just get on stocks, other types of investments, hell yeah, just go and gamble, its still more profitable.
But I know people like you are going on with the propaganda. I know this will only generate more money for you.
If you think that the company is critiqued only for their MLM model, and not for EOs, consider these:
1. Ofc you will shame a MLM company, anyone should do this and educate the people that are into the scheme. There are official studies that show that less than 0.4% of a pyramid product scheme actually make more money. 2.6% of people that gamble are actually making money.
2. EOs are some New Age stuff. Like it or not, it is what it is and you cannot simply bash the faith of some people, especially when you think that the most harmful EOs can be is when they are used instead of a serious treatment / medicine. But alt medicine is generally shit, New Age included.
So, DYOR on how society and life works first, don't buy into 'get rich quick' or 'invest without risk' lies, grow and be a beautiful person. As everyone should be.
My sister got me into YL and sold me on the benefits of using cleaner products, but I was always hesitant, mainly due to the price point. She brought up the Seed to Seal "promise" and how the company has total control over the whole process.
That being said, I purchased the starter kit and the notorious $300 diffuser---yes I know! What can I say...she sold me!
Since then, I have done a deep dive on the YL company as a whole and the founder and his not so ethical start into the business of essential oils---this guy has a past!
I will diffuse what oils I have now, but don't see myself purchasing any more products due to the business practices and company as a whole.
I am also very wary of the whole "seed to seal" marketing gimmick. It is a registered trademark, but not regulated by anyone other than YL. Sounds bogus to me!
All in all, great unbiased post!
I for one highly doubt their oils are any better than Aldi oils but if they say it enough times it becomes so. The pricing difference is due to the mlm levels where uplines all need to take a cut. Also most mlms try to get your spouse and family members signed up too so oftentimes the monthly is $200 because they push for you to do this to "grow" your business. That's $2400 of after tax income just to be a part of their mlm....ouch!
I'm impressed with your review of your friend's mlm business as most people would shy away from doing this!!
Am YL member (not selling) and I do SEE with my own eyes that they help. Well I was also very sceptical and thinking it's only placebo... and am sure there is a little of it as well . But we happened to use the oils for things that placebo cant heal (like to kill bacteria etc. For example my husband have some skin problem for many many years and nothing could heal it, even a doctor couldnt help or find out whats the cause of it. So I told him to try to put some Thieves or clove oil on it and to do it continualy every day (you need to be consistent when using oils to see the benefits). Even tho we thought it's not going to help much. But he did tried it...we noticed that the oils helped to heal it and after 2 months its almost gone. So the oils do work. Thats just one example of how it helped us. 🙂
But i would be careful when any YL or other MLM distibutor tells me that the oils will cure some sickness or that you should use it instead of drugs. I am in a very educated team (we have some highly educated people there, like nurses, naturopath etc who know the sicience behind the oils) and they always encourage to talk to a doctor first before starting using oils when your have some kind of chronic illness or emotional disorders. Because the oils can interact with the medicine you take etc. I would say that the oils do not prevent or heal illness but they boost our immune system so the body can fight the illness.
My opinion is that, in order to write a review about something, you need to USE it. You clearly did not use the YL oils. You did not go deeper with your ideas, they were just for the surface.. sorry
I agree to some certain with the writer. However to be fair to YL, we the consumers aren't able to buy the whole list of essential oils available and try it out to know the benefits.
Instead, will only try out some oils that fit our areas of concern and diligent using and oiling it for a few months. Due to the fact, our bodies take time to regenerate. Likewise with the oils.
I, myself do see improvement in some of my health issues(endocrine, detoxification & immunity). M certainly going to continue to use it but will not spend too much on it.
Hope my explanation helps.
I will say that I agree with you on some things about essential oils. I still have my reservations as well, however with that being said, I’d like to tell you my story. I have had stomach and intestinal issues that started about 15 years ago. I have had terrible Gerd, IBS, diverticulosis and Ischemic Colitis. There have been many other issues as well. I eat very healthy, lots of veggies, nuts, yogurt and healthy foods. After two trips in two months to ER, beginning in Christmas Day, I became quite desperate. I thought I was going to die. I was taking at least six medications just for my gut. I quit cold turkey, went to my local health food store and yes, I bought about $200 worth of stuff. I ordered several of essential oils. I am a member, but never tied any for digestion. I am now making my own capsules using fifteen different oils. I am doing wonderfully better! I’m scared to quit doing anything that I am doing. It’s only been four months, but I am feeling really good. With that, I’ll keep on doing what I’m doing!
Here we are years later and there are a number of studies showing that many of the essential oils do indeed work for their purported claims. It's a little more complicated than using them based on what color they are associated with on the Chakra chart or anything like that.
But tea tree oil for instance is shown in studies to be antiseptic and effective against MRSA (antibiotic resistant staph infection).
Source:
https://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Tea_Tree_Oil_Treatment_of_MRSA#:~:text=The%20efficacy%20of%20tea%20tree,continuous%20exposure%20to%205%25%20TTO.
Thank you for the information. Found it very helpful.
All those companies like YL n Doterra gotta sell high to pay the people.
I have a blend I’ve been selling for 26 years for chronic pain. It’s topical n It will out perform any essential oil blend on the market.
I haven't put too much thought into the paradigms of YL but one thing I can say is that, placebo or not, has benefited my being more so than not. Frankincense is a true life-saver. I have used Thieves to lessen the redness of my acne and also on my swollen tonsils when I am sick. Peppermint for nausea and awakeness. I believe these oils do work. With all the good, I have to add one small observation about the company that I think more people should know before they become more "involved." My grandmother was an absolute die-hard YL person. I don't think she was an ambassador but had a collection of one. Hundreds of bottles and different products. As Hurricane Harvey came through it wiped out her entire house and her Essential Oil collection with it. Thousands of dollars worth. She contacted the company and that resulted in her getting denied of any refunds or replacements. Since then, she hasn't invested too much in many more YL products. Just the essentials!