Aromatherapy:

Recommended Essential Oil Brands for Room Diffusers

Patients often inquire about what essential oil brands  are recommended Accurate Clinic. In an effort to field these questions, 6 brands are presented here has suggestions for comparison. This is not meant to be an exhaustive review and is not based on personal experience, but rather to be a simple resource for those looking for guidance only.

 

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Definitions and Terms Related to Pain

Recommended Essential Oil Brands for Room Diffusers

This treatise provides recommendations for high-quality essential oil brands suitable for use in room diffusers as therapeutic agents for condition such as pain, anxiety, and migraine/headache. The focus is on brands offering pure, therapeutic-grade oils containing key terpenes (e.g., linalool, geraniol, limonene, beta-caryophyllene [BCP], pinene).

Administration of the essential oils is via inhalation based on the use of ultrasonic diffusers.

Criteria for Brand Recommendations of Essential Oils

  • Purity: 100% pure, undiluted oils, free of synthetics/additives.
  • Sourcing: Ethical, sustainable, preferably organic, with transparent supply chains.
  • Testing: Third-party lab testing (e.g., GC/MS) for terpene profiles and contaminants.
  • Certificates of Analysis (COAs): Online availability of COAs for each essential oil
  • Reputation: Positive reviews, industry recognition, and accessibility.
  • Therapeutic Focus: Oils with high content of linalool (lavender, coriander), geraniol (rose, geranium), limonene (lemon, orange), BCP (black pepper, rosemary), pinene (pine, rosemary) for pain, anxiety, migraine.
  • Pricing: Note average pricing of 15ml bottles of essential oils with comparison to other essential oil providers
  • Safety: Suitable for diffuser use; minimal risk in well-ventilated rooms.

 

For a complete list of all recommended brands with full breakdowns of selection, criteria, click here

For a summary table of all recommended brands, click here

 

Suggested brands include:

  1. NOW Foods
  2. Plant Therapy
  3. doTERRA
  4. Young Living
  5. Rocky Mountain Oils
  6. Edens Garden.

Recommended Essential Oil Brands

Below are top brands based on quality, testing, and suitability for therapeutic diffuser use. Oils are selected to align with cannabis-based terpenes and general aromatherapy efficacy.

1. Plant Therapy

  • Overall recommendation: Plant Therapy is an excellent choice for recommending to patients. The brand’s transparency, rigorous third-party testing, ethical sourcing, and commitment to safety, all at an accessible price point, make it a reliable and trustworthy provider of high-quality essential oils. The availability of batch-specific COAs allows for precise assessment of therapeutic compounds, empowering you to make evidence-based recommendations. 
  • Pricing: Plant Therapy is generally considered a mid-range, accessible brand. It is more expensive than bulk or lower-quality oils (like NOW Foods for some items) but is consistently more affordable than premium MLM brands like doTERRA.
    • Pricing Example: A 10ml bottle of Lavender is approximately $8, with a 30ml bottle being about $17. By comparison, a 15ml bottle from doTERRA can be $38 or more, while a similar 15ml bottle from Plant Therapy is likely cheaper than its 30ml size.
  • Reputation: Plant Therapy enjoys a very positive reputation among consumers and within the aromatherapy community.
    • Positive Aspects: It is highly regarded for its commitment to safety, affordability, and extensive product education. The brand has a loyal following due to its high-quality products and customer-focused approach.
    • KidSafe Line: Its “KidSafe” line, formulated by a certified aromatherapist, provides clear guidelines for safe use with children, addressing a common safety concern for many families.
    • No MLM: As a direct-to-consumer brand, its reputation is not impacted by the negative associations of multi-level marketing.
  • Availability: Online (PlantTherapy.com), Amazon, starting at $7-15/bottle (15 mL).

2. doTERRA

  • Overall recommendation: Premium brand. doTERRA offers exceptionally high quality and a rigorous, transparent testing process. Their Co-Impact Sourcing model provides a degree of ethical assurance that many other brands do not. However, the significantly higher price and the MLM sales structure, which can lead to misinformation from distributors, are notable downsides.
    • High Quality: Patients can be confident in the purity of the product.
    • Potential Misinformation: Some patients may receive exaggerated or medically unverified advice from distributors.
    • Accessibility vs. Budget: For patients on a limited budget, the high cost of doTERRA may be prohibitive, and equally safe and effective oils can be found for a lower price.
  • Pricing: doTERRA is a premium-priced brand, and its oils are often significantly more expensive than those from providers like NOW Foods.
    • doTERRA pricing: As seen on its site and through distributors, 15ml bottle prices can range from $25 to well over $100 depending on the oil. For example, Lavender is around $38 (retail) and Sandalwood is $120 (retail) for 15ml.
    • NOW Foods comparison: A quick search shows NOW Foods’ 1oz (30ml) bottles are priced similarly to, or less than, a 15ml bottle of doTERRA’s equivalent, making NOW a much more accessible option.

 

  • Reputation: doTERRA has a positive reputation among its customers and distributors (“Wellness Advocates”) for high-quality products. However, the multi-level marketing (MLM) business structure creates a mixed reputation.

Benefits: The MLM model empowers distributors to build their own business and can facilitate education and community.

Criticism: Some critics argue the model relies too heavily on recruitment over product sales. The FTC has also taken action against doTERRA distributors for making false medical claims about the products.

  • Availability: Online (doTERRA.com), distributors, $20-40/bottle.

3. Young Living

  • Overall recommendation: Due to the lack of transparent, third-party Certificates of Analysis and the high cost associated with its multi-level marketing structure, Young Living is a less optimal choice for clinical recommendation compared to brands like Plant Therapy. While Young Living has a strong internal commitment to sourcing, the non-public nature of its testing reports makes it difficult to verify its claims for specific patient needs. For  prioritizing data-driven, evidence-based recommendations, the lack of third-party verification is a significant weakness.
  • Pricing: Young Living is a premium-priced brand, typically comparable to or slightly more expensive than its MLM rival, doTERRA. Its prices are significantly higher than direct-to-consumer brands like Plant Therapy and NOW Foods. For example, a 15ml bottle of Lavender from Young Living (around $35 retail) is more than double the price of a Plant Therapy 15ml bottle.
  • Reputation: Young Living, as a multi-level marketing (MLM) company, has a mixed and polarized reputation.
    • Positive: Supporters, often distributors (“members”), praise the company’s quality, sourcing, and community. The company has also received a positive A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
    • Negative: Critics, however, point to the potential for misinformation from non-expert distributors making unsubstantiated health claims, as seen in a 2020 NAD case. The MLM model itself is frequently criticized for prioritizing recruitment over product sales and for high prices.

4. Rocky Mountain Oils (RMO)

  • Overall recommendation: Rocky Mountain Oils (RMO) is a highly reliable brand. Its combination of verifiable third-party testing, strong ethical and sustainable sourcing, and transparent accessibility of batch-specific COAs empowers you to make well-informed, evidence-based recommendations. The fair pricing and absence of an MLM structure also make it a more accessible and trustworthy choice compared to some premium brands

  • Pricing: Rocky Mountain Oils is positioned as a quality-focused, non-MLM brand, and its pricing reflects a balance between quality and accessibility. While more expensive than some budget brands, it is consistently and significantly less expensive than premium MLM brands like doTERRA and Young Living. For example, a 15ml bottle of RMO Lavender is far less costly than a similarly sized doTERRA Lavender oil.

  • Reputation:  RMO has a solid reputation as a reliable and trustworthy direct-to-consumer brand, free from the multi-level marketing model of companies like Young Living and doTERRA.

  • Customer service: They offer a 90-day, “no questions asked” return policy on all products.

  • Availability: Online (RockyMountainOils.com), $10-25/bottle.

5. Edens Garden

  • Overall recommendation: Edens Garden is an exceptionally reliable brand for your patients, combining high-quality, third-party verified oils with ethical sourcing and accessible pricing. Its transparent approach to providing batch-specific test results is a major strength, allowing for data-driven recommendations. The absence of a multiple level marketing (MLM) structure also ensures that quality is prioritized over sales tactics.
  • Reputation Edens Garden has a very positive reputation, built on its commitment to quality, affordability, and transparency.Its products are consistently highly rated by customers on platforms like Amazon and are often compared favorably to other top brands.
  • Pricing: Edens Garden is consistently positioned as a more affordable, non-MLM alternative (multi-level marketing model) to premium brands like Young Living and doTERRA. A 15ml bottle from Edens Garden is generally priced significantly lower than the MLM counterparts, while maintaining a level of quality comparable to other reputable direct-to-consumer brands.
  • Availability: Online (EdensGarden.com), Amazon, $5-20/bottle.

 

6. NOW Foods

  • Overall recommendation: NOW Foods essential oils are a good choice for recommending to patients, especially those who need a more budget-friendly option. Their commitment to extensive in-house testing, third-party verification, and public transparency via Certificates of Analysis offers a strong basis for confidence in their product quality and purity. While sourcing transparency is limited for non-organic products, their robust testing for contaminants mitigates this concern. The accessible pricing and positive reputation further support their suitability.

  • Reputation: NOW Foods has a strong, long-standing reputation as a large and respected natural products company. It is known for providing high-quality products at an accessible price point, which is a key differentiator from MLM brands. Online reviews from consumers on retailers like iHerb and Amazon are overwhelmingly positive, with users praising the scent, purity, and value of their essential oils.
  • Pricing: NOW Foods essential oils are significantly more affordable than those from premium MLM brands like doTERRA and Young Living. Prices for a 15ml bottle are typically a fraction of the cost of MLM brands. This price accessibility, combined with verified quality, is a major advantage for patients on a budget.
  • Availability: Online (NOW Foods,), Amazon, $5-20/bottle.

Diffusers 

An essential oil diffuser disperses a fine mist of oil into the air, filling a room with a relaxing aroma. This is ideal for creating a peaceful ambiance in your living room, bedroom, or home office.

  • Device Selection: Use ultrasonic/cold-air diffusers (avoid heating >40°C to prevent terpene degradation).
  • Products: When optional, select high-quality products to assure the best therapeutic outcome. Ideally, use brands that provide certificates of analysis (COAs) that demonstrate percent content of terpenes and other compounds present in their individual essential oil products. Suggested brands include: NOW Foods, Plant Therapy,  doTERRA, YoungLiving, RockyMountainOils, EdensGarden.
  • Patient Instructions: Place diffuser in a well-ventilated room, avoid direct inhalation <12 inches, and stop if irritation occurs. Combine with deep breathing for enhanced relaxation.
  • Dosage: Start with 1-2 drops (0.05-0.1 mL) in 100-200 mL water-based diffuser; increase to 3-10 drops as desired of your chosen essential oil to water (distilled preferred? not required) in the diffuser’s reservoir, following the device’s instructions.
  • Timing & Duration:
    • Pre-session: If supplementing cannabis use, diffuse 30 min before cannabis use to prime GABAergic systems.
    • Run for 30–60 minutes: daily or when symptoms flare-up (e.g., low-pressure weather events associated with increased pain).
    • Avoid Continuous Use: Limit to 60 min sessions to avoid olfactory fatigue.
    • Frequency: 1–2 sessions daily, morning and evening, or when symptoms flare-up.
  • Safety: 
    • Avoid in asthma, epilepsy (rosemary/peppermint)
    • Avoid oils with camphor/ketones (neurotoxic at high doses).
    • Caution regarding use around children/pets.
    • Ensure ventilation to prevent overexposure.

 

A Few Recommended Essential Oils for Conditions

  • Pain: Lavender (linalool), Geranium/Rose (geraniol), Black Pepper/Rosemary (BCP). Blend: 1 drop each, 30-60 min/day.  See Aromatherapy: Pain for information
  • Anxiety: Lavender (linalool), Lemon/Orange (limonene), Black Pepper/Clove (BCP). Blend: 1 drop each, 30-60 min/day. See Aromatherapy: Relaxation & Anxiety for information
  • Migraine/Headache: Lavender (linalool), Rosemary/Pine (pinene/BCP), Peppermint (menthol). Blend: 1 drop lavender + 1 drop rosemary, 15-30 min. See Aromatherapy: Migraines for information

 

 

References

Notes

  • Brand Selection: Plant Therapy, doTERRA, Young Living, Rocky Mountain Oils, and Edens Garden offer pure, tested oils with terpenes for pain/anxiety/migraine. Cost varies; Edens Garden most affordable.
  • Clinical Application: Recommend for patients supplementing cannabis; start with lavender/peppermint for broad efficacy. Monitor for sedation/irritation.

Emphasis on Education

 

Accurate Clinic promotes patient education as the foundation of it’s medical care. In Dr. Ehlenberger’s integrative approach to patient care, including conventional and complementary and alternative medical (CAM) treatments, he may encourage or provide advice about the use of supplements. However, the specifics of choice of supplement, dosing and duration of treatment should be individualized through discussion with Dr. Ehlenberger. The following information and reference articles are presented to provide the reader with some of the latest research to facilitate evidence-based, informed decisions regarding the use of conventional as well as CAM treatments.

 

For medical-legal reasons, access to these links is limited to patients enrolled in an Accurate Clinic medical program.

 

Should you wish more information regarding any of the subjects listed – or not listed –  here, please contact Dr. Ehlenberger. He has literally thousands of published articles to share on hundreds of topics associated with pain management, weight loss, nutrition, addiction recovery and emergency medicine. It would take years for you to read them, as it did him.

 

For more information, please contact Accurate Clinic.

 

Supplements recommended by Dr. Ehlenberger may be purchased commercially online

Please read about our statement regarding the sale of products recommended by Dr. Ehlenberger.

 

 

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