Young Living is a world-leading essential oil brand and a favorite brand for many—but they also have the most expensive oils you can buy. The essential oils market has become quite competitive and there are many brands with the same oil quality at a lower cost.
Whether you have been using Young Living essential oils and want to try a more affordable alternative, or you simply want to know which brands match their quality, our list can help you with that.
Here are the best alternatives for Young Living essential oils:
In this post, we’ll explain why each of these brands is a worthy substitute for Young Living essential oils and what factors can help you pick the best brand for you.
What To Look For In An Essential Oil Brand
It’s important to get to know the company before you go for its products. After all, we are putting our trust and money in their hands. So before we introduce the best alternatives, we’ll cover the essential factors that we should focus on.
When looking for essential oil brands, the key criteria that can help you choose the best products are price, purity and testing, product selection, and corporate responsibility.
Price
If you compare the quality and purity of oils of certain smaller brands with Young Living’s, you will see that there is no difference there, but the price of the latter is much higher. The reason for that is that Young Living uses a multi-level marketing business model (MLM). Big companies like Young Living and doTERRA work with independent distributors so they mark up their prices as they need to give the reps and sales advocates a part of their profit.
On the other hand, companies that sell their products directly to their customers on their website or Amazon don’t need to pay the middleman, hence the affordability.
So, a price tag isn’t an indicator of quality, but a consequence of the chosen business model. How can we get the assurance of purity and quality then? The best way to assess it is by checking out the company’s dedication to sourcing quality ingredients and testing processes—and that is the following key factor on our list.
Purity & Testing
Regarding purity and testing, this is what essential oils companies should deliver:
- Strict quality and testing guidelines and protocols
- Sustainably sourced ingredients that are grown ecologically and responsibly
- 100% pure oils without any additives, chemical fillers, or synthetics
The oils also shouldn’t be mixed with carrier or any other oils, unless they are intentionally undiluted for safety or convenience.
There’s no doubt about Young Living adhering to these standards as their oils are of the highest quality. If you want to recognize what other brands can match that level of quality, you can look for brands with the gold standard of essential oil testing—GC/MS testing.
You might have also heard of “therapeutic grade” as an assurance of quality, but the fact is that this term carries no proof of the quality of the oil. “Therapeutic grade” is merely a term used for marketing as there is no regulating body that determines it.
GC/MS Testing
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) is a testing method that separates individual components of an essential oil. By analyzing an essential oil’s compounds, the trained chemists identify whether or not the oil is pure.
Most essential oil brands test each batch of oil at independent third-party labs that perform GC/MS tests. Many of them post the test results on the product page so that the customer can see the breakdown of the individual components and their percentage in the oil.
For example, a GC/MS test looks like this:
In case you can’t find the test results on a company’s website, you can always contact the company and ask whether they perform GC/MS testing and if they do, whether they can deliver the report.
A Note on Internal Use
The common question among essential oil users is whether essential oils can be used internally. Some companies do state that their oils are designed for internal use, but we recommend taking these claims with caution and preferably, avoiding ingesting the oil. Pure essential oils are very strong and if taken in excess, they can cause internal damage.
If you do decide to use oils internally, consult a licensed health professional first and find a brand that has a line of oils for this purpose. Since Young Living has a line of ingestible oils, we made sure that every brand among the alternatives matches the same criteria.
Product Selection
Shopping for wellness products is much easier when you find a brand with a wide selection. Young Living has over 60 singles oils and over 100 blends and roll-ons, but there are other brands that have the same (or even better) variety.
All of our alternatives offer other wellness products besides essential oils, such as oil diffusers, skin and body care products, accessories, and much more. If you want USDA-certified organic essential oils, some of the listed companies offer those as well.
Several of the recommended brands also have a ‘Kid Safe’ line of essential oils and natural products so those are the best choice for children. These products contain only ingredients that are recommended for kids.
Corporate Responsibility
Lastly, we must mention the responsibility of the companies to adhere to sustainable and ethical growth and harvesting. We need to take from nature to get those incredible oils, however, this should be done responsibly so that the oil production industry doesn’t damage our planet.
We wanted to make sure that the brands on our list explain their business practices and what actions they take to show environmental awareness. Some of them even founded philanthropic projects to help local farms and communities that partner with them.
Rocky Mountain Oils vs Young Living
Utah-based company, Rocky Mountain Oils, is a veteran in the essential oil industry founded almost two decades ago (in 2004). Their S.A.A.F.E. Promise™ guarantees their customers:
- Satisfaction
- Authenticity
- Analysis
- Free of adulterants
- Effectiveness
- Purity
The oils are sourced through vetted suppliers and GC/MS tested (with test results available on their site). On top of that, they keep their products affordable thanks to the direct-to-consumer sales model. Besides essential oils, you can also shop for diffusers, accessories, personal care products, household items, and more.
| Rocky Mountain Oils | Young Living | |
| Price | $$$ | $$$$ |
| Returns | 90 days refund guarantee | 30 days |
| GC-MS Testing | Yes, reports provided | Yes, reports provided |
| Singles | 90+ | 90+ |
| Blends | 100+ | 30+ |
| Organic line | Yes | No |
Here are some Rocky Mountain Oils alternatives to comparable Young Living blends. See the full list of Rocky Mountain Oils blends here.
| Rocky Mountain Oils | Young Living |
| Breathe Ease (also on Amazon) | Raven |
| Immune Strength (also on Amazon) | Thieves® |
| Purify (also on Amazon) | Purification |
Barefūt vs Young Living
Barefut was founded in 2010 with a mission to provide “100% pure essential oils at affordable prices.” All of their ingredients are organically grown on farms across the world in order to create oils of the finest quality. You can check the GC/MS reports for their oils on the product page.
They have a kid-friendly line, accessories like diffusers and necklaces, and lots of other natural products like balms and herbal teas.
| Barefut | Young Living | |
| Price | $$ | $$$$ |
| Returns | 30 days | 30 days |
| GC-MS Testing | Yes, reports provided | Yes, reports provided |
| Singles | 100+ | 90+ |
| Blends | 45+ | 30+ |
| Organic line | No | No |
Here are some Barefut alternatives to comparable Young Living blends. See the full list of Barefut blends here.
| Barefut | Young Living |
| BreatheAroma | Raven |
| Thrive™ | Thieves® |
| Fresh Air Eternity | Purification |
Jade Bloom vs Young Living
“A small company with a big mission,” Jade Bloom, has been delivering 100% pure essential oils, customer-center culture, science-based education, and lowest-cost products since 2014. They have a great selection of personal care products (for skin, body, hair, etc.), and they also offer pressed oils (a pharmaceutical line) and oils extracted through steam distillation (therapeutic line). Their raw plant materials are sustainably sourced and every batch goes through GC/MS testing.
| Jade Bloom | Young Living | |
| Price | $$ | $$$$ |
| Returns | 120 days | 30 days |
| GC-MS Testing | Yes, reports provided | Yes, reports provided |
| Singles | 100+ | 90+ |
| Blends | 80+ | 30+ |
| Organic line | No | No |
Here are some Jade Bloom alternatives to popular Young Living blends. See the full list of Jade Bloom blends here.
Plant Therapy vs Young Living
Plant Therapy has an interesting origin story as it was founded by Chris Jones and his aromatherapist mother-in-law back in 2011. As a family-owned company, they put people first and keep their “customers, employees, and community at the heart of everything we do.” Their oils are tested by both an independent GC/MS testing lab and by in-house certified aromatherapists.
In addition to essential oils, they sell CBD products, body care, and household items. Plant Therapy also has a kid-safe and pet-safe line of products, as well as essential oils with USDA Organic Certification.
| Plant Therapy | Young Living | |
| Price | $$$ | $$$$ |
| Returns | 90 days money-back guarantee | 30 days |
| GC-MS Testing | Yes, reports provided | Yes, reports provided |
| Singles | 120+ | 90+ |
| Blends | 40+ | 30+ |
| Organic line | Yes | No |
Here are some Plant Therapy alternatives to comparable Young Living blends. See the full list of Plant Therapy blends here.
| Plant Therapy | Young Living |
| Respir Aid(also on Amazon) | Raven |
| Germ Fighter(also on Amazon) | Thieves® |
| Deodorizing(also on Amazon) | Purification |
Edens Garden vs Young Living
Edens Garden is a “women-led, family-owned, and faith-based company” founded in 2009. They provide 100% pure essential oils and other non-toxic, vegan, cruelty-free products such as perfumes, bar soaps, body oils, and so on.
All of the products are sourced ethically, produced sustainably, and tested by an independent third-party lab. On top of selling high-quality oils at an affordable price, Edens Garden donates parts of its profits to a number of nonprofit organizations.
| Edens Garden | Young Living | |
| Price | $$ | $$$$ |
| Returns | 30 days | 30 days |
| GC-MS Testing | Yes, reports provided | Yes, reports provided |
| Singles | 170+ | 90+ |
| Blends | 80+ | 30+ |
| Organic line | No | No |
Here are some Edens Garden alternatives to comparable doTERRA blends. See the full list of Edens Garden blends here.
| Edens Garden | Young Living |
| Breathe Easier(also on Amazon) | Raven |
| Fighting Five®(also on Amazon) | Thieves® |
| Cleaning(also on Amazon) | Purification |
REVIVE vs Young Living
REVIVE is another family-owned company that has made its way among the popular essential oils brands by combining high quality and affordability. They were founded in 2018 in California by Alexandria George and her family. Since then, they have consistently been souring plants ethically in ideal growing conditions to ensure the highest quality of ingredients.
REVIVE’s testing protocols are outstanding, as they perform twenty tests aside from GC/MS, organoleptic testing, and pH testing. When it comes to product selection, they offer singles, blends, carrier oils, diffusers, and various household items.
| REVIVE | Young Living | |
| Price | $$ | $$$$ |
| Returns | 100 days. Full refund on opened or unopened bottles | 30 days |
| GC-MS Testing | Yes, reports provided | Yes, reports provided |
| Singles | 90+ | 90+ |
| Blends | 40+ | 30+ |
| Organic line | Yes | No |
Here are some REVIVE alternatives to comparable Young Living blends. See the full list of REVIVE blends here.
| Revive | Young Living |
| Breeze (also on Amazon) | Raven |
| Immunity Boost (also on Amazon) | Thieves® |
| Purify(also on Amazon) | Purification |
Simply Earth vs Young Living
Simply Earth was established in 2015 by Dustin and Lee Vledkamp who brought to life a brand that offers the purest oils at a fair price. Their Simply Pure Promise assures their customers that every batch of their oils is:
- 100% pure essential oil
- Sourced from small, ethical farms
- GC/MS tested for purity and composition
- Free from added fragrance or fillers
Through their essential oils recipe box monthly subscription, you can craft your own blends with Simply Earth essential oils and recipe cards. They also have their own recipe book, diffusers, bracelets, and more. The company is also a strong advocate against human trafficking and 13% of its profits goes to organizations that fight against it.
| Simply Earth | Young Living | |
| Price | $$ | $$$$ |
| Returns | Full year (365 days), full refund in form of store credit | 30 days |
| GC-MS Testing | Yes, reports provided | Yes, reports provided |
| Singles | 60+ | 90+ |
| Blends | 35+ | 30+ |
| Organic line | No | No |
Here are some Simply Earth alternatives to comparable Young Living blends. See the full list of Simply Earth blends here.
| Simply Earth | Young Living |
| Breathe Easy | Raven |
| Defender | Thieves® |
| Clean and Fresh | Purification |
Aura Cacia vs Young Living
Aura Cacia is one of the oldest (founded in 1982) and biggest competitors to Young Living. Their wide variety of products (including oils, skincare, bath products, kids’ line, etc.) is sold in drugstores, pharmacies, department stores like Target, and online stores. Aura Cacia is among the brands that established GC/MS as the gold standard for essential oils testing and they’re still holding the highest standard of oil quality. They even have 35 organic essential oils that are USDA-certified.
Despite being a big company, Aura Cacia’s prices are more than affordable. This is because they aren’t an MLM company but they are a part of a cooperative (under the umbrella of Frontier Co-op together with Simply Organic) and the stakeholders are in charge.
| Aura Cacia | Young Living | |
| Price | $ | $$$$ |
| Returns | 60 days from date of purchase | 30 days |
| GC-MS Testing | Yes, reports provided | Yes, reports provided |
| Singles | 130+ | 90+ |
| Blends | 60+ | 30+ |
| Organic line | Yes | No |
Here are some Aura Cacia alternatives to comparable Young Living blends. See the full list of Aura Cacia blends here.
| Aura Cacia | Young Living |
| Breezeway(also on Amazon) | Raven |
| First Response(also on Amazon) | Thieves® |
| Purify(also on Amazon) | Purification |
Final Thoughts
Young Living is an amazing brand and one of the leaders in the essential oil industry for a valid reason. If you don’t mind the MLM model that boosts the prices, Young Living can be the brand for you. However, it’s good to know that there are other brands on the market that provide the same quality of oils but at a much lower price.
We wanted to give you a list of the best alternatives for Young Living so you can test out the waters and see what else is out there. All of these brands also have an inspiring story and show commitment to purity and sustainability, so whichever you choose, you won’t be disappointed.
Related posts:
Jade Bloom vs Young Living – Essential Oil Brand Reviews [2023]
REVIVE vs doTERRA – Essential Oil Brand Reviews [2023]
Simply Earth vs doTERRA – Essential Oil Brand Reviews [2023]
Edens Garden vs doTerra — Essential Oil Brand Reviews [2023]
Edens Garden vs Rocky Mountain Oils – Essential Oil Brand Reviews [2023]
Rocky Mountain Oils vs Plant Therapy – Essential Oil Brand Reviews [2023]
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