As the major shopping season is about to be upon us it made me think of something I once thought of myself, “Why are doTERRA Essential Oils expensive?” For context, my upbringing was modest - my father enlisted in the Army at 18, was married at 19 (by 5 days) and had two kids by 25. My mom is a self-proclaimed “frugal person,” and although I don’t remember ever going without, I knew that my family didn’t have as much as some of my friends. So, you can imagine what I’ve carried with me about money into adulthood. I tell you that to say, I totally get the question and that’s why I want to share my thoughts with you.
If you’ve ever stood in front of a shelf (or scrolled a website) full of essential oils and thought… “Okay, but which one is actually GOOD?” — you’re not alone. Today’s wellness world gives us almost too many choices. Every label promises purity, every brand claims to be the best, and prices can range from $8 to $80 for what seems like the exact same thing. No wonder people feel confused!
One of the most common questions I hear is:
“Why does dōTERRA cost more — and is it worth it?”
I’m going to attempt to break that down in a way that makes decision-making simple, empowering, and stress-free. Let’s go!
ESSENTIAL OILS AREN’T CREATED EQUAL
Comparing oil brands by price alone can be misleading because what’s inside the bottle isn’t the same.
Two bottles may say “Lavender,” but:
- One could come from mass-produced fields sprayed with chemicals
- The other from hand-harvested plants grown where lavender naturally thrives
One might use quick, high-heat distillation to produce more volume…
While another uses a slower, more exact technique to preserve therapeutic compounds.
Those differences affect:
✨ Purity
✨ Potency
✨ Aroma
✨ Safety
✨ Reliability
So, when someone says, “But I can get lavender for $10 at the store!” — yes, you can. But is it truly helping your health? Or simply smelling nice for a moment? And are you exposing yourself to toxins in the process?
BEHIND THE BOTTLE: WHY SOURCING MATTERS One of the biggest differences with dōTERRA is where and how the plants are grown.
- Plants are sourced from their native environments — the soil, elevation, and climate they thrive in.
- dōTERRA partners directly with farmers, distillers, and communities around the world (over 45 countries).
- These partnerships, Co-Impact Sourcing, ensure fair wages, ethical working conditions, on-time payments at a fair income, and long-term stability.
- Sourcing includes ethical and environmental stewardship (ex: avoiding over-harvest of endangered species, using sustainable methods) ensuring that the natural resources are available for future generations.
This matters because:
✔ Healthy plants = powerful oils
✔ Sustainable communities = long-lasting supply
✔ Ethical relationships = transparency you can trust
You’re not just buying a product —
you’re supporting real people and responsible agriculture.
All of this means that when you purchase a doTERRA bottle, you’re not just paying for the glass bottle and label — you’re also investing in quality, transparency, global partnerships, and ethical sourcing.
QUALITY + TESTING = CONSISTENCY YOU CAN COUNT ON
Rigorous testing and consistency matters, too! Quality oils require more than just the right plant. They require precise distillation, testing (often GC/MS), batch consistency, transparent source data and safety protocols. Many lower-price oils may skip some of these steps, or only test occasionally. dōTERRA tests every single batch, multiple times, through 3rd-party laboratories.
Why does this matter for you?
Because you deserve an oil that:
- Does what it claims
- Is free from contaminants
- Works the same every time you use it
That kind of reliability can cost more upfront — but it also protects your health and ensures you don’t waste money on diluted products that require twice as much (if they even work).
THINK OF IT LIKE THIS
Think of your body like a high-performing vehicle. You could put low-quality gasoline in the tank — the car might still run, but not efficiently… and eventually it leads to problems under the hood. Now imagine accidentally filling a diesel car with unleaded fuel — things can go wrong really fast. The same goes for essential oils: if we’re putting something directly on our skin or breathing it into our lungs (and even occasionally ingesting it), we want the right fuel — tested, trusted, traceable. doTERRA invests heavily in ensuring every batch is pure and chemically consistent, so your body receives only what supports it — never what harms it.
MORE THAN JUST OILS
doTERRA isn’t just a “bottle of oil” company — it’s a full wellness lifestyle brand. Every product they make is powered by essential oils for added benefits: daily nutrition supplements, personal care, household cleaning solutions, skin care, digestive support, emotional wellness tools, and more. That means you’re not only choosing purity — you’re choosing products that are designed to work with your body on a deeper level. So while essential oils may be the foundation of the company, they’re just the beginning of how doTERRA supports everyday foundational wellness, naturally and effectively through every product that they come out with. It’s because of their commitment to continuing to learn, grow, and research that their product line has evolved over time in the same way technology and science has evolved.
When we know better, we can do better
– and nobody does that more than doTERRA (in my opinion).
DEBUNKING THE MLM MYTHS
Some people assume that doTERRA is more expensive because they use a multi-level marketing (MLM) business model. First, let’s clarify a couple of misconceptions:
🚫 You do NOT have to sell to get the wholesale discount
Purchasing from doTERRA does not require you to sell the products. You can actually get wholesale pricing (25% off) as a customer. Being a doTERRA Wellness Advocate or an affiliate is 100% optional — you do not have to become a seller to receive wholesale pricing or enjoy the products.
🚫
You do NOT have to order monthly You can buy what you want, when you want without a monthly obligation. I think people get mixed up here because doTERRA offers such a great
Rewards program (which is a monthly subscription that is totally customizable) that they assume they HAVE to order monthly, but that’s just not true (and never has been).
🚫
Prices aren’t inflated just to pay sellers If you choose to become an affiliate, that model is designed to empower independent entrepreneurs (you!) rather than you being tied to a corporate job. It means you can build your own wellness business under your terms, with support, but also flexibility.
Here’s what it does mean:
✅ You receive personal support, education, and real-life guidance
✅ You choose your level of involvement (customer OR business builder)
✅ Everyday wellness advocates — not giant corporations — earn income
So yes — doTERRA is an MLM in structure. But that structure doesn’t mean the product is inherently overpriced for the sake of recruitment. Rather, the premium reflects the sourcing, quality, testing and global partnerships described above. In the wellness space, you pay for what you get — and transparency matters. Many users find that investing in higher-grade oils means they need fewer drops, achieve results faster, and ultimately see better value.
WHY I CHOOSE DOTERRA IN MY WELLNESS PRACTICE
As a holistic health educator, self-care advocate and certified stretch practitioner I choose doTERRA because:
- I can trace the oil’s story from farm to bottle.
- I know the product has been tested and sourced with integrity – because doTERRA posts the test results for every bottle/batch.
- I support a business model that rewards individuals (like me and others) in the wellness space, not just a big corporation.
- The doTERRA community aligns with high standards of potency, purity and ethical sourcing.
- I can confidently recommend a product to my clients and know that it’s going to do what it’s supposed to do.
- Because the investment in your health is upfront, but the experience — the calm, the clarity, the wellness support — is what really resonates and truly matters.
SO… ARE dōTERRA OILS EXPENSIVE? Compared to cheap oils —
YES.
Compared to true purity, potency, safety, and ethical sourcing —
NO.
The real question becomes:
➡️ What value do you want from the products you bring into your home?
➡️ Who do you want to trust with your family’s wellness?
With dōTERRA, your purchase supports:
🌱 better health outcomes
🌍 ethical sourcing & environmental care
🤝 real families and farmers
💚 your wellness advocate (that’s me!)
I don’t say that lightly — it’s why I personally choose these oils for my family, home, AromaStretch clients, and my business.
READY TO FEEL THE DIFFERENCE?
With so many wellness products out there, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. My goal is to help you navigate that with confidence. If you’re curious, have questions, or want help choosing the right oils for YOU — I’m only a message away.
Whether you’re ready to order or still learning:
👉 I’d love to support your journey toward natural wellness.
Here’s to choosing quality.
Here’s to choosing with confidence.
Here’s to choosing wellness you can trust.
xoDanette
P.S. Interested in Building Your Own Wellness Business?
If you’ve ever thought: “I love these oils, I love helping others, could I share and earn?” — then becoming a doTERRA Wellness Advocate may be the perfect fit for you. You’ll receive full support from me — from onboarding, to training, to marketing ideas — so that whether you’re sharing with friends or building a full-time business, you’re not alone. It’s about empowering you to lead, serve, and grow your own wellness venture. Ask me how to get started or
start here.