If you’re like me, you have a couple of friends on Facebook that use essential oils FOR EVERYTHING. So, naturally, it begs the question…Is there something I am missing?

I am a skeptic. I would not call myself a purveyor, or even a believer, of holistic health care. That being said, I am a very unhealthy individual. I have had type 2 diabetes over 10 years now. With diabetes comes a host of other secondary health issues like sleep apnea, cholesterol issues, vitamin deficiency issues, and weight issues just to name a few. Recently, my doctor suggested essential oils. Not because she believes in them, but because we are at a point in my treatment where anything that can help my immune system during flu season is worth trying.

My goal today is not to convert you to the world of essential oils. You can do your own research. In fact, I recommend that you do your own research to decide if essential oils are for you. My goal today is share my experience to supplement your own research.

I have been using essential oils since October 2018. I have purchased three different brands of oils, each at a different price point.

THE DIFFUSER

First, lets talk about essential oil diffusers. After my research, I decided to purchase the Hibiscus model diffuser by Smiley Daisy. It can be found on Amazon and purchased through my affiliate link below:

Essential Oil Diffuser By Smiley Daisy

WHAT I LIKED:

Awesome mist output
High and low mist settings
7 color-changing LED lights that can cycle through the colors, or stay static
Auto shut-off when water is low
Independent controls for light and mist
Water tank capacity: 400 mL
Can run up to 6 hours on a full tank
Comes with a measuring cup

THE ONE FEATURE I LOVE:

Power adapter is detachable from unit. We don’t really think about this aspect when purchasing something that requires cleaning. There’s nothing like trying to wash something with a power cord attached. Thankfully, this diffuser allows you to unplug the power cord so you can take your diffuser wherever without the hassle of dragging a cord.

WHAT I DISLIKED:

Hard to keep clean. As you can see from the pictures below, the interior of the diffuser has risen areas. You can see that tinted oils have stained the interior surfaces and you can see that it has some difficult areas to clean around. That being said, not a deal breaker for me.

THE VERDICT:
Overall, I am happy with my purchase. I believe that I bought a quality product that works as intended and I feel comfortable sharing my recommendation as a solid, dependable diffuser. It is a bit pricier than many other diffusers, but I do believe you are buying a good quality diffuser and would not be disappointed with its performance.

ESSENTIAL OILS

So, you’ve made the decision to maybe try out essential oils in your home. You decide to look at the price of essential oils and browse to DoTerra or Young Living. You’re happy. You can finally support your friend who is a DoTerra or Young Living consultant. You pull up the web page and immediate do a double-take. Maybe even a triple-take. ARE YOU FORKING KIDDING ME?!

Yeah, I had that reaction, too. For my review, I purchased multiple oils from three different brands, each with their own price point.

Let’s talk units of measurement before I get into the nitty gritty. The common size bottle of essential oils is 15 mL. A 15 mL bottle contains roughly 250-300 drops of oil. The recommended amount of oil to place in a diffuser is 3-5 drops per 100 ml of water.

DoTerra (DoTerra Website – Not an Affiliated Link)
Let’s talk DoTerra. It’s is the most expensive option with 15 mL bottles ranging from $15 to $100. Their popular proprietary blends range from $20-60 a bottle. The downside is DoTerra is not sold in stores. You must buy direct or through a consultant, and that may be a complete turn off for you.

Nature’s Oil (Bulk Apothecary Website – Not an Affiliated Link).
Nature’s Oils are a product by Bulk Apothecary. They produce a wide variety of essential oils and essential oil blends as well as sell products you might use in making your health and beauty products. Similar to DoTerra, the bulk of their business online. Their prices are more reasonable with some 15 mL bottles as low as $4. They also produce dupes (or knockoffs) of DoTerra and Young Living blends at a fraction of the cost.

NOW Essential Oils (NOW Foods on Amazon – AFFILIATE LINK).
NOW Foods is probably the brand of essential oil you’re familiar with. The brand is sold in many retail chains. You can easily walk into your local grocery or health foods store and find this brand. Their prices are comparable to Nature’s Oil with many options under $15.

LEARN FROM MY MISTAKE!

I recently purchased a six-pack of FRAGRANCE oils by Barnhouse Blue on Amazon mistaking them for essential oils. For $17, I thought I was getting a great deal. Joke was on me. There is a difference between ESSENTIAL oils and FRAGRANCE oils. Fragrance oils should not be used in your ultrasonic diffuser. Fragrance oils are meant for reed diffusers or oil warmers. Allegedly, their composition is a bit different that can cause build up in your diffuser, so be careful. That being said, if you happen to be a frequent user of fragrance oils, I really do enjoy the oils I did receive. You can purchase them here through my affiliate link: Tropical Bliss 6-Pack Fragrance Oils (AFFILIATE LINK)

VERDICT:
I can represent the following after using my essential oil diffuser every weekday for the past three months:

Out of the three brands, my observation is that the DoTerra brand oils’ scent lasts longer at a higher degree of concentration, but beyond that, I noticed no other difference between the three brands. I would purchase all three brands again.
I do enjoy having essential oils as part of daily routine.
I agree with representations that certain oils may help with stress levels.
I can’t, in good conscience, say that essential oils helped me stay healthier or contributed to faster healing.

In the end, it is a very personal choice. For me, I enjoy using essential oils, but it is not because I believe they are having an impact on my physical health. I do believe that if you are susceptible and affected by scent, that you may find certain scents make you feel happier or more focused. I also believe that there is some merit in purchasing the more expensive oils over the ones you can find in the store. While I found nothing wrong or lacking about store-bought oils, I did see a noticeable difference in strength.

So, if you are thinking about taking that essential oil plunge, do your research. What are you trying to gain from it? For me, I work in a highly stressful job, and my doctor said some of her patients swear by essential oils. I gave it try, and I don’t hate it. Below is an affiliate link to a variety pack. I like many of the scents in this pack, and you might, too!

NOW Foods Essential Oils 10-Oil Variety Pack Sampler (AFFILIATE LINK)