New to EO Where's the best place to start?

[JoyGal]

From everything I understand, it basically boils down to two things: The source of the oils and how they are produced.

I prefer to use oils that are sourced naturally and farmed organically. (YL cannot claim all of their oils are organic because of the standards varying in different countries where some of their oils are sourced. Those places are scouted out and agreements are made to grow them naturally though and some of them have stricter standards.)

There are different ways oils can be distilled. When they are done so at higher temperatures or under not the simplest and most careful of ways, the constituents in the oils can change, meaning their chemistry changes. If the chemistry changes, then they are not able to be used accurately. Some EO's are distilled more than once and will have a synthetic compound added.

There are no regulated standards in making and distributing oils. I prefer to use a company who stands behind their products because of the purity, way the products are made, and have people who can testify to the benefits of the oils The FDA does regulate claims of the actual healing attributes of the oils (because then they would need to be labeled as a drug and heavily mandated.) So, because of this, I like to learn of people who have used the oils for their own reasons and had success

I have my own stories of success with them. Again, it's what works for us.

EO's are magnificent. All branding aside, I think it is incredible that God provides us with such simplistic and yet powerful resource!! If I could make all my own, I would!

---------- Post added at 10:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:02 PM ----------

Yes, higher potency. For example, I could easily diffuse 4-5 drops of Aura Cacia lavender, but diffusing 1 drop of Young Living oil is plenty for me.

I think the same responsibility should be used with oils as with using any other type of natural supplement or healing product.

[Codi]

Thanks for sharing!

[MrsHutch]

I didn't know that about the difference in potency. I've been using YL for blends and Aura Cacia for single oils, and I'm pretty happy with that system right now.

[tempestjewel]

Originally Posted by JoyGal

Yes, higher potency. For example, I could easily diffuse 4-5 drops of Aura Cacia lavender, but diffusing 1 drop of Young Living oil is plenty for me.

I would think in the case of lavender that it would have to do with the specific type of lavender in the EO- smells and potency vary based on where it is grown (altitude, location, and other factors influence the amount of linalool and linalyl acetate in the oil). People also have individual preferences regarding smells.

If you are interested in internal use, be sure to study aromatic medicine and/or find a practitioner. It is smart not to rely on anecdotal evidence when using something internally. One reason why I am impressed with Vintage Remedies is because when they suggest internal use there are studies that back it up. It is also properly dispersed in a lipid. I had a friend who didn't know better and took an EO in a cup of tea and it burned going down. EO's can cause damage if ingested improperly!

[Codi]

Originally Posted by MrsHutch

I didn't know that about the difference in potency. I've been using YL for blends and Aura Cacia for single oils, and I'm pretty happy with that system right now.

I personally am not convinced it's more potent. And IF it is, it makes me even more leery of ther recommendations to use internally.

[JoyGal]

Codi have you tried a YL oil? I'm not trying to convince you to use one brand over another, but before I had tried them I had the same thought and had NO desire to support them. Like I said, it's all different preferences for different people.