DoTerra Review [Features, Price, Alternatives]

The rising popularity of healthy living practices made many people curious to explore the health benefits of essential oils. But how do you choose the best essential oil among so many first-rate options? The answer is simple.

In this article, I have summarized the main aspects of doTERRA essential oils as well as what doTERRA reviews say about actual clients’ experiences with this brand.

Shall we start?

What Is doTERRA, and How Does It Work?

DoTERRA is a confirmed top-tier company that operates on the global market, and it specializes in essential oils, skincare, nutrition, wellness, and beauty.

Founded in 2008, the company started working with high-quality essential oils, choosing the name doTERRA which derives from Latin “gift of the Earth”.

They offer a wide range of essential oils, products mixed with aromatic oils like deodorants, skin cleansers, shampoos, lotions, nutritional supplements, wellness shakes, etc. After going through numerous doTERRA reviews I’ve chosen the Family Essentials kit, which is the most popular oils collection. It includes lemon, peppermint, lavender, oregano, and more.

It’s interesting to note that it started in 2008 with only 25 single oils and 10 blends. Now they’ve extended their catalog considerably with a lot more single oils, oil blends, and well-being products rooted in essential oil technologies.

Most of the products are manufactured using the best extraction methods, which are steam distillation and cold press. It has plenty of 5-star reviews on Amazon and Trustpilot and its products are recommended for every wellness enthusiast.

DoTERRA had some bad reviews, too. Some customers experienced difficulties with its website, but the company has made its website easier to use, followed by successful resolution of such complaints.

Main Features

Now I’ll list and explain some of the main features like the purity, extraction methods, certifications, value, and cost, to give you a broader picture of this product.

• Purity of the Oils 

People often have doubts when talking about the purity of essential oils. DoTERRA states that purity is of prime importance in the process of making its high-quality oils. The company has its own in-house program designed for testing and guaranteeing superior purity, which I’ll return to later in this doTERRA oils review. This certainly shows better business practices since only pure oils contain natural therapeutic ingredients and can have impactful benefits.

The official claim from doTERRA is that they are involved in all stages of the production, from growing and cultivation to harvesting and distilling, in order to produce safe to use, high-quality oils. DoTERRA gathers plants from all over the world and harvests them in their native land. The result is that it manufactures much purer oils. However, it doesn’t advertise its products as 100% pure, like some of the other companies do.

The blend oils are diluted with the help of carrier oils, and later they are tested to see whether they are completely safe for topical use. DoTERRA oil reviews show that the products are mostly appreciated for being pure and well tested. It is simple: doTERRA has its own test, and it advertises the products’ purity levels differently than other firms.

• Distillation Process 

There are 2 types of distillation processes – steam distillation and cold press.

1. The steam distillation process involves steam passing through the raw materials (plants) so that the gentle pressure of the steam extracts the aromatic compounds from the plant. As the condensation mixture goes back to the condenser and the water evaporates, the oil can be extracted.
2. When reviews on doTERRA oils use the term cold press, it refers to an entirely different process from steam distillation. The cold-pressed method does not work with steam or heat. Here, the oil is juiced from the plant using mechanical pressure. It is commonly used to extract citrus oils from the rind, e.g. lemon, lime, grapefruit, and orange.

Distillers need to make sure that the pressure, time of distilling, all the harvesting practices, and the temperature are appropriate for the different plants and flowers. A wrong distillation process can modify and damage the vital aromatic elements contained in the oil.

Examining the most popular doTERRA essential oils, I realized that in order to produce the best and purest essential oils, the distillation technician needs to focus and utilize the proper standards.

DoTERRA works with a wide range of suppliers, distributors, distilleries, and farms from around the world, making sure that the art and science of distillation are on a high level. 

• Grading and Certificates 

DoTERRA uses its own type of CPTG (Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade) testing. Many people dislike the fact that the company invented the method and the whole process is carried out by the company itself. While researching for my doTERRA essential oils review, I concluded that there is no third party that verifies the effectiveness of its products, although there is industry-standard testing (GC/MS) which can be done by an unbiased observer.

Also, the CPTG is not FDA certified. Upon further research, I understood that this is simply because the FDA does not regulate essential oils. However, this lowered the overall trustworthiness of the company in the eyes of some users.

• CPTG Testing

The CPTG consists of a vast list of tests. These contain microorganism testing, gas spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), heavy metal testing, isotopic analysis, and chirality testing. The analysis of the doTERRA essential oil testing reviews also showed that doTERRA implements GC/MS tests, which are considered a standard for the industry.

Taking everything into consideration, these procedures are very thorough and extensive, which confirms the quality of the oils. There are some people who consider doTerra’s products to be fake oils just because there is no third party involved in the tests. But this fact does not prove the incompetency of the tests. DoTERRA sets a high standard when it comes to quality control, and the tests are similar to the ones used by its competitors. 

• Is It Organic?

The company has stated that it isn’t feasible to certify the products as organic, simply because they are sourced from all over the world. While researching the reviews of doTERRA essential oils, I realized that certification standards can differ in different states, and some countries don’t even have available standards. Given the size of doTERRA’s production line, it’s nearly impossible to use only certified organic farms.

Here’s a table of the products’ main features:

Key Takeaways

Ease of Use

The oils can be used in three ways, as seen from the doTERRA product reviews:

• Aromatically 

This type of application gives you the chance to enjoy the fragrance of the oil. The easiest way to use oils like this is by:

• Applying a few drops to your hands and inhaling 
• Diffusing the essential oil using a diffuser
• Using it as a perfume

2. Topically

You apply it to your skin, allowing the oil to soak into the skin. The most popular doTERRA essential oils can be applied in these ways:

• Rub in onto a spot on your body
• Add it when massaging your body
• As an addition to moisturizers

3. Internally 

You can ingest some essential oils. Always check that it can be used internally before doing so! If it’s safe for internal use, then you can:

• Add it to your water or tea
• Apply some drops under your tongue

Please note that not every essential oil is suitable for ingestion.

DoTERRA Pricing, Plans, and Contracts

As an MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) company, doTERRA sells its products through a vast network of representatives who work entirely on commission. In the past, doTERRA had received some complaints about this marketing strategy.

You can become a member by registering on their official website. The membership fee when you sign up is $35, and it gives you the option to buy an enrollment kit. Then you’ll need to choose whether you want to sign up as a Wellness Advocate or a Wholesale Customer. Everything is done online, from registering to buying the oils.

If you decide to be a Wellness Advocate, you can have your own personal website, and also you get a Fast Start Bonus. This means you’ll receive a commission of 20% on all orders placed by your new members for the first 60 days after you signed them up.

• Going through the doTERRA oils reviews I found out that you need to do at least 100 PV (Point Value) with your loyalty reward order in order to qualify for the Fast Start Bonus. It’s a rarity to see MLM marketing that offers a 1:1 ratio of PV to dollar value on bought products. Usually, the PV is very small compared to the amount of money you have to put out for buying the products. But with doTERRA, you get this 1:1 ratio, meaning if you pay $10 for the product, you get 10 PV, which is a decent value.
• Also, there is “the power of 3” concept, where, you get extra bonuses when you sponsor 3 persons who register in the Loyalty Rewards Program. You can cancel these programs anytime you want.

Alternatives

There are many alternatives to doTERRA, and in this doTERRA essential oils review, I’ll compare it to its biggest competitors: Young Living, Rocky Mountain, and Plant Therapy.

Is doTERRA Worth It?

Based on the overall doTERRA essential oils reviews, I’d say that its products are really worth a try. Using in-depth CPTG testing the company produces great quality products. You can even earn a decent amount of money using the MLM network marketing plan if you’re willing to put time and effort into it and sign up more users.

DoTERRA can be of great benefit to those who want to participate in its multi-level marketing strategy and recruit new members while enjoying natural oils and a bunch of other well-being products.