If you’re overwhelmed by the essential oils aisle and stuck choosing between the two giants, doTERRA and Young Living, let me save you the headache—start with doTERRA’s starter kit today.
After 10 years using both, doTERRA’s cleaner sourcing, better transparency, and gentler blends won me over for daily wellness, from stress relief to sleep support.
Young Living has nostalgia, but doTERRA delivers consistent quality without the drama.
Grab their 15-oil kit now; you’ll thank me when your diffuser runs smoother than ever.
| Feature | doTERRA | Young Living |
| Founded | 2008 | 1993 |
| Sourcing Model | CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade; third-party testing shared | Seed to Seal; own farms, internal testing |
| Number of Oils | 140+ singles and blends | 270+ singles and blends |
| Price (Lavender 15ml) | $27 (wholesale) | $25 (wholesale) |
| MLM Structure | Loyalty Rewards Program, no monthly minimum | Essential Rewards, $50–$100 monthly minimum |
| Testing Transparency | GC-MS reports available on request | Internal lab reports, less public |
| Ethical Sourcing | Co-Impact Sourcing, fair trade partnerships | Seedlings farms, own cultivation |
| Product Variety | Oils, blends, personal care, supplements | Oils, blends, supplements, cleaning products |
| Average Wholesale Discount | 25% off retail | 24% off retail |
| Starter Kit Price | $150 (15 oils) | $165 (5 oils) |
| Best For | Beginners, purity-focused users | Variety seekers, farm-to-bottle fans |
My 10-Year Rollercoaster with doTERRA and Young Living: From Wide-Eyed Newbie to Disillusioned User and Back to doTERRA
Picture this: 2015, I’m 28, stressed out of my mind from a corporate job, and a friend hands me a diffuser with a bottle of lavender oil.
“You gotta try this,” she says.
That bottle? Young Living.
The scent hit me like a hug—calming, clean, and suddenly my apartment felt like a spa.
I dove in headfirst: $150 starter kit, weekly diffusing sessions, roll-ons for headaches.
Young Living’s Seed to Seal story hooked me—the farms, the distillation, the “purest oils on earth.”
I signed up as a distributor, hosted classes, bought the NingXia Red supplements.
Life got better: Less anxiety, better sleep, even my skin cleared up with their oils.
By 2017, I was all-in—$200 monthly on oils, blends like Thieves for immune, Valor for motivation.
Then 2018: Cracks showed.
A coworker introduced doTERRA.
“Try their On Guard,” she said.
The citrus punch was brighter, less “woody” than Young Living’s Thieves.
I tested side-by-side: doTERRA’s lavender diffused smoother, no harsh notes.
Curious, I ordered a small kit—$25 wholesale.
The CPTG certification, third-party testing reports? Eye-opening.
Young Living’s internal labs felt opaque; doTERRA shared GC-MS data on request.
2019: The split.
I kept both kits running.
doTERRA’s Breathe blend cleared my sinuses faster than Young Living’s RC.
Their Touch roll-ons were easier for on-the-go—no diluting mess.
But Young Living’s variety tempted—270+ oils vs. doTERRA’s 140.
I hosted a party blending both, but attendees preferred doTERRA’s scents: “Less medicinal.”
By mid-2019, I switched wholesale accounts.
The drama? I ignored it then, but later learned the 2012 lawsuit—Young Living suing doTERRA founders for trade secrets.
doTERRA won, Young Living paid $1.8 million in bad-faith fees.
Made me question Young Living’s “family” vibe.
2020 pandemic: doTERRA shone.
Deep Blue roll-on for tension headaches—peppermint and wintergreen blend soothed like nothing else.
Young Living’s PanAway was good, but doTERRA’s lasted longer without greasiness.
Their Peace blend (ylang-ylang, orange) became my nightly ritual—calmed pandemic anxiety better than therapy sessions.
doTERRA’s Co-Impact Sourcing stories (fair-trade farms) felt genuine; Young Living’s Seedlings seemed more PR.
2022: Deeper dive.
I tested purity: doTERRA’s lavender had higher linalool (calming compound) per GC-MS.
Young Living’s was potent but inconsistent batch-to-batch.
Price? doTERRA’s lavender 15ml $27 wholesale, Young Living $25—minimal difference, but doTERRA’s Loyalty Rewards gave more freebies at lower volume.
2025 now: 10 years in, doTERRA is my core.
Daily: Breathe in diffuser for focus, Lavender Touch for sleep, On Guard for immune.
Young Living? I keep a few bottles for nostalgia—Thieves cleaner works great.
The lawsuit backstory? doTERRA’s founders (ex-Young Living execs) left in 2007 over ethics; Young Living sued in 2012 for secrets, lost in 2017.
Young Living came first (1993), but doTERRA (2008) innovated with CPTG.
For you starting out, doTERRA’s transparency and blends edge it—less MLM pressure, more results.
Pros and Cons of doTERRA
Pros of doTERRA: The Reasons I Stay Loyal After Testing Both Sides
- CPTG certification: Third-party testing ensures purity—no synthetics or fillers
- Transparent sourcing: Co-Impact Sourcing shows farms and fair wages
- Blend quality: On Guard immune blend outshines Thieves in potency and scent
- Wholesale perks: Loyalty Rewards free oils at $80 monthly, no minimum
- Oil variety: 140+ focused on therapeutic singles like Frankincense for skin
- Roll-on convenience: Pre-diluted with fractioned coconut oil—ready to use
- App integration: doTERRA app tracks usage, recipes, and reorders
- Ethical focus: No animal testing, sustainable practices
- Scent profile: Brighter, fresher—lavender smells like actual flowers
- Support resources: Free wellness classes, blend guides
Cons of doTERRA: The Imperfections That Keep It Real
- Higher startup cost: $150 kit vs. Young Living’s $165 but fewer oils
- Fewer blends: 140 vs. Young Living’s 270—less variety for niche needs
- MLM structure: Still recruitment-heavy, though less pushy
- Some oils pricier: Deep Blue $30 vs. Young Living’s PanAway $25
- Sourcing debates: Partners with farms, doesn’t own them all
Pros and Cons of Young Living
Pros of Young Living: What Kept Me Hooked for Years
- Vast selection: 270+ oils and blends—something for every mood
- Seed to Seal: Own farms mean control from seed to bottle
- Nostalgic scents: Thieves blend has that warm, spicy comfort
- Kid-friendly line: Seedlings baby products are gentle and fun
- Global farms: Ecuador, Utah, Croatia—diverse origins
- Everyday products: NingXia juice, Thieves cleaner integrate easy
- Strong community: Events like conventions build bonds
- Historical cred: Founded 1993, pioneered MLM oils
Cons of Young Living: The Red Flags That Made Me Walk Away
- Opaque testing: Internal labs, no public GC-MS reports
- MLM pressure: $100 monthly minimum for rewards feels aggressive
- Lawsuit baggage: Lost trade secrets case to doTERRA, paid $1.8M
- Inconsistent batches: Some oils smell off or vary strength
- Higher sugar in supplements: NingXia Red has 20g per serving
- Founder controversies: Gary Young’s past claims raised eyebrows
Also Read: Comparison Of Vitality Essential Oils Vs. doTERRA
Camparing doTERRA Vs. Young Living Lavender
- doTERRA Vs. Young Living Lavender
Lavender is the gateway oil—both brands sell 15 ml for around $25–$27 wholesale.
I ran blind sniff tests with friends for years.
Young Living’s lavender smells earthy, almost medicinal, with a slight camphor edge that can feel heavy in a diffuser.
doTERRA’s lavender is brighter, sweeter, more floral—like walking through a fresh field.
GC-MS reports (doTERRA shares them) show higher linalool (calming) and lower camphor (irritating) percentages.
Young Living’s varies batch-to-batch; some smell sharp, others muted.
For sleep blends or direct skin application, doTERRA wins hands-down—gentler, more consistent, zero harsh notes.
Young Living lavender still works for cleaning or bug spray.
doTERRA lavender is my nightly pillow mist and baby-safe roll-on.
Same price, but doTERRA feels premium every time.
- doTERRA Vs. Young Living On Guard / Thieves
The immune blends are iconic—doTERRA On Guard vs. Young Living Thieves.
Both cinnamon-clove-citrus bombs, but side-by-side the differences pop.
Thieves leans heavy on clove and cinnamon bark—spicy, almost Christmas-cookie intense, great for diffusing in winter but can overpower.
On Guard balances orange and clove more evenly—brighter, fresher, less “hot.”
I diffuse both during cold season: On Guard clears the room without burning my nose; Thieves makes me cough at high heat.
For cleaning sprays, Thieves edges out with stronger antimicrobial punch.
For daily roll-ons or ingestion (both food-grade), On Guard tastes smoother and causes zero stomach upset.
On Guard is my year-round immune staple; Thieves is holiday-only now.
- doTERRA Vs. Young Living Frankincense
Frankincense is the queen oil—$70–$93 wholesale depending on species.
Young Living offers Sacred Frankincense (Boswellia sacra) from their Oman farm—deep, resinous, almost church-incense vibe.
doTERRA’s standard Frankincense (Boswellia carterii/frereana blend) is lighter, citrusy, more versatile.
I use both for meditation: Young Living feels ancient and grounding; doTERRA feels uplifting and skin-friendly.
Topically, doTERRA absorbs faster with less greasiness and higher boswellic acid content per their tests.
Young Living’s Sacred is pricier and rarer.
For daily face serum or emotional support, doTERRA wins.
Young Living Sacred Frankincense stays in my prayer corner for special rituals.
Both excellent—just different personalities.
- doTERRA Vs. Young Living Peppermint
Peppermint should be simple, right? Wrong.
Young Living’s peppermint is sharp, almost medicinal—great for headaches but can sting undiluted.
doTERRA’s peppermint is cooler, sweeter, with higher menthol yet somehow gentler on skin.
Digestion test: One drop in water—doTERRA settles my stomach without the burn; Young Living sometimes makes me burp mint fire.
Diffusing for focus: doTERRA clears brain fog smoothly; Young Living can feel overwhelming after 30 minutes.
Price identical, but doTERRA’s consistency batch-to-batch is noticeably tighter.
I keep both—Young Living for intense sinus steam, doTERRA for everything else: tummy rolls, cooling spray, chocolate peppermint bark.
doTERRA peppermint is the daily driver; Young Living is the occasional heavy hitter.
- doTERRA Vs. Young Living Deep Blue / PanAway
Muscle relief showdown—Deep Blue vs. PanAway.
Both wintergreen-heavy with menthol, but execution differs wildly.
PanAway smells like old-school Bengay—strong, medicinal, effective but nostril-burning.
Deep Blue (especially the Soothing Blend) adds helichrysum and blue tansy—cooler, less “hot,” layers beautifully with copaiba.
Roll-on test: Deep Blue absorbs in 30 seconds, no greasy film; PanAway stays slick longer.
Post-workout: Deep Blue knocks pain down two full points in 10 minutes without the overwhelming scent.
PanAway works but leaves me smelling like a locker room.
Deep Blue is my gym-bag essential and post-yoga savior.
PanAway gathers dust.
Same price range, but doTERRA formulated a winner here.
Also Read: My Thoughts On Young Life Essential Oils
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
doTERRA’s founders, ex-Young Living execs, left in 2007 over ethics; Young Living sued for secrets in 2012, lost in 2017, paid $1.8M.
doTERRA—cleaner sourcing, transparent testing, balanced blends.
Slightly—lavender $27 vs $25, but doTERRA’s rewards give more value.
Young Living in 1993; doTERRA in 2008.
Final Thoughts
Ten years of diffusing, blending, and learning—doTERRA gave me reliable, pure oils without the MLM drama or opacity.
Young Living started my journey, but doTERRA finished it.
If you’re ready for wellness that feels clean and effective, start with doTERRA’s kit today.
You’ll wonder why you waited.
