Where do you buy your EOs? Good quality/price?

[mama2graham]

I can get them at Whole Foods, I know, and some other stores, but I wondered if any of you experts prefer a certain brand--costs seem to vary widely--and/or might have an online or other source to recommend. Thanks mamas!

[Spastica]

Here's some information posted a while back on why certain bottles cost differently. Organics always cost more, but be sure to differentiate between fragrance oils, scented oils, essential oils (mixed with distilled water), and 100% essential oil (costs the most, especially if organic).

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...fragrance+oils

As for essential oil sources, Aura Cacia is something I use and lately, I found the NOW brand of essential oils at a health and herbal shop, which was very reasonably priced.

http://www.nowfoods.com/?action=item...&item_id=10961

Though the NOW brand says it's essential oil is 100% pure, there's a difference between 100% pure essential oil and essential oil that is 100% pure.

Confusing huh?

Essential oil that is 100% pure is okay and affordable, but it may be diluted a little with some of the water that goes through the steam distillation process. 100% essential oil - I'm assuming there is NO water in it, it's super concentrated - which is why it's so expensive.

I've had no problem using the NOW brand. I try buying my essential oils through small/boutique health shops and get a better deal. I'm sure buying directly online is even cheaper. I'm pretty new to essential oil use and wanted to try purchasing smaller bottles to see if I liked it and could do anything with them before buying a huge $50 bottle of lavender oil. I'm hooked though - I just may have to eventually get a $50 bottle of lavender or tea tree oil!

I am just living by myself though, and I don't go through the bottles that fast. I don't want my essential oils to lose their potency because I've opened a huge bottle of something and can't finish it in a decent amount of time. For me the smaller bottles work better.