Choose Products that Support Your Well-Being with Integrity, Science and Care
Maria Low
January – February 2025 • Vol 4, No 14
Many people have asked about Young Living’s purity/testing practices. We want to provide clear, transparent answers. With a strong foundation in scientific research and rigorous testing, Young Living goes beyond industry standards to deliver oils that not only meet but exceed expectations. As part of Young Living’s ongoing commitment to excellence, they are committed to ensuring the highest quality and purity in every essential oil produced. This article will dive into how Young Living ensures that every essential oil is pure, therapeutic-grade, and safe—backed by independent lab testing and a deep dedication to its Seed to Seal® standards.
Independent Lab Testing
Young Living has a long track record of using qualified, independent labs to perform testing for various reasons. When a new oil is introduced, Young Living’s scientists research and test it to ensure if its distilled properly and that the molecular structure is balanced according to the specific cultivar selected. If necessary, the oil may be sent to another lab to confirm the results. (Very few labs in North America have the expertise to interpret results according to the strict Seed to Seal standards set by Young Living.)
While the Young Living Lab is equipped to meet these standards, to avoid any potential conflicts of interest or compromise, they still send products out for further testing. The results are kept in a secure area where ongoing testing batches are stored.
The Seed to Seal Standard
The Young Living standard goes beyond testing— it starts in the fields. The land is carefully stewarded to ensure the soil nutrients align with the needs of the plants. These plants are selected not for their fragrance but for their ability to provide the necessary nutrients that will positively impact the health of both animals and humans.
Before harvest, a brix test is conducted to measure the essential oil content in the plant. The timing of the harvest is crucial and must be done during specific hours of the day based on test results. After harvesting, the plant material is taken to a distillery, where it’s carefully processed, with the temperature and timing strictly monitored to extract the essential oils. [Learn More Here.]
Five Grades of Essential Oils
It’s important to know that there are five types of essential oils produced today:
- Synthetic Biology Oil – Created through a bioengineering process involving synthetic DNA and fermentation by yeast, fungi, and enzymes, often with added fragrances to enhance cheaper oils.
- Synthetic or Nature-Identical Oils – Made in a lab using petrochemicals (oil/natural gas).
- Extended Oils – Usually sold for fragrance purposes and often contain added petrochemicals or altered oils.
- Natural or Certified Oils – Oils that may pass basic testing but might not contain high therapeutic value. These oils could have been distilled at improper temperatures and/or in aluminum vats.
- Therapeutic-Grade Essential Oils – Pure, organic, distilled oils that contain all the medicinal compounds, sourced from non-GMO plants. (YL uses only these.)
Young Living’s Testing Process
At Young Living farms, scientific equipment is used for primary testing to ensure that the oils meet the required qualities before being sent to the Young Living Labs for final testing and bottling. If the oils do not meet the Seed to Seal standards, whether due to adverse weather or other factors, they are not used, even if they come from our own farms.
Why Essential Oils Matter
Essential oils are ca