Essential oils can be a great tool for helping you achieve wellness in your everyday life. But are they actually affordable? You might be surprised—essential oils vary greatly in price, from just a few dollars per bottle to over $100 or more. While the size of the bottle and even the company you purchase from will make a difference in price, the most significant cost factor is determined by the essential oil itself.
Essential oil prices vary
There are several essential oils that can be quite costly. Oils such as rose, Melissa, sandalwood, and neroli can all carry a hefty price tag. And even helichrysum and chamomile may be too expensive for someone on a tight budget. It’s true that the more costly oils have incredible properties, but it’s also true that more affordable essential oils have absolutely amazing properties as well. In fact, many of the most popular essential oils are actually quite affordable and attainable for most people.
However, if you’re like me and you’re on a budget, it’s important to be intentional with the essential oils you purchase. You can get the most bang for your buck by having just a few essential oils that can be used in multiple situations. No matter what others may say, you don’t have to spend a fortune on essential oils to experience their therapeutic properties. You can do perfectly well with 10, 5, or even 3 essential oils that you actually use as opposed to spending money on dozens of essential oils that you don’t use.
The best affordable essential oils
In this post, I’m going to share with you 6 of the best affordable essential oils. Not only are these oils affordable, they’re also some of the most popular and frequently used essential oils on the market. These 6 oils can also cover a multitude of issues, and I find myself using them over and over again. In fact, these are my go-to oils and I make sure to have them with me even when I travel!
1. Lavender
Surprise, surprise! Lavender is an essential oil that gives you a lot of bang for your buck. It’s widely known as one of the most versatile essential oils, and it’s also one of the most loved.
Lavender can be used in just about any situation. I add it to almost every single one of my blends and formulations. It’s perfect for a perfume, as well as in body, hair, and skin care formulations, and it has a long history of use when dealing with wounds, cuts, burns, and more.
Additionally, lavender is supportive of the nervous system and can help when you’re feeling anxious or stressed.1 This essential oil has so many uses! Truthfully, if I had to choose only one essential oil to use, it would be lavender.
A bottle of lavender usually costs between $8 and $30, depending on the size of bottle you purchase and which company you purchase from, making it a great deal!
2. Tea Tree
Tea tree is another wonderfully versatile oil that won’t break your budget. If I didn’t have lavender, tea tree would be my next choice. Tea tree is unique in that it contains potent antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties, but it’s gentle enough to use even around young children. This is definitely an essential oil that you want to have in your repertoire.
Aside from being great for cleaning formulations, tea tree is also beneficial for supporting skin and hair health. A study published in 1999 found that tea tree has antiseptic properties at least partly due to its ability to activate white blood cells.2 This is one of the reasons why tea tree is often used in combination with lavender in all-purpose formulations for the skin.
The price of tea tree is comparable to lavender, with many companies charging $8-$30 per bottle.
3. Eucalyptus
Coming in at around the same price as lavender and tea tree, eucalyptus is another affordable essential oil that has many uses.
Eucalyptus is wonderful for supporting the respiratory system, so I use it frequently during cold and flu season. But that’s not all it’s good for. It contains antiviral and antibacterial properties and works well in cleaning formulations and homemade soaps.
Eucalyptus has even been found to be effective against cold sores—in fact, it’s my oil of choice when I feel a cold sore coming on.3 Additionally, eucalyptus contains anti-inflammatory properties and is often an ingredient in formulations for muscle and joint pain.
On top of all the benefits, eucalyptus is a cheap essential oil as well. You can find it for anywhere from about $6 to $30 per bottle.
4. Peppermint
You may be surprised to learn that peppermint is an incredibly versatile essential oil, making it one of the best affordable essential oils. For instance, many people find that the smell of peppermint can help with feelings of nausea or upset stomach. Aside from lavender, peppermint is also one of the most popular essential oils for headaches.
What many people don’t know is that peppermint can be useful for itchy skin as well. A study published in 2016 found that participants who used a low dilution of peppermint oil for their chronic itchiness had significant improvement.4
Some other common uses for peppermint oil include to support respiratory health, for muscle and joint pain, hair and skin formulations, and even cleaning products.
As far as price goes, peppermint costs about the same as the other essential oils mentioned here: $8-$30.
5. Lemon
Citrus oils really give you a lot of bang for your buck. And as an added bonus, many of them can be used interchangeably. Lemon is one of the most popular citrus oils and has potent antibacterial properties, making it a great option to consider for cleaning products and purifying the air.
I personally love using citrus oils to help boost my mood. The aromas of lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, and bergamot are incredibly uplifting, and they can be beneficial for feelings of stress, tension, or even grumpiness. In fact, a 2016 study found that lemon oil helped relieve anxiety in patients who had undergone surgery.5 Additionally, some even find the aroma of lemon to be helpful when dealing with feelings of nausea.
Like the others, lemon essential oil can be purchased for $8-$30, making it a great option to consider if you’re on a budget.
6. Cinnamon
Cinnamon essential oil is a frequently used oil in my house. For just a few dollars, I can purchase a quality cinnamon oil and take advantage of its many benefits.
Cinnamon is my go-to if my home needs deodorizing. The sweet spicy aroma is great for reducing unwanted smells, and it’s also useful for purifying the air. It’s also antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal, so I diffuse it frequently during cold and flu season, as well as when anybody has been sick in our house.
In addition to the antimicrobial properties, cinnamon is anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and can even help when dealing with unwanted pests.6 It can easily be used in cleaning formulations, diffuser blends, room sprays, and more. Though, to be honest, the aroma is so pleasing that you may find yourself diffusing it just to enjoy the appealing scent!
While cinnamon essential oil can be over $30 a bottle, you can find several brands that are easily less than $10.
Affordable essential oil diffuser blends
While essential oils can be used individually in numerous ways, there is much to be said for combining a few affordable oils together to create a custom blend. Below, I’ve created 3 simple diffuser blends that can be used for numerous situations. The sky’s the limit! Just remember to adjust the number of drops based on your diffuser’s requirements.
Affordable freshening blend
This is a great blend for freshening up stagnant air and deodorizing in areas where there are unwanted smells.
- 4 drops lemon
- 4 drops eucalyptus
- 2 drops cinnamon
Affordable purifying blend
This is a refreshing blend that is great for purifying the air, and it smells lovely as well.
- 4 drops lavender
- 4 drops peppermint
- 2 drops tea tree
Affordable uplifting blend
This blend is uplifting and is especially nice if you’ve been feeling tired or down in the dumps.
- 4 drops lemon
- 4 drops lavender
- 2 drops eucalyptus
Investing in your health doesn’t have to break the bank
While it’s extremely important to invest in your health, it’s also important to remember that you don’t have to spend beyond your means to do it. There are many ways that you can prioritize your health without blowing your budget. For instance, there are numerous options for essential oils that are quite affordable, especially the 6 versatile oils discussed here.
Although you can get many essential oils for less than $10 a piece, however, make sure that you choose a high-quality essential oil rather than just choosing the cheapest one. Some things to look for are that the oil has been tested for quality, is steam distilled or cold pressed, the place of origin is listed, and the Latin name of the plant is listed in the ingredients as well.
Lastly, when it comes doing a ZYTO galvanic skin response scan to discover your top essential oils, you can easily choose to scan only the most affordable oils such as those mentioned above.
About Nicole Stine
Nicole Stine is a certified herbalist who has numerous aromatherapy and natural health certifications. She is passionate about using herbs and essential oils safely and thoroughly enjoys researching and writing about natural health, as well as creating her own formulations.
Sources:
1. Koulivand, P., M. Ghadiri, & A. Gorji. “Lavender and the Nervous System.” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2013 (2013): 1–10.
2. Budhiraja, S., M. Cullum, et al. “Biological activity of Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) oil component, terpinen-4-ol, in human myelocytic cell line HL-60.” Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 22, no. 7 (1999): 447–53.
3. Astani, A., J. Reichling, and P. Schnitzler. “Comparative study on the antiviral activity of selected monoterpenes derived from essential oils.” Phytotherapy Research 24, no. 5 (May 2010): 673–79.
4. Elsaie, L.T., A.M. El Mohsen, et al. “Effectiveness of topical peppermint oil on symptomatic treatment of chronic pruritus.” Clinical Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology 9 (2016): 333–38.
5. Farhad, K., N. Mahboubeh, et al. “Effect of Aromatherapy with Lemon Essential Oil on Anxiety after Orthopedic Surgery.” Iranian Journal of Rehabilitation Research in Nursing 2, no. 4 (2016): 26–31.
6. Rao, P.V., & S.H. Gan. “Cinnamon: A Multifaceted Medicinal Plant.” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2014 (2014).
