Heidi’s Shopping Guide

Sometimes I purchase items online when I don’t make or grow them myself.

The items in this list are all products I've used (and still do) and have found great value from. You’ll also learn how to vet an essential oil company, which is vital to your safety and the safety of your family.

Some of the links are affiliate links, and if you make a purchase, I might earn a small commission that won't cost you anything. Some are not affiliate links, and are just products I trust. Either way, if I have them listed here, it's because they work for me, and I trust the company.

Here are the categories you can find here: Quality Herbs & Essential Oils, Natural Soap Making, Natural Beauty, Traditional Skills (Fermentation, Cooking, Cheese Making, etc.), Budgeting, Being Prepared for Emergencies

FTC Disclosure: The FTC wants me to let you know that some of the links on this page may be affiliate links and as such, I may earn a small commission at no extra charge to you. I am also an Amazon affiliate, and some of these links may also be links to products sold on Amazon. All links are to items I use and trust.

About QUALITY Herbs and Essential Oils

If you’re purchasing your herbs and essential oils, it’s absolutely essential that you buy high quality herbs and especially essential oils if you’re using them for any kind of topical, ingestable, or inhalable therapeutics other than handmade soap (which is a wash-off product).

Essential oils are now some of the most adulterated substances the world over, and in the United States…they are NOT regulated.

Essential oil companies can and do lie about their products.

I’ve seen it with my own eyes, many times. A company should be able to be VERY transparent about the small farms from which they source their essential oils, or at least explain how they vet and choose the small farms. Private labeling of essential oils is dangerous practice in my opinion. I suggest you stay away from these and also big box stores and Amazon.

Because of this dilemma, I’ve personally vetted (and am continuing to add more great companies) excellent essential oil and bulk herb sources for you below, and many of these don’t have extravagantly high price points, either. Some are international, but I purchase from all the companies I’m recommending, personally. I can vouch for all of them.

I research the companies—the quality of their essential oils, their sustainability practices, and their sourcing if they don’t have their own farms. Then I make a purchase or several and test them myself. Once this is done, I make a decision about whether or not I can recommend them, and if so, they are added to the following list. Sometimes I may remove a company.

These are essential oils and herbs companies I use and trust in my aromatherapy and herbal practice with clients, myself, family, animals, and friends.

But first…a special mention about our herbal and aromatherapy courses:

Online Herbalism and Aromatherapy Courses

I created a course that is a complete guide to Home Family Herbalism that will help you create and maintain a customized apothecary (natural medicine chest) for your unique family. You’ll make what YOU need, and it’s not a generic course; instead it’s a practical family herbalism course. It’s called Ditch the Drugstore and the upgrade of the Family Herbalist Certification program, and I support you as you work through the materials, which speeds your learning path.

If you don’t think you have time for a longer course, I’ve also created a monthly membership that will help you learn about one plant a month on a deep level, as well as medicinal remedies you can make along with me. In this membership, we have three live trainings every month that include client intake and protocol reviews, plant deep dive chats, and a Question and Answer session. All of these are included as replays and are searchable with transcripts. AND we have over 55 herbal masterclasses that include videos and completely researched text.

Both the long courses and this Confident Herbal Tribe membership come with TONS of student support from me. We’re not a school where you’re going through material alone, unless you want to.

My online school, the Healing Harvest Homestead School of Botanical Arts & Sciences is a great place to begin your herbal and aromatic (essential oil) journey!

I teach from a Christian perspective of God the creator, and you will not find any references to beliefs that aren’t aligned with Biblical foundations. Our school is growing! Be sure to take a look when you’re ready for an excellent herbal or aromatherapy course!

Favorite Herbal Books:

Many of us (myself included) enjoy physical resources in a library or system in our homes we can refer to. Here are some of my favorites. If you’d like to watch a video where I discuss recommendations categorized by beginner, intermediate, and advanced, you can watch this video here.

Here are some of my favorite books and resources:

Alchemy of Herbs by Rosalee de la Foret (beginning herbalism)

Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide by Rosemary Gladstar (beginning herbalism)

Herbs for Vital Health by Rosemary Gladstar (beginning herbalism)

Making Plant Medicine by Richo Cech (beginning herbalism)

The Modern Herbal Dispensatory by Thomas Easley (beginning herbalism)

A Modern Herbal (both volumes) by Mrs. Grieve (intermediate herbalism)

The Earthwise Herbal (both volumes) by Matthew Wood (beginning herbalism)

Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy by Kerry Bone and Simon Mills (advanced herbalism)

The Herbal Handbook by David Hoffman (beginning herbalism)

The Complete Herbs Sourcebook by David Hoffman (beginning herbalism)

Medical Herbalism by David Hoffman (intermediate herbalism)

The Way of Herbs by Michael Tierra (beginning herbalism)

Herbal Antibiotics by Stephen Harrod Buhner (intermediate herbalism)

Herbal Antivirals by Stephen Harrod Buhner (intermediate herbalism)

Herbal and Sacred Healing Beers by Stephen Harrod Buhner (fun beginning herbalism—home brewing)

Preppers Natural Medicine by Cat Ellis (beginning herbalism)

Body Into Balance by Maria Groves (beginning herbalism)

Herbal Therapy & Supplements by Winston & Kuhn (intermediate/advanced herbalism)

Adaptogens in Medical Herbalism by Donnie Yance (intermediate/advanced herbalism)

The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety by Mills & Bone (advanced herbalism)

Dr. Jill Stansbury’s 5 volume set on formulation and protocols for medical professionals (I couldn’t generate a link, so please just search her name, and you’ll see her books)

Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy by Mills & Bone (advanced herbalism)

Botanical Safety by the American Herbal Products Association (advanced herbalism)

Herb Books for Identifying, Foraging and Using Wild Herbs:

Foraging and Feasting by Dina Falconi

Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West by Michael Moore

Mountain States Foraging by Briana Wiles

Medicinal Plants of the Desert & Canyon West by Michael Moore (in fact, all of his foraging books are excellent)

Wild Drinks & Cocktails by Emily Han

Botany in a Day by Thomas Elpel

Aromatherapy (Essential Oil) Books

Aromatica by Peter Holmes

The Animal Desk Reference by Melissa Shelton, DVM

Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young

The Ultimate Guide to Aromatherapy by Jade Shutes

The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy by Salvatore Battaglia

Essential Oils: A Comprehensive Handbook for Aromatic Therapy by Jennifer Peace Rhind

The Family Guide to Aromatherapy by Erika Galentin

Aromatherapy for Health Professionals by Shirley Price

Anything written by Salvatore Battaglia, Jennifer Peace Rhind, Kurt Schnaubelt or Dr. Mojay

**I don’t recommend aromatherapy books written by or produced by the large MLM companies or their employees or distributors because to be honest, the practices they recommend are often NOT within safe practices in the world of legitimate and professional aromatherapy.

Where I Purchase My Bulk Herbs

Sometimes you just have to purchase the herbs you need. My favorite place to shop is Starwest Botanicals.

They have a wide variety of culinary and medicinal herbs in different amounts for your convenience. Their herbs are high quality, customer service is great, and shipping is fast! 

I get asked why I no longer recommend Mountain Rose Herbs, and this is simply due to a conflict in value systems. They have financially supported practices that go directly against my faith. Therefore, I cannot in good conscience promote them any longer. However, if you are interested in Mountain Rose Herbs, I do believe they are a high quality company.

There are many other great bulk herb shops to choose from. My favorites to shop with are small family owned herb farms. My friend, Karen, at Reverie Farm, LLC, grows amazing herbs and she ships. I’m not an affiliate, however, I can personally vouch for the quality of her homegrown and foraged herbs.

Here are some other great bulk herb shops:

Pacific Botanicals (You need to order larger quantities, but the quality is excellent)

Foster Farms Botanicals (always high quality!)

Oshala Farms (amazing herbals, grown fresh)

Zach Woods Herb Farm (plants for growing, and some bulk herbs)

Strictly Medicinals (plants and seeds for growing—no bulk herbs)

Baker Creek Seeds (Same as Strictly Medicinals—no bulk herbs, but the seeds are all tested heirloom)

Where I Purchase My Essential Oils

For soap making, I get my essential oils from Starwest Botanicals. I like them for making soap because I'm getting a quality essential oil at prices that are not completely off the charts. I've tried less expensive oils, and there's a big difference in quality. 

See the complete and fully, personally vetted list below…..but first, let’s talk about how to qualify a good place to purchase your essential oils.

IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE:

It’s vital for you to source high quality essential oils if you’re going to be inhaling them for health; putting them on your skin in products like oils, salves, balms, etc.; and absolutely 100% if you’re ingesting them or even using them topically in any way.

Do NOT purchase from businesses that do not have a minimum level certified with NAHA and AIA professional level (2) or clinical level (3) aromatherapist at the helm of the company and in touch with the growers and distillers.

Naturopaths do not count. Doctors do not count. Veterinarians do not count. Nurses do not count. Chiropractors do not count. Tea vendors and herbalists do not count. Homesteaders do not count. Trust me. You want someone who has been trained at a minimum level 2 aromatherapy (professional level) and knows how to identify quality companies.

Do not purchase from companies that purchase and sell mass bulk essential oils on private label brands and businesses. This can be a little tricky because in my experience, if you ask about the purity and quality of their oils and even how they source them, you’ll likely receive a “pat” answer that doesn’t tell you anything. BEWARE.

These low-quality “essential oils” are 99.9% likely adulterated with synthetics, fragrances, and at the very best are the dregs of batches from random places around the globe. These are not sustainable. These are NOT safe to use.

Companies that sell these kinds of oils often rebrand the essential oils under their own business brand or help other small businesses rebrand under their own brand. This is called private labeling, and in the case of essential oils, I feel it’s dangerous, and you’re likely getting an inferior product.

• If the shop (online or brick and mortar) isn’t run by a trained (level 2 or above) aromatherapist, walk away.

• If the shop specializes in something OTHER than aromatherapy and sells essential oils “on the side”, walk away. For example, I know of a few “herbal products” shops that are also selling poor quality, rebranded essential oils. Walk away.

• If you “have a feeling” that the essential oils aren’t the best, walk away.

• If they’re too cheap, walk away. Seriously….walk away.

• If the business owner can’t tell you specifically where (country of origin) the essential oil is from, walk away.

• If the plant part isn’t evident on the website or bottle, walk away.

• If there is no Latin binomial on the label, walk away.

• If they can’t provide at minimum a GC/MS report (which still only tells you chemical components—-no indication of quality), walk away.

• Smell the essential oil. Often you’ll have an intuitive reaction if it’s been adulterated or rectified…it just won’t smell “natural.”

Also, do not purchase from Amazon or in brick and mortar stores (most of the time—sometimes you’ll find quality products in quality co-ops, but please don’t purchase from places like Walmart or Whole Foods). I know this is a lot of “do nots,” but it’s that important.

TRUSTWORTHY QUALITY ESSENTIAL OIL COMPANIES:

Excellent essential oil companies I personally have vetted and buy from for using therapeutically with myself, family, and clients are just below.

In full disclosure, I am an affiliate for Aromatics International, Amrita Aromatherapy, Plant Therapy, and Rocky Mountain Oils…the rest I purchase and enjoy and can absolutely recommend, but I earn no commission from them at all. The FTC likes for me to make sure you know this.

• Aromatics International (Andrea Butje’s original company, and she personally vetted the farms. Now Karen Williams heads up the sourcing, and I’ve personally met her. This is a legitimate company with very high standards and care for the farmers and distillers.)

• Triskele Organics (This is a small woman-owned lavender farm. Steff distills her own lavender essential oil on premises and sells two types of the lavender essential oil, “Grosso” and “Royal Velvet” along with culinary bulk lavender.)

• Amrita Aromatherapy (high quality essential oil and herbal products)

• BoreA Sens (This is a Canadian company with excellent and highly sustainable practices. I came across them at an international aromatherapy conference, checked them out, purchased some oils, and it’s a 100% “yes.”)

• Florihana (A French family owned and reputably sourced essential oils company—they’re now in the United States, too)

• Pompeii Street Organics (many professional and clinical aromatherapists vouch for this company)

• Original Swiss Organics—-(The esteemed Kurt Schnaubelt’s company—-very reputable)

• Perfect Potion (Salvatore Battaglia’s company in Australia—-very reputable)

• Eden Botanicals—A wonderful site for high quality oils and a great deal of information on natural perfumery as well.

• Snow Lotus Aromatherapy (I’ve purchased a couple of times now since this company was recommended by my aromatherapy teacher where I earned my certificate for ingestion. Excellent experience and my nose “knows” it’s a YES)

• Pranarom (A French company, highly well-known and reputable for quality—they are beginning to be found in the American market.)

• Norfolk Essential Oils (This is a reputable British company, and if you’re working therapeutically, highly regarded.)

• Rocky Mountain Oils (I haven’t researched their sourcing in a couple of years, but when last I did, all was well, and I love their blends)

• Plant Therapy Essential Oils (This company has high quality essential oils, and they make donations to MANY great causes. Be sure these agree with your value system.)

• Young Living Essential Oils (Because I enjoy and can vouch for many of their health products, their sustainability practices, and quality of the essential oils, I’ve decided to become an affiliate.)

• Any essential oils you can find that you purchase directly from the distiller and farm, such as Triskele Organics above.

To reiterate….the quality of essential oil is vital for safe and effective use. And here are a few more thoughts on this…..

A thought about the MLM companies:

I get asked about the MLM (multi-level marketing companies), DoTerra and Young Living all the time. I feel they both sell very high quality essential oils and are absolutely fine to use. The danger with these companies is in the education of their distributors. These individuals are (usually) not qualified aromatherapists, even if they’ve had some training with the parent company. They’re taught to sell in volume, which encourages unsafe practices.

Enjoy the essential oils, but be sure to ask an aromatherapist!

Herbal/Aromatherapy Supplies

Herbal and Aromatic Tools and Bottles:

For Making Lotion Bars: These small silicone molds are perfect for making the right size lotion bars.

For Making Push-Up Lotion Bars, Deodorants, Lip Balms: These small lip balm tubes are the perfect size. It’s easiest when you have a kit because you can make many at one time, and the stand greatly reduces spills.

These larger push up tubes are good for bigger hard balms, such as lotion bars and deodorants.

Storing your tinctures and oxymels is easy. You just need glass containers. However, if you want to be sure they last as long as possible and make the tincture/preparation easy to administer, then amber glass dropper bottles are necessary. You can buy them in different sizes too.

Personal Aromatherapy Inhalers NOTE: These are beautiful metal and glass personal inhalers you can re-use. I do not use the plastic disposable inhalers for sustainability reasons.

Glass Stir Rods I like using these much better than stainless steel utensils, which may interact with some chemicals in the essential oils.

Unscented Lotion Base This is an excellent lotion base if you choose to not make your own, and using a pre-made base is a great way to begin. This link is for a lotion that’s fragrance free, not tested on animals, and free of parabens, gluten, and sulfates.

If you want to make your own lotion, I have two great recipes online: Rose Calendula Lotion and Dandelion Skin Softening Lotion.

Jojoba Oil

Roller Bottles, Amber Glass, 10 ml

Roller Bottles, Clear Glass with Gemstones, 10 ml (These are pretty and fun)

Diffuser 1 This has been my hands-down favorite diffuser. It’s a large one, and is perfect for a larger area, like a living room. It’s what I have going in my office when I work. It’s also beautiful and made with metal. This is an ultra-sonic diffuser, used with water.

Diffuser 2 Many people (myself included) love glass diffusers for their beauty and functionality. You can find many online, like the one in the link. This is an ultra-sonic diffuser, used with water.

Nebulizing Diffuser: These diffusers are for more therapeutic use, and blast concentrated essential oil mist into an area. I like using this kind of diffuser when I need to really clean the air, or for blends I want to inhale in a more concentrated manner. No water is required for this type of diffuser.

Car Diffuser These are wonderful because you can change out the pads as you need to. The diffusion comes from air passing over the clip on device. You can also use a simple cotton ball with a few drops of your essential oil…just be aware that you don’t want the cotton ball touching your dashboard…the oils can actually melt plastic.

Start making your own home remedies with 10 common and easy to find herbs and their essential oils. This Herbal Remedy Guide and Cheat Sheet is perfect for your home apothecary or kitchen! Click here, and I’ll send yours straight to your inbox!

Making Soap

** Natural Soap Making Course

I created a natural soap making course that covers both the hot process method and touches on the cold process method as well. This is step-by-step video course with downloadable text pdf’s and a complete eBook!

You’ll learn how to create your own handmade soaps using natural oils, herbs, clays, a variety of natural textures (salts, pumice, seeds, and more). You’ll also learn how to use different ingredients to beautifully and naturally color your soaps!

Natural Soap Making: Start Making Your Own Soaps Today!

** My Favorite Tools for Making Handmade Hot Process Soaps:

1) A Crockpot

I like the simple manual crockpots, and the larger the better. I’ve found that the seven quart and larger sizes generally cook your soap faster.

2) A Kitchen Scale

A digital kitchen scale is a must for both hot process and cold process soap making. This is because you must weigh the ingredients exactly.

3) A Hand Blender

A hand blender is needed to quickly bring your soap to trace. You can find out more in my many soap making tutorials on the blog!

4) Heat Resistant Measuring Pitchers

I love these Pyrex pitchers for making my lye solution as well as herbal teas for my soap making.