I began my study of medicinal plants and esoteric philosophy at the age of 18 after having a mystical awakening with a local shaman in the foothills of Northern California. As someone who always felt the most at home in nature, I began to hear the flowers and trees communicating with me in new ways. The study of vibrations and healing properties of scents, sounds and colors continued to draw me deeper into this mystical realm.
After healing my own chronic bronchial challenges with herbs, I began making teas and tinctures for anyone who was under the weather. Not long after, I found essential oils and knew with certainty that they would be an integral part of my future.
The Surprising Reality of Essential Oil Quality
My initial findings of what I believed to be essential oils were actually fragrance oils — synthetics created in a lab. I was shocked as these oils were sold as pure essential oils. My search continued.
With every essential oil company I explored, I refined my own lexicon of quality. Developing my organoleptic sense of smell, touch, sight and aftertaste led me to build a process of discernment and intuitive, intimate relationships with the plants. This is an invaluable part of the educational journey.
The aromatherapy market is largely unregulated. Terms like “pure,” “natural,” and “therapeutic grade” are marketing language, not regulated standards. This makes it essential — literally — to develop your own sense of quality through education, experience, and supplier relationships.
What I Look for in High-Vibrational Aromatics
- Organic or wildcrafted sourcing — plants grown without pesticides or herbicides retain a higher vibrational integrity
- Steam distillation or cold-pressing — traditional extraction methods that preserve the full aromatic and therapeutic profile
- Small batch, single-origin — knowing exactly where and how a plant was grown and distilled
- Grower relationships — working directly with farmers and distillers who care as deeply about the plants as we do
- Third-party testing — GC/MS (gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) testing to verify purity and constituent profiles
- Energetic resonance — the felt sense of the oil’s vitality, which develops with practice and discernment
My Sourcing Philosophy
After decades of study, travel, and direct relationships with growers and distillers across the globe, I’ve come to understand that the highest vibrational aromatics are those grown with love and harvested with intention. The consciousness and care that goes into the cultivation, harvest, and distillation of a plant is as important as the chemistry of the resulting oil.
When I anoint with a drop of Rose from our trusted Bulgarian distiller, or Frankincense from wild-harvested Omani trees, I feel the land, the hands, and the love that brought it into being. This is the essence of true aromatherapy — not just chemistry, but communion with the intelligence of the plant kingdom.
