The dŌterra Difference
Why dŌTERRA is Different
Have you been hearing lots about dŌTERRA and you’re wondering what it is or even if the way we market our products is above board or ethical or as filled with opportunity as so many people are making it out to be?
dŌTERRA Markets their oils through Direct Selling. This can also be known as Network Marketing or Multi-Level Marketing. Network Marketing is simply a vehicle to get these oils into the hands of the people who need them most, however the value and reasons dŌTERRA is the best Network marketing company in the world isn’t based solely on the business model itself.
Here are 5 reasons why:
1. Conscious Business
Most of the time when we go and ‘buy something’, we don’t have any consciousness around how that product got to the shelf and who was affected either positively or negatively in that production process.
There are thousands of companies who continue to exploit people in the production chain to make more profit and to be able to shout a bigger result with shareholders.
I would like to believe that in the years to come this changes, and that those who are unconsciously purchasing today, consciously purchase tomorrow, and education on where we invest and why plays a role in that.
From a personal perspective, every single month when I purchase my pure oils through doTERRA, I know for a fact that I am supporting ethical and conscious business practices. The fact that I also receive the world’s best essential oils through that?
You can’t get much better than that for a complete full circle.
Conscious business enterprises and people are those that choose to follow a business strategy, in which they seek to benefit both human beings and the environment. dŌTERRA certainly does that through Co-Impact Sourcing.
dŌTERRA reach around the world and tap into the global supply of essential oils so that they can provide their customer with oils that have the highest therapeutic value. This means that we source oils from where the plant that creates the extract grows best in its indigenous state. 2/3’s of the countries we source from are developing countries.
Our Co-Impact sourcing model means we can change the lives of these people who have so little and this is how we positively affect a whole community.
Through the dŌTERRA Co-Impact Sourcing model, we have an opportunity to truly make a difference and provide sustainable income for these people – many in developing countries – who are growing, harvesting and distilling these beautiful oils. Co-Impact sourcing creates jobs in rural areas where we work through long-term sourcing contracts and agreements with our partners.
This includes fair and on-time wages or payments to the farmers, harvesters and distillers, and even profit sharing programs that the distillers offer to the growers and harvesters.
Our Co-impact sourcing model improves the livelihoods of families. dŌTERRA care about the people in this chain of production and it’s an honour for us to see them get a sense of pride in themselves and what they do.
We can make a difference in the world in areas where they have no other source of help. We obtain the highest quality of essential oil, and we get to give back and provide employment to so many people in the process.
Co-Impact sourcing also includes linking community bases and social impact projects funded through the Healing Hands foundation.
The Healing Hands Foundation

The dŌTERRA Healing Hands Foundation was created in June 2012 as an official non-profit organisation. The foundation is one of the ways dŌTERRA reaches out and serves communities in need. They do this by partnering with organisations and doTERRA Wellness Advocates (like myself) to offer hope to millions around the world.
Through the foundation’s efforts, lives are freed of disease and poverty, and communities are empowered with the tools needed to become self-reliant.
On January 9th 2020 dŌTERRA Healing Hands Foundation Australia proudly donated $150,000 to the Australian Salvation Army Bushfire Appeal.
Helping those in fire affected areas as they need emergency help, Patrick O’Callaghan from Healing Hands Foundation Australia says all major groups supporting bushfire response and recovery efforts were considered.
“The Salvation Army stood out due to their commitment that 100% of funds raised through the appeal will go to support affected communities” he said. “They are in communities as first responders, but will also be there during the initial recovery months and the long term rebuild of communities.”
dŌTERRA AUNZ and dŌTERRA Healing Hands Foundation Australia will continue to assist well after the initial emergency has ceased, and work with our Wellness Advocate community to help those affected recover and rebuild their lives in the months and years to come.
2. Product Quality
While some other companies cut corners during the planting, growing and harvesting process, or even try to extend the essential oils by adding less pure ingredients, dŌTERRA is uncompromisingly selective.
We source the oils from the places in the world that ensure the best growing conditions and dōTERRA’s state-of-the-art lab uses the most advanced testing methods to verify the purity and potency of its essential oils.
After the aromatic compounds are distilled from the plant material, each batch is scrupulously tested to ensure that it meets CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® standards.
Batches that meet the physical testing criteria are then run through a series of on-site contamination tests by expert microbiologists to confirm that there are no harmful contaminants. The oils are tested for potentially harmful microorganisms, heavy metals, and pesticides to certify safe use when proper usage guidelines are followed.
Each batch of dōTERRA essential oils goes through a battery of rigorous tests to ensure you and your family receive only the most pure, potent, and effective oils on earth. You can even enter your unique Quality ID to view GC/MS test results from an independent, verified third party lab.
dŌTERRA are committed to providing you the highest quality oil, every time.
Also, dōTERRA’s dedication to working with modern healthcare has led to growing partnerships with world-renowned medical facilities. These facilities use dōTERRA essential oils every day to improve outcomes for patients and the work environment for the staff. The medical partnerships empower dōTERRA to discover more effective and safe uses of essential oils as complements to modern medicine.
dōTERRA also supports many clinics and universities who approach us with study proposals in the field of essential oil and related natural products research. Dr. Hill and his team are managing 113 relationships with leading research universities, clinical structures, and hospitals around the world.
Reasons for Wellness Advocates
3. Minimum Investment to Start, Low Overheads
Let’s look at what it actually costs to start your small business with dŌTERRA.
Most people don’t realise this, but the easiest way to start your doTERRA business is to purchase some oils. There is no financial commitment other than product purchase itself, no buy in, and no lock-in business contracts. A customer today could start their own dŌTERRA Network Marketing business tomorrow.
One of the most magical things about this business and the products that we have is that nearly every dŌTERRA Wellness Advocate has had a fantastic personal experience with the oils before they decided to dive into the business opportunity. Another reason it just makes sense to learn about the oils from a Wellness Advocate.
Some Direct Selling companies want huge upfront investments in products or services before they can start a business. With dŌTERRA you can start with as little as $174 (Family Essentials Kit) however most people will join with a ‘Home Essentials Kit’. The Home Essentials Kit is aptly named and includes the top 10 oils every home should have PLUS a diffuser for $330AUD. With the Home Essentials Kit, you’re also getting over $100 off your already discounted 25% off oils. So it’s incredible value.
Then, if and when you want to earn money, it’s a monthly overhead of approximately $125 to be eligible for commissions, and this is for actual product. So you’re getting great value from that.
Best bits though:
This is not an auto drop-shipping program where you have little or no choice of what to buy like some other Network marketing companies. You get to be in charge of everything you purchase. And if you ever want to stop. You can. There is no lock in contracts with dŌTERRA at ALL.
Let’s mirror that to the potential overhead of starting up your own retail store. They cost on average $80k to set up with monthly overheads in the thousands.
4. Supporting Small Business Owners with the Heavy Lifting
Specifically because of the business model that dŌTERRA use to market their oils, Direct Selling, any individual like you or I can create and nurture our own small business. While Direct Selling or Network Marketing in no way limits the dŌTERRA opportunity to women, it is true that most who do run a thriving small business leveraging the dŌTERRA products are women.
Where big corporates invest their billions of marketing dollars into advertising, sponsorships, ambassadorships and other marketing, dŌTERRA market through word of mouth sales or direct sales, from their existing loyal customers (that’s me by the way!). They invest their marketing dollars into paying us a small commission each time someone purchases through us, delivering that money directly into the pockets of us small business owners world wide.
Interestingly, I have heard that some people who are not across the concept of the business model of direct selling or Network Marketing, feel like we – those who are doing the direct selling – shouldn’t actually earn a commission for referring others to a product that will benefit their lives?!!
I feel in this instance that this is not simply due to a lack of education into how the industry works, but also due to the fact that many dŌTERRA Wellness Advocates like me, or maybe yourself, don’t talk about or treat our business as an actual business, and if this is the case you are going to have more people wondering why you feel you deserve to be paid for what is actually your hard work.
Like any Small Business, it takes work, commitment, dedication and effort to grow a thriving dŌTERRA business. However unlike a small business such as a retail store, dŌTERRA have – incredibly – done so much of the heavy lifting for us.
They manage the most incredible, ethical product sourcing pathways, they provide us with training and development, incentives for new customers, bonus offers, discounts, and regular freebies for ourselves and others. AND they provide training and development opportunities, manage our payments, our inventory, and our order system.
dŌTERRA also offer us:
- Personalised Website
- Product & Business blog sites
- Forms and Flyers
- Product Information Pages, Blogs, & Videos
- PowerPoint Presentations
- Class in a Box to help us run classes.
Over 90% of small store-front businesses fail in the first year.
dŌTERRA offer the entire foundation we need to go out and run a successful small business. This business model helps support women create flexibility in their lives to be there for school drop-offs and pick-ups, or to afford the dentist, the school excursion, to take their kids on a holiday or to contribute to their mortgage.
It means that instead of desperately trying to scrape by, any person can achieve freedom within their financial circumstances to live a happier life.
Personally, I grew up in a household with quite a weak money-mindset. I used to think that spiritual abundance and financial abundance were mutually exclusive. I thought I was more enlightened to live life on ‘love’ alone. But this is not the case.
We all deserve financial abundance and freedom from the strain of money-worries. If you or I have more this doesn’t mean others have less.
5. Harvesting A Culture of Philanthropy
Something that most people outside of dŌTERRA aren’t aware of is how deep the vein of philanthropy runs within this company culture. The partnerships with charitable organisations extends much further than that which the Healing Hands Foundation touches.
When I used to work as a teacher in schools, we would have social justice initiatives such as feeding the homeless of Sydney, nursing home visits and charitable donations during the month of Lent. However, I’ve got to be honest, some of that felt more like it was for us to add to the school’s website and newsletter to portray that we were putting forward a charitable front, more than teaching our students souls about actually being invested in serving to make the world a better place.
dŌTERRA fosters a much deeper value and integrity system than this.
When a huge collective of women get together – as within our Network marketing community – this gives rise to more SERVITUDE, and hey it’s true that this is made so much easier for us when we are in fact financially abundant.
dŌTERRA inspire us to give back when and where possible and there is no doubt that the world of tomorrow is going to be better off now that a new wave of conscious leaders are coming together to empower the next generation of conscious leaders.