Real Talk on Essential Oils in Nova Scotia
- Andree Noye
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
A Rural Aromatherapist’s Call-to-Action
By Andrée Noye, MA, Clinical Herbalist (and qualified aromatherapist). Estimated Reading Time: 4–5 minutes
Living and practicing in rural Nova Scotia gives me a firsthand view of community, land, and an herbal traditions that are as old as the tides. What I see too often is essential oils and aromatherapy handled in ways that don’t do justice to their power or provenance.
Yes, I’ve written on pricing vs big MLM brands before. Today, I want to deepen the conversation.
Here’s what matters:
1. Why This Matters in Rural NS
Our region has the soil, climate, and tradition for plant-based healing. As one of the few fully trained aromatherapists in our patch of Nova Scotia (as part of my naturopath training), I carry the responsibility to ensure essential oils are:
Clinically accurate, not merchandised,
Bioregionally relevant, not imported driving global homogenization,
Ethically sourced, not synthetically inflated.
When clinicians casually grab oils off big-brand shelves, they often lack chemotype clarity, traceability, or true purity, and that undermines client care.
2. Quality + Transparency = Clinical Integrity
Here’s what sets Circé + Medée's oils apart:
Certifications where possible (Ecocert Canada), because claiming “certified pure” needs proof.
Every oil is steam-distilled, not carrier-diluted or cosmetically rebranded (except two blends who would be too cost-prohibitive to carry fully distilled).
Full origin tracing: field, distiller, batch with 100% accountability.
Pricing that delivers true value versus MLM markup and commission layers.
We recently compared 20+ oils to a major MLM. Every single one was legitimately 29–79% less expensive, while offering equal or greater quality, without selling pyramid promises. 📊 Essential Oil Price Comparison Circé + Medée vs doTERRA
Essential Oil | Our Retail Price | doTERRA Wholesale | doTERRA Retail | $ Saved | % Saved |
Patchouli | $11 | $31.27 | $41.69 | –$30.70 | –73.6% |
Bergamot | $20 | $55.00 | $73.33 | –$53.34 | –72.8% |
Ravintsara | $13 | $28.27 | $37.69 | –$24.70 | –65.5% |
Geranium | $20 | $63.00 | $84.00 | –$64.01 | –76.2% |
Bay Laurel | $13 | ~$26.00 | ~$34.67 | –$21.67 | –62.5% |
Black Spruce | $16 | $29.00 | $38.67 | –$22.67 | –58.6% |
Tea Tree | $13 | $21.06 | $28.07 | –$15.08 | –53.7% |
Eucalyptus | $11 | $14.84 | $19.79 | –$8.80 | –44.5% |
Lemon Eucalyptus | $11 | $22.00 | $29.33 | –$18.34 | –62.6% |
Grapefruit | $15 | $27.00 | $36.00 | –$21.01 | –58.3% |
Sweet Orange | $11 | $17.00 | $22.67 | –$12.18 | –53.7% |
Lavender | $21 | $39.00 | $52.00 | –$31.01 | –59.6% |
Lemon | $11 | $19.00 | $25.33 | –$14.34 | –56.6% |
Lemongrass | $13 | $19.00 | $25.33 | –$12.34 | –48.7% |
Clove Bud | $12 | $29.00 | $38.67 | –$26.68 | –69.0% |
Peppermint | $15 | $21.73 | $28.97 | –$14.47 | –50.0% |
Rosemary | $14 | $14.84 | $19.79 | –$5.80 | –29.3% |
Wintergreen | $16 | $16.96 | $22.61 | –$6.62 | –29.3% |
Clary Sage | $18 | $38.69 | $51.59 | –$33.60 | –65.1% |
Cedarwood | $13 | $22.00 | $29.33 | –$16.34 | –55.7% |
Ylang Ylang | $17 | $37.37 | $49.82 | –$32.82 | –65.9% |
Palmarosa | $17 | $27.50 | $36.67 | –$19.68 | –53.7% |
3. What I’m Seeing
I have sadly witnessed wellness practitioners using essential oils interchangeably, with little attention to (because the PIP "Product Information Page" said so):
Allergy potential
Chemotype-specific contraindications
Harvest and distillation conditions
Clinical dosage vs trend-based drops
A bottle of aromatic oil isn’t a lifestyle accessory. It’s a potent plant medicine. Clients deserve more than “it smelled nice”; they deserve ethical sourcing, accurate therapeutic rationale, and clinical dosing.
4. Bridging Tradition and Trust
My goal isn’t marketing hype. It’s building regional trust and clinical safety. When you walk into our local wellness centre, I want you to know:
This isn’t a pyramided product.
This is lavender that grows in soils similar to ours.
This is citrus with traceable terroir.
This is plant chemistry matched to professional expertise.
✅ Your Next Step
Curious about value or wanting to carry oils with integrity? I’d be honored to welcome you to our rural apothecary. We believe in real plants, accurate medicine, and the profound power of nature without compromise. In care,
