The value of essential oils has been recognized for centuries, not only in ancient Egypt but also in other cultures around the world. The use of essential oils for medicinal, spiritual, and cosmetic purposes dates back to ancient times, and their popularity continues to this day.

Essential oils are highly concentrated, and only a few drops are needed to achieve the desired effect. They are versatile and can be used for various purposes, such as aromatherapy, massage, skincare, and cleaning.

The popularity of essential oils has grown in recent years, and they are now widely available for purchase. However, it is essential to ensure that you are purchasing high-quality oils from a reputable source to ensure their safety and effectiveness.

Whether you are using essential oils for their therapeutic benefits or simply to enjoy their pleasant aroma, it is crucial to follow proper usage guidelines and to keep them out of reach of pets and children. With proper use and care, essential oils can provide many benefits and enhance your overall well-being.

Top 15 Most Expensive Essential Oils in the World

The trend has stayed until today, and we still have essential oils whose prices are through the roof. Of course, you can find affordable options on the market, but some of the best ones that provide outstanding aromas are sold for spectacular prices.

We’re here to talk more about some of the most expensive essential oils out there. We will share a list of 15 different essential oils known as some of the most precious and the least affordable ones. However, those capable of getting their hands on them know that the scents produced by these oils are worth every penny. Read on if you want to know what they are.

15. Helichrysum

Average price per ounce: $223.80

This essential oil is made from the flowers of the plant Helichrysum italicum, which grows around the Mediterranean, as you could’ve guessed by the name. The plant loves dry sandy or rocky surfaces, which makes it hard to find and collect.

Helichrysum

Because it is hard to collect, there aren’t so many of it worldwide, which dictates the price. It has strong anti-aging and anti-inflammatory features, which is the main reason why people love it. However, because of the price, not too many people can afford it, but if you can, be sure that it will be great for your skin. Doterra has this essential oil in its purest form. You can read my full review about Doterra and its essential oils here.

14. East Indian Sandalwood

Average price per ounce: $249.60

As it is commonly known, the East Indian Sandalwood essential oil is made from the core of the Santalum Album plant. It is found in South-East Asia and India and is an important plant in the Hindu religion because it is considered sacred.

East Indian Sandalwood

Today, the essential oil made from it is used for battling anxiety and even skin cancer. However, the wide use has managed to put it on the list of endangered species, which is why there’s only so much in production. Since there’s huge demand, but not enough to meet it, the price often goes very high.

13. Vanilla Absolute

Average price per ounce: $290.70

The Vanilla Absolute essential oil is made from the seed pods of the plant vanilla planifolia. The scent of this essential oil is known to cause a relaxing and comfortable feeling, but it is also known as an aphrodisiac, which is why it is so wanted and respected around the world.

Vanilla Absolute

The plant supply is not equal across the year, so there are huge fluctuations in the price. In some periods of the year, it can be extremely high, and for some months, it is affordable for most people. If you’d like to get your hands on it, you might want to wait for the right season. That is one of the reasons why this is one of the most expensive essential oils In the world.

12. Damask Rose

Average price per ounce: $300

Damask Rose, also known as the Bulgarian Rose Absolute, is an essential oil made from the flowers of the Rosa Damascena plant. Its many pharmacological benefits are well-known, and it is used for treating lots of conditions and illnesses, like HIV, diabetes, or bacteria inflammations.

Damask Rose

The oil made of these plants needs to undergo a complex process. Many flowers are used for a single bottle, which is the main reason this essential oil is priced so high. At the same time, it is an absolute, which means it’s not pure extract, and the extract is even more expensive.

11. Champaca Absolute

Average price per ounce: $303.60

This one is made of the plant Magnolia Champaca, or known as Champak in the English language. The essential oil is produced by its flowers and has a lovely floral and fruitful scent. At the same time, it has many benefits – it relieves tension, stress and is excellent for headaches and vertigo.

Champaca Absolute

In the ocean of essential oil products, this one is known to suit stress and anxiety the best. It is widely used for depression treatments, which is why it is so wanted. Of course, products with great demand always have a higher price than the rest of the competition.

10. Neroli

Average price per ounce: $354

Neroli is an essential oil produced by the blossoms of the Bitter Orange plant. It has a sweet scent, and the aroma is uplifting. More importantly, it is being used for treating different conditions, such as depression, high blood pressure, skin issue, but it is also used for seizures as it has proven to work for this problem.

Neroli

The high price is because many flowers are needed to produce one bottle of it, and at the same time, the demand is huge. A few years ago, the price was even higher than today, but the rise in production has managed to drop it significantly, so it is now affordable enough.  However, if you want to have it, you can purchase it from Young Living. If doubt the quality of the essential oils, you can read here my review and change your mind.

9. Ledum

Average price per ounce: $372

Ledum is an interesting essential oil made from the leaves of various Rhododendron Subsect. Also known as Labrador Tea or Marsh Tea, it is an excellent product used for ages to keep a calm mind and make you relaxed. Today, it is also used for weight loss, reducing pain and inflammation.

Ledum

It is one of the most expensive essential oils because the plant is not easy to find, yet its properties have done an amazing job in treating people using it. If you haven’t heard so far about Ledum, don’t be surprised because of it – most of the time, you’ve been offered something else to replace it. Plant Therapy is one of the companies that produces 100% pure essential oils, you can check here about their oils and brand.

8. Elecampane

Average price per ounce: $560

This one comes from the family of plants that we commonly know as sunflowers. Although we only think of one plant when mentioning sunflowers, it is actually an entire family of different ones. This one is known as the Horse Heal and is an amazing essential oil provider.

Elecampane

It is excellent in the battle against bronchitis, asthma, and other respiratory issues. During the time of Covid-19, it’s only logical why the demand is so huge.

Another excellent reason for its price is that it is used for making Absinthe, the all-time popular drink that is one of the most notable in the history of alcohol.

7. Seaweed

Average price per ounce: $650

Some people simply love the smell of the ocean. Seaweed is one of those products from the sea that find amazing use in many industries, and the essential oil industry is not an exception. This plant is found in the northern parts of the planet, and it’s really hard to be harvested.

Seaweed

This is why the price is so high, but the benefits of it are astonishing. Seaweed is rich with vitamins, nutrients, and enzymes that, aside from the wonderful scent it provides in the essential oil, have many healthcare benefits.

6. Rose

Average price per ounce: $700

Everyone knows about roses. One of the most famous essential oil, but also one of the most expensive essential oils. They’ve been mentioned in thousands of songs throughout history, we’re using them every day in many forms, and the essential oils made from them are also amazing. So why the price?

Rose

It takes a lot of rose petals to be processed for creating one ounce of rose essential oil. This is why for centuries, we’ve been using them as perfumes and other products, but essential oils were not so common.

5. Agarwood

Average price per ounce: $850

Native to South-East Asia and the Indian subcontinent, this plant is one of those plant species highly endangered and with a possibility to be extinct forever. This is the main reason why its price is extremely high compared to some other essential oils.

Agarwood

Agarwood, also known as Oudh, has a bitter-sweet scent and is a powerful aphrodisiac. It is also excellent against respiratory problems and works great for calming and relaxation. I found Oudh essential oil in Edens Garden, which is also a company that produces pure essential oils. I have made a brand review that you can read here if you haven’t heard about this brand.

4. Cannabis

Average price per ounce: $946

Do we need any special introduction to cannabis? The plant that has amazing popularity worldwide is now available in the form of essential oil. However, it is still illegal in many parts of the world, which makes it the fourth of the most expensive essential oils.

Cannabis

On the other hand, its many health benefits are proven repeatedly by various scientists. Cannabis is excellent for treating so many conditions and diseases – from cancer to anxiety. If you have ever tried cannabis in any of its forms, you know that this is entirely true.

3. Frangipani

Average price per ounce: $1,482

This plant is native to the Central American region, and the Caribbean is an amazing white and yellow or white and pink flower. Like everything made in this part of the world, the Frangipani is also spectacular and produces an amazing scent.

Frangipani

Rich with nutrients and antioxidants, it is a powerful product against problems with the skin, which is the main reason people use it. At the same time, its sweet and strong aroma makes people love it for filling their homes with a perfect scent.

2. Tuberose

Average price per ounce: $1,645

Tuberose is a flower that is found in Mexico. It has a sweet and precise aroma, making it a loved choice for those who prefer essential oils that produce this kind of smell. It will make you feel calmed and relaxed, which is something we all aim for today.

Tuberose

Tuberose is the second most expensive essential oil in the world because the flowers are hard to pick, and harvesting is amazingly non-affordable. In the past, this plant was planted in other parts of the world, too, like France, but production was seized because there was no labor for it.

1. Champaca White

Average price per ounce: $2,256

The most expensive essential oil in the world is, without a doubt, the Champaca white. If you remember, we mentioned the Champaca flower at the 11th position, but that was an absolute, which means the process is different than this one.

Here, the process of getting the oil is called steam distillation, but they also use the cold method, which raises the price through the roof. You can find this one for more affordable prices, but the truly expensive bottles are made from flowers grown in high altitudes in the Indian mountains.

Champaca White

It has a warm smell that causes a calming effect. The oil is also highly therapeutic – it is used for wounds and skin issues. The scent of the oil put in a diffuser has a calming and anti-stress effect. People that can afford it use it for treating headaches and relaxation.

Conclusion

These are the 15 most expensive essential oils globally, from an affordable amount of a few hundred dollars and up to a couple of thousands. It all depends on your preferences and how deep your pocket is – there’s something for everyone.

As you could’ve noticed, some of the essential oils are expensive because the plants that provide the oil are hard to get, some of them are hard to be extracted, and others are simply endangered. In some cases, like the rose, the demand is huge, and the need to process so many plants makes it difficult to meet this demand.

In the future, we can expect an even bigger rise in prices. As technology and demand rise, the prices will too. People from across the globe are starting to realize the benefits of essential oils more and more, which means that we will need to produce even more from the most exclusive types.

The industry is ready, though. Hundreds of companies are dedicated to extracting the oils from the gifts of nature but also planting more of the same kinds. It’s crucial to take care of nature to have more of the fruits that we find so useful.