EcoLux☆Lifestyle: 10 Most Expensive Essential Oils in the World

EcoLux☆Lifestyle: 10 Most Expensive Essential Oils in the World

Throughout history, gathering from nature and creating extractions for medicinal purposes has been a way humans have sought to cure themselves of ailments and illness. Essential oils, containing the aroma of a particular fruit or plant, have been in use since the 13th century. These volatile oils were used primarily in medicine.

Aromatherapy and the extracts use has increased and now we find them in cosmetics, perfumes, soaps and many other products, even as flavouring foods and drinks.

We always love a great Top 10 list, so thanks to Luxatic for sending this one over. On this list of essential oils is listed the prices per ounce, which of course varies depending on the plants extracted from and the demand for the extracts.

10. Neroli – Essential Oils

Ten Most Expensive Essential Oils, EcoLuxLuv, FolioYVR, Vancouver, BC, 604, Vancity, Luxury Lifestyle, Helen Siwak

Once upon a time – the 17th century – there was a princess, Anne Marie Orsini, princess of Nerola, Italy. She was the first one to introduce the oil made from the blossom of the bitter orange tree, hence the name of the oil today. It has a honey-like sweetness to it with some spicy tones and it’s used very much in perfumes.

We don’t know if the cause is wearing a princess name or not, but the price for an ounce of this essential oil is a huge $354. We know that the sum doesn’t sound too much, but it’s just an ounce. Almost nothing. Some sources even claim that this oil is one of the secret ingredients in Coca Cola.

9. Sandalwood – Essential Oils

Ten Most Expensive Essential Oils, EcoLuxLuv, FolioYVR, Vancouver, BC, 604, Vancity, Luxury Lifestyle, Helen Siwak

The Sandalwood Essential oil is extracted by steam distillation from the chips of the wood with the same name. Used in perfumes, cosmetics and Ayurvedic medicine, the oil is praised by many.

The sandalwood is the second most expensive tree in the world, so you can expect the price of the oil to be high. More than that, the process is a very complex one and the fact that it’s produced only in India makes this oil scarce. Its price per ounce is $492.

8. Elecampane – Essential Oils

Ten Most Expensive Essential Oils, EcoLuxLuv, FolioYVR, Vancouver, BC, 604, Vancity, Luxury Lifestyle, Helen Siwak

The Elecampane Essential oil comes from a plant in the sunflower family known as well as horse heal, which grows in Europe, Asia and some parts in North America. The plant was considered sacred by the Celts and its name and history goes back to Helen of Troy.

More than that, it’s one of the ingredients used to create absinthe, so it does have an important role in the world besides perfumes and essential oils. It’s also one of the rarest in the world – we suspect absinthe to be the cause for that – and its essential oil is as well used in herbal medicine as an expectorant or for water retention. One ounce of this oil costs $560.

7. Seaweed Absolute Extra – Essential Oils

Ten Most Expensive Essential Oils, EcoLuxLuv, FolioYVR, Vancouver, BC, 604, Vancity, Luxury Lifestyle, Helen Siwak

The Seaweed Absolute Extra Essential oil is made as the name says, from a seaweed, one that is found on the coasts of the North Sea, the Baltic sea and the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. First the original source of iodine, with its salt-water, moss, green herbs and undertones of leather in its aroma now it’s the main choice for natural perfumes.

The Seaweed Absolute Extra essential oil is the main ingredient in these kind of perfumes and it’s also used for skin care products, but its price rises to a high $650 per ounce.

6. Rose – Essential Oils

Ten Most Expensive Essential Oils, EcoLuxLuv, FolioYVR, Vancouver, BC, 604, Vancity, Luxury Lifestyle, Helen Siwak

Who doesn’t know roses and all those commercials involving beautiful ladies, perfumes and rose petals? They’re everywhere. Well, it’s true. At least the part with the rose petals, since they are highly prized in the perfume industry and are widely used around the world.

The Rose Essential Oil is extracted from from two types of rose petals, the ottos and the absolutes, using around four tons of petals for every pound of oil extracted. Sounds crazy, right? Well, the flavor of this oil is very intense. The same thing can be said about its price. You can buy it for a good $700 per ounce.

5. Agarwood – Essential Oils

Ten Most Expensive Essential Oils, EcoLuxLuv, FolioYVR, Vancouver, BC, 604, Vancity, Luxury Lifestyle, Helen Siwak

The Agarwood Essential oil, also known as Oud oil, it’s an extremely rare and much appreciated oil for its great aroma and medicinal uses. As the name states, it’s extracted from the agarwood, which is listed as a potential threatened species, making it one of the most expensive raw materials in the world.

The trees require a long time to grow and they’re found only in isolated regions of countries like India, Bhutan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and a few others. The sweet, woody fragrance of the oil is praised so much that the price for an ounce of this oil goes to $850.

4. Cannabis Flower – Essential Oils

Ten Most Expensive Essential Oils, EcoLuxLuv, FolioYVR, Vancouver, BC, 604, Vancity, Luxury Lifestyle, Helen Siwak

Now here’s an interesting one, the Cannabis Flower essential oil, also known as hemp essential oil. It’s main use is in cosmetics, perfumes, soaps and candles for its pleasant, relaxing smell. It’s used as well to flavor some foods or beverages.

The plant itself, though is known to have medicinal uses, like alleviating inflammations, skin irritations or hormonal imbalances, it’s highly regulated so growing it in many parts of the world is illegal. That’s what makes it very popular to some and the oil extracted from it so expensive with a price of $946 per ounce.

3. Frangipani Absolute – Essential Oils

Ten Most Expensive Essential Oils, EcoLuxLuv, FolioYVR, Vancouver, BC, 604, Vancity, Luxury Lifestyle, Helen Siwak

The Frangipani flower is a rare species, found only on the Comoros Islands in France. The oil extract is very thick and has an intense sweet floral fragrance, with hints of exotic spices, making it a main component of high class perfumery.

Besides perfumes, the Frangipani Absolute Essential oil has medicinal uses as well, reducing stress and inflammations. The price for an ounce of this oil reaches a staggering $1,482.

2. Tuberose Absolute – Essential Oils

Ten Most Expensive Essential Oils, EcoLuxLuv, FolioYVR, Vancouver, BC, 604, Vancity, Luxury Lifestyle, Helen Siwak

The Tuberose is a perennial plant cultivated in Mexico with extracts of it used in perfumery. Its oil is extracted by infusing the petals in palm oil, separated afterwards from the tuberose essence through the process of evaporation.

The Tuberose Absolute Essential oil is considered a luxurious oil and it’s used in aromatherapy for or in fragrances. The relaxation properties make it a great help against insomnia, though some use it for inspiration purposes and even as an aphrodisiac. Whatever the use, make sure it’s worth it, since an ounce of this oil costs a great $1,645.

1. Champaca Absolute – Essential Oils

Ten Most Expensive Essential Oils, EcoLuxLuv, FolioYVR, Vancouver, BC, 604, Vancity, Luxury Lifestyle, Helen Siwak

Used for centuries as a great way to cure depression and relieve stress, vertigo or headaches, the Champaca Absolute Essential Oils seems to be one of the best when it comes to medicinal purposes. It has regenerative properties, helping with wounds from acne, spots, wrinkles and complexions.

Its powerful citrus and floral scent is much appreciated in India and parts of Asia where it is also used as a perfume and as a powerful aphrodisiac. A very expensive one, since the price per ounce is a staggering $2,256, making it the most expensive essential oils in the world.

 

 

Author Profile

Helen Siwak - EcoFriendly Lifestyle Consultant
Helen Siwak - EcoFriendly Lifestyle Consultant
Helen Siwak is the founder of EcoLuxLuv Marketing & Communications Inc and publisher of Folio.YVR Luxury Lifestyle Magazine and digital women's lifestyle magazine EcoLuxLifestyle.co. She is a prolific content creator, consultant, and marketing and media strategist within the ecoluxury lifestyle niche. Post-pandemic, she has worked with many small to mid-sized plant-based/vegan brands to build their digital foundations and strategize content creation and business development. Helen is the west coast correspondent to Canada’s top-read industry magazine Retail-Insider, holds a vast freelance portfolio, and consults with many of the world’s luxury heritage brands. Always seeking new opportunities and challenges, you can email her at helen@ecoluxluv.com.
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