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Beginnings

Young Living Essential Oils Founder and President, D. Gary Young, started what would become Young Living Essential Oils in 1989, when he purchased a one-quarter-acre farm in Spokane, Washington, US. On this small plot of land, he cultivated lavender and other various herbs, and the first batch of steam-distilled essential oils was bottled. Since then Young Living has grown to include four farms on three continents, more than 400 products, and customers in more than 100 countries.

1989

• D. Gary Young started the first Young Living farm on a one-quarter-acre plot of land in Spokane, Washington. There he grew sage, clary sage, lavender, bergamot, tarragon, and German chamomile. Toward the end of that season, Gary built his first distiller. It consisted of two pressure cookers welded together by a copper pipe. This yielded Young Living’s first batch of essential oil.

• Testing of the oils confirmed that they were of the highest quality, fulfilling Gary’s belief that with the proper plants and the correct distillation technique, he could produce Young Living® essential oils. 1992 Gary purchased a plot of land in northern Idaho, US. The St. Maries farm was large and fulfilled the need for a pesticide- and pollution-free environment where plants’ purities wouldn’t be compromised.

• The first stationary distiller was built at St. Maries and incorporated Gary Young’s proprietary low-pressure, low-temperature steam distillation process. The yield of pure, authentic Young Living essential oils substantially increased with that distiller, and each successive year saw an increase in capacity.

1995

• Gary purchased 138 acres of farmland in Mona, Utah, US. Fed by numerous natural springs, the soil is richly fertile. Gary later purchased an additional larger tract of land that increased the farm’s size to more than 1,400 acres.

1996

• The Mona farm grew its first crops of peppermint, clary sage, thyme, basil, melissa, German and Roman chamomile, spearmint, and lavender. The greenhouses continued to expand and today, tens of thousands of “starts” are propagated each year. Gary continued to add distillers, and by 1999 there were a dozen in operation.

2000

• Young Living purchased a lavender farm in the beautiful valley of Simiane, located in southern France. This acquisition made Young Living the largest North America-based farming operation devoted to growing herbs for essential oil distillation.

2005 to Present

• Gary purchased Finca Botanica Aromatica in the mountains of Guayaquil, Ecuador. The 2,000-plus acres, fertile ground, and year-round growing season make Finca Botanica Aromatica the perfect place for Gary to research and discover new essential oils.

• Gary, his family, and more than 50 Ecuadorians manage the growth and distillation of Palo Santo, lemongrass, Ruta graveolens, and many more plants and herbs at Finca Botanica Aromatica.

• Gary, his wife, Mary, and their sons, Jacob and Josef, moved to Guayaquil in 2005, and have since expanded Finca Botanica Aromatica to distill Gary’s discoveries from the surrounding jungles, including popular ocotea and copaiba essential oils.

Future Plans

Young Living plans to expand the Visitor’s Center at the Young Living farm in Mona, Utah, US. Designed to create a museum-like experience, the renovated Visitor’s Center will include scenic landscape murals that guide patrons through the facility. Guests will also enjoy newly paved walkways that run throughout the farm and distillery.