How Does the doTERRA Starter Kit Work?
New to doTERRA? Learn exactly how the starter kit works, what you get, how membership pricing functions, and how to begin using your oils. A practical guide.
By Essential Synergy Team — Wellness Advocates & doTERRA enthusiasts
A box arrives at your door with a dozen small amber bottles, and you suddenly wonder what you are supposed to do with all of them. The doTERRA starter kit is not complicated once you understand the basic structure. You pick an enrollment kit, pay for it once, and that purchase sets up a free wholesale account that gives you 25% off future orders, with no monthly obligation and no requirement to sell anything. The kit itself contains a curated selection of the most versatile single oils and blends, so you get an instant foundation for diffusing, topical use, and everyday natural living.
What Actually Comes in a Starter Kit
The most common entry point is the Home Essentials Enrollment Kit. It includes ten of the oils people reach for most often, and the lineup covers a lot of ground without overwhelming you.
Here is what you typically find inside:
- Lavender, the workhorse for calm evenings and skin support
- Lemon for bright, clean-smelling diffusion and kitchen surfaces
- Peppermint when you need a sharp, cooling lift
- Frankincense, the resinous classic for quiet moments and skincare
- Tea Tree for blemishes and household freshness
- Oregano, a powerful botanical that you will use sparingly
- On Guard, doTERRA's protective blend for seasonal sniffles
- Breathe, a respiratory blend many people diffuse at night
- DigestZen, the digestive blend you keep near the kitchen
- Deep Blue, the soothing blend for post-workout rubs
The kit also includes a diffuser in most configurations, which is the easiest way to actually start using everything. Without a diffuser, half those bottles just sit on a shelf.
How Enrollment and the 25% Discount Work
This is the part that confuses people. Buying a kit is not a subscription, and it does not lock you into anything.
When you purchase an enrollment kit through a doTERRA account, that purchase enrolls you as a wholesale customer. From that point forward, every order you place through your account gets the member price, which is 25% below retail. There is a small annual membership fee, but it is waived in any year where you place an order over 150 PV. Most enrollment kits exceed that threshold on their own, so your first year is effectively covered.
You are not required to buy a kit every month. You are not required to sell. You can order a single bottle of Serenity twice a year and nothing else, and your membership stays active as long as the small fee is handled or waived.
If you are not ready for a full kit, you can still create a free account and buy individual oils at retail price, then enroll later. What we recommend most often is starting with the kit only if you know you will use at least five or six of the oils. Otherwise, a single bottle of Lavender and a basic diffuser might make more sense for the first month.
Step-by-Step: From Kit to Daily Routine
- Choose your kit. Compare what is inside and pick based on what you will realistically use, not the bottle count.
- Complete enrollment during checkout. You will create a free account and enter basic details; the kit purchase activates your wholesale pricing.
- Unbox and label. Write the name on each bottle cap so you can grab them fast.
- Start with one diffuser blend. We like 3 drops of Lavender with 2 drops of Lemon in a 100 ml water tank for a first evening run of 30 minutes.
- Learn one topical application. Mix 1 drop of Lavender with 1 teaspoon of jojoba or fractionated coconut oil, and patch test on the inner elbow for 24 hours.
- Order only what you ran out of. Reorders stay at the member price, and small, occasional orders are perfectly fine.
Avoiding Overuse When You First Start
New users often pour in ten drops at once, then wonder why the scent feels overwhelming. A 100 ml diffuser tank only needs three to five drops total. Oregano and Peppermint are the two to watch: start with a single drop diluted in a carrier oil, never neat on skin. Keep a note of which oils you tried and how much you used.
A Simple Storage and Rotation Habit
Citrus oils like Lemon and Wild Orange oxidize faster than resins like Frankincense. Store every bottle upright, capped, away from direct sun and heat, and use citrus within a year of opening. Rotate your most-used bottles to the front of the shelf so nothing expires forgotten in the back.
When to Ask Before Using an Oil
Check with a qualified healthcare provider before using oils if you are pregnant, nursing, or managing a medical condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in the doTERRA essential oils starter kit? The kit typically includes a selection of popular single oils and blends along with a diffuser. Exact contents can vary by region and kit version.
How do I use the oils in the starter kit? Each oil can be used aromatically with the diffuser or applied topically according to the label directions. The kit usually includes guidance materials to help you get started.
How does the starter kit enrollment work? Enrolling with a starter kit typically sets up a doTERRA account and may qualify you for member benefits such as discounts on future orders. Specific terms depend on the program in your region.