Young Living Essential Oils News

Young Living Served With California Prop 65 Notice Alleging Pulegone in Deep Relief Roll-On

Npros.com | 10/21/2026

BERKELEY, California - October 21, 2026

Young Living Essential Oils has been served with a California Proposition 65 notice alleging that its Deep Relief Essential Oil Roll-On exposes consumers to pulegone without the warning the state's right-to-know law requires.

The 60-day notice of violation, dated October 21, 2026, was sent by Center for Consumer Safety LLC (CCS), a Berkeley-based group that brings private enforcement actions under the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986. It names three alleged violators: Young Living Essential Oils, LC, served through its registered agent in Salt Lake City; Epic Global Incorporated of Highland, Utah, which the notice links to the same product listing; and Amazon.com Services LLC. The representative product is Young Living Deep Relief Essential Oil Roll-On, identified by a single Amazon listing number. The notice was uploaded to the California Attorney General's Proposition 65 system on the same day and served on district attorneys and city attorneys across the state.

The notice covers the product category of essential oil roll-ons and lists Deep Relief as a representative example, while stating that it does not extend to unrelated product categories. CCS alleges that ordinary use of the roll-on exposes consumers to pulegone through skin absorption, inhalation and ingestion, and that buyers are not given a clear and reasonable Proposition 65 warning before that exposure. It says the alleged violations began no later than April 3, 2026, and were continuing as of the notice date.

Pulegone is a compound found naturally in certain mint-family plant oils. California added it to the Proposition 65 list of chemicals known to the state to cause cancer in 2014. Proposition 65 does not ban listed chemicals in consumer products; it requires businesses to warn California consumers before knowingly and intentionally exposing them, unless the exposure falls below levels set by state regulators.

CCS says it intends to file a private enforcement lawsuit once the 60-day notice period runs out if the matter has not been resolved and no public prosecutor has taken up the case. The group says it is seeking a binding resolution that would address products already sold, including a recall where appropriate, prevent future unwarned exposures through compliant warnings or reformulation, and impose a civil penalty. Under the statute, civil penalties can reach $2,500 per violation per day. A certificate of merit filed with the notice states that CCS's in-house counsel consulted with people who have relevant expertise and believes there is a reasonable and meritorious case for a private action. CCS also asked the companies to preserve product composition, sourcing, sales, labeling and compliance records.

A Proposition 65 notice is an allegation, not a finding of wrongdoing, and no lawsuit had been filed as of the notice date. The notice does not announce a recall, and it does not claim the roll-on is unsafe at the levels found; it alleges only that the required warning is missing. No public response from Young Living to the notice had been found as of October 27.

Young Living, headquartered in Lehi, Utah, sells essential oils, blends, roll-ons, supplements and personal care products through independent brand partners. Deep Relief is one of its pre-diluted roll-on blends marketed for topical use. The notice follows a separate Proposition 65 notice served on Arbonne International on October 13 over lead and cadmium in its protein shakes.

Young Living Agrees to Up to 5 Million Dollar Class Settlement Over Essential-Oil Health Claims

Court Filing | 4/25/2024

A federal court granted preliminary approval on April 25, 2024 to a proposed class-action settlement under which Young Living Essential Oils agreed to pay up to 5 million dollars to resolve claims that it promoted essential oils for stress, anxiety, sleep and other health uses without reliable scientific support and marketed products as therapeutic grade.

The settlement covers consumers who purchased Young Living essential oils for personal use between January 1, 2017 and April 25, 2024. Eligible claimants may seek refunds of up to 2 dollars per product, capped at 20 dollars, with a claims deadline of June 24, 2024.

The case, MacNaughton et al. v. Young Living Essential Oils, LC, followed criticism of the company's advertising claims, including a National Advertising Review Board ruling and prior Food and Drug Administration warning letters related to disease-treatment statements. Young Living denied wrongdoing as part of the settlement process.

Young Living Settles Pyramid-Scheme Class Action as Plaintiffs Dismiss Case With Prejudice

Court Filing | 11/22/2023

Plaintiffs Lindsay Penhall, Sarah Maldonado and Tiffanie Runnels and Young Living Essential Oils, LC filed a stipulated motion on November 22, 2023 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah to dismiss with prejudice a proposed class action accusing the company of operating an illegal pyramid scheme. The filing said the parties had resolved their dispute through a settlement, with each side bearing its own fees and costs. Settlement terms were not disclosed.

Penhall originally filed the suit in December 2019 in federal court in California, and it was later transferred to Utah. The complaint alleged that Young Living's compensation plan rewarded recruitment over retail sales, that members were encouraged to keep buying products to stay eligible for commissions, and that the company's own income disclosures showed most members earned little or lost money.

The Lehi, Utah based company sells essential oils and wellness products through independent members.

Second Circuit Revives Young Living Class Action Over Therapeutic-Grade Essential Oil Claims

Court Filing | 5/2/2023

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on May 2, 2023 partially vacated dismissal of a putative consumer class action against Young Living Essential Oils, LC over marketing of essential oils as "therapeutic-grade" and related health-benefit claims. In MacNaughton v. Young Living Essential Oils, the court held that "therapeutic-grade" combined with specific health, physical and medicinal-effect representations is falsifiable and not automatically nonactionable puffery.

The panel vacated dismissal of New York General Business Law deceptive-practices claims and related unjust-enrichment claims and remanded for a fact-intensive inquiry into whether reasonable consumers were misled. It affirmed dismissal of express and implied warranty claims. The plaintiff alleged she paid a premium for oils marketed with those claims.

Young Living is a Utah-based multilevel marketer of essential oils; the case returns to the Southern District of New York for further proceedings on the revived claims.

FDA Warns Young Living Over Disease Claims for Oils and CBD Products

FDA Warning Letter | 6/10/2022

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning letter dated June 10, 2022, to Young Living Essential Oils Corporate, addressed to co-founder and chief executive Mary B. Young. The agency said a May 2022 review of company and consultant websites and social media found disease-treatment and prevention claims for essential oils, Vitality products, Ningxia, and Nature's Ultra CBD products.

FDA said the products were unapproved new drugs and misbranded drugs under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act because they were marketed for uses such as treating infections, allergies, high blood pressure, cancer-related claims, and other conditions without approved applications. The letter cited consultant posts and company pages and directed Young Living to respond within 15 working days with corrective steps.

Young Living Names Ben Riley Acting President

Press Release | 3/7/2022

Young Living Essential Oils named Ben Riley acting president, effective March 7, 2022. He will direct internal operations to optimize performance and product delivery and report to co-founder and chief executive Mary Young.

Riley began at Young Living in 1998, later served as regional president of North America, executive vice president of global sales, and chief sales officer, and most recently worked as a management consultant after a role as chief sales officer at Younique. Young said Riley knows the company's history and will help it grow while preserving product quality. Riley called the return the culmination of his career with the company.

Young Living Marketing Leader Lyndi Smith Wins Bronze Stevie Award

Npros.com | 10/19/2020

Young Living said Lyndi Smith, senior vice president of global marketing, won a bronze Stevie Award in the Woman of the Year category for advertising, marketing, and public relations at the 17th annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business.

Smith has been at Young Living for nearly 20 years and oversees global brand and marketing. The company said her leadership and institutional knowledge guided a brand refresh that produced a noticeable increase in sales and customer retention.

Smith said the recognition reflects a collaborative culture and a team that stays focused on customer needs as the pandemic changes daily life. The Stevie Awards for Women in Business honor women executives, entrepreneurs, employees, and their companies worldwide. Winners were scheduled to be celebrated at a virtual ceremony on Wednesday, December 9.

Young Living Appoints New COO

Npros | 3/13/2016

"Jared's leadership has helped transform Young Living into the company it is today, and we are honored to have him serve as Chief Operating Officer, alongside the rest of our excellent Executive team," said Mary Young, Young Living Chief Executive Officer. "His many talents and purpose-driven mindset has helped Young Living achieve unprecedented success, and I am confident that his skillset and passion will propel our company into future successes and global growth."

"Jared is a trusted and proven leader with determination like no one else I have met," said Young Living's Founder, D. Gary Young. "He is not afraid of hard work. He speaks multiple languages and is a citizen of the world. He loves all living things, including plants, animals, and people. His strategic and tactical business expertise has proven, time and again, to be a great asset to this company. I have full confidence in him and the rest of the Executive team at Young Living."

Turner joined Young Living in 2012 as International Associate General Counsel with a strong background in international business and law. Most recently, Turner served as Young Living's Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, where he was responsible for strategically identifying and executing the company's global vision for growth and managing 1,000-plus global sales and marketing employees.

Prior to joining Young Living, Turner was an international business attorney at Kirton & McConkie, the largest law firm in Utah, where he advised multi-national companies on expanding their businesses internationally. Not limited to legal advice, Turner is a born entrepreneur who has successfully built and ran his own companies. His 10-plus years of experience in network marketing, combined with his passion for business building, led him to seek a role within a growing company. Young Living's proprietary Seed to Seal® process and his own personal experience at the farms drew Jared to Young Living, the world leader in essential oils.

Turner holds bachelor's degrees in Spanish and political science from the University of Utah, a law degree from Syracuse University College of Law, and a master's degree in international relations from Syracuse University, The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

"I love this company, our products, and our amazing members and am honored to accept this new role. Young Living will move forward and continue to innovate and lead the essential oils movement," said Turner. "There has never been a more exciting time to be a part of Young Living. I look forward to continuing to work with our excellent members and employees to further spread the Young Living message and bring essential oils to every home in the world."