8/10

Essential oils explode in the marketplace

Essential oils are indeed having a moment—and we don’t expect their time in the limelight to end in 2016, considering sales have been exploding since 2009. A combination of the flourishing DIY beauty movement (hello, Pinterest!) and essential oils’ holistic diversity (they act as alternatives across all facets of life, showing up in food and beverage, supplements, household products and personal care) are key factors contributing to their growth. In 2016, we hope to see more companies following the model set by brands like NOW Foods and Aura Cacia, who are creating secure, sustainable supply chains in order to address sourcing issues associated with the rapid boom of the category.