The Sommelier Standard

This page does not rely on a founder’s photograph or personal story. That’s deliberate. The Wellness Sommelier isn’t a flashy personality asking for trust. It’s a standard: consistently applied, clearly published, and active before a single dollar changes hands.

This page is that standard, written down once, so it doesn’t shift from category to category or article to article. Every recommendation is measured against it. When something doesn’t hold up, we state it without apology, even when it costs a commission.

What We Weigh

Every recommendation is evaluated against six criteria. None of them is whether readers will want this, that question isn’t on the list.

• Evidence quality — is the claim behind this backed by real research, credible clinical evidence, or is it marketing dressed up as science?
• Efficacy — does it actually do what it claims to do, for the people it claims to do it for?
• The Follow-Through — what this actually demands once the decision is made: installation and upkeep for a product, discipline for a practice, and accountability to its own claims for a brand.
• Claim integrity — do the marketing claims match the recommendation, or is there a gap between what’s promised and what’s delivered?
• Worth the Cost — whether what it asks in return holds up against what it delivers: the price for a product, the time for a practice, the premium for a brand.
• Lifestyle fit — is this genuinely suited to how someone actually lives, or is it the right thing for the wrong person?

The House Standard Scorecard — the six criteria, applied to a purchase under consideration.

How We Label Our Evidence

Every recommendation carries at least one visible evidence label, showing the basis for its claim at a glance:

• Research-Based — the claim is supported by peer-reviewed research or credible clinical literature.
• Experience-Validated — a consistent pattern of verified firsthand experience across products, practices, and brands, not cherry-picked reviews.
• Expert-Interviewed — an installer, spa or resort operator, designer, or independent industry expert, speaking from repeated professional exposure.
• Company-Interviewed — direct from the company, brand, or supplier, presented as such, not independent verification.
• Personally Tested — we’ve done it ourselves. We will never imply firsthand experience that didn’t happen.

Who This Isn’t For

Every guide that makes a recommendation includes a standing “Who This Isn’t For” section. A recommendation that’s right for everyone is usually not a real recommendation. Naming who should walk away is part of the job, not an exception to it.

The Test We Apply Before Anything Goes Live

Would we still publish this if it earned no money? If yes, we publish it. If the honest answer is no, it isn’t ready.

What We Don’t Cover Yet

Some categories carry medical stakes that a guide shouldn’t carry alone: diagnostics, IV therapy, peptides, hormone clinics, and supplements making aggressive or unproven health claims. Until we can back that coverage with genuine expert or legal review, we treat these only as caution or protective reading, never as monetized recommendations.

How Money Works Here

Some links on this site are affiliate links: if a purchase is made through them, we earn a commission at no added cost to the reader. That relationship never determines what we recommend. It’s disclosed in full, on every page where it applies, and explained in detail on our Affiliate Disclosure page.