An environmental barrier coating for high temperature ceramic components, the barrier coating comprising: a bond coat layer comprising silicon; an optional silica layer; at least one transition layer including: from 85% to 99% by volume of the transition layer of a primary transition material of mullite, or a mullite/BSAS mixture; and from 1% to 15% by volume of the transition layer of a secondary material selected from the group consisting of rare earth oxide, rare earth disilicate, rare earth monosilicate, rare earth elements, rare earth containing aluminosilicate glass, rare earth and alkaline earth containing aluminosilicate glass, rare earth aluminates, phosphorous pentoxide, phosphorous containing aluminosilicate glass, phosphorous and alkaline earth containing aluminosilicate glass, aluminum orthophosphate, aluminum oxide, and combinations thereof; and an outer layer including: from 85% to 99% by volume of the outer layer of a primary outer material of BSAS; and from 1% to 15% by volume of the outer layer of the secondary material wherein a reaction between a sintering aid in the coating and at least one of the primary transition material or the primary outer material results in the transition layer comprising a porosity of from 0% to 30% by volume of the transition layer, and the outer layer comprising a porosity of from 0% to 15% by volume of the outer layer. a bond coat layer comprising silicon; an optional silica layer; at least one transition layer including: from 85% to 99% by volume of the transition layer of a primary transition material of mullite, or a mullite/BSAS mixture; and from 1% to 15% by volume of the transition layer of a secondary material selected from the group consisting of rare earth oxide, rare earth disilicate, rare earth monosilicate, rare earth elements, rare earth containing aluminosilicate glass, rare earth and alkaline earth containing aluminosilicate glass, rare earth aluminates, phosphorous pentoxide, phosphorous containing aluminosilicate glass, phosphorous and alkaline earth containing aluminosilicate glass, aluminum orthophosphate, aluminum oxide, and combinations thereof; and from 85% to 99% by volume of the transition layer of a primary transition material of mullite, or a mullite/BSAS mixture; and from 1% to 15% by volume of the transition layer of a secondary material selected from the group consisting of rare earth oxide, rare earth disilicate, rare earth monosilicate, rare earth elements, rare earth containing aluminosilicate glass, rare earth and alkaline earth containing aluminosilicate glass, rare earth aluminates, phosphorous pentoxide, phosphorous containing aluminosilicate glass, phosphorous and alkaline earth containing aluminosilicate glass, aluminum orthophosphate, aluminum oxide, and combinations thereof; and an outer layer including: from 85% to 99% by volume of the outer layer of a primary outer material of BSAS; and from 1% to 15% by volume of the outer layer of the secondary material wherein a reaction between a sintering aid in the coating and at least one of the primary transition material or the primary outer material results in the transition layer comprising a porosity of from 0% to 30% by volume of the transition layer, and the outer layer comprising a porosity of from 0% to 15% by volume of the outer layer. from 85% to 99% by volume of the outer layer of a primary outer material of BSAS; and from 1% to 15% by volume of the outer layer of the secondary material wherein a reaction between a sintering aid in the coating and at least one of the primary transition material or the primary outer material results in the transition layer comprising a porosity of from 0% to 30% by volume of the transition layer, and the outer layer comprising a porosity of from 0% to 15% by volume of the outer layer.