Is aromatherapy simply "healing by smell"?

Not so long ago I was asked, rather sarcastically, « So, how does aromatherapy work then? Healing by smell ?! ». In a way, this is a logical conclusion given the name « aromatherapy ». Indeed, some scents, including Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), have been proven to reduce stress levels by stimulating the release of neurotransmitters, such as endorphins, with relaxing and sedative properties [1, 2]. These, in turn, immediately impact physiological functions in the body including blood pressure, heart rate and muscle tension [2]. However, the  « aroma » is not the whole story.

Essential oils are the volatile concentrated extracts obtained from aromatic plants through steam distillation or by mechanical means. Different parts of the plant, such as the seeds, leaves, flowers, roots, resins and fruits, can contain these compounds. When you walk through a pine forest or smell freshly cut lemon, these are the chemical constituents you are inhaling. While they can have extremely beneficial actions simply through inhalation, these compounds also have other healing properties.

When Réné-Maurice Gattefosse, a French chemist and perfumist, treated his severly burnt and now gangrene-ridden hand with lavender essential oil as a last resort in the early 20th century, he discovered that, over time, it had incredible antiseptic and scar-healing properties. This led him to later publish the book « aromatherapy » which would give its name to the study and medical use of essential oils.

Further research into essential oils has demonstrated their potential antibacterial, antiviral, antimicrobial, anti-parasitic and antioxidant actions [3]. Carvacrol, for example, an active compound in oregano essential oil*, is capable of rapidly inactivating organisms like salmonella and E. coli by causing damage to their structure and function. It would seem that the use of essential oils does not lead to bacterial resistance contrary to the use of antibiotics. This find is all the more true in the case of synergies of essential oils [3].

Essential oils also have a wide range of topical applications including the effective treatment of inflammatory skin conditions such as dermatitis, eczema and acne and the reduction of spasms in digestive disorders [4].

So coming back to the original question, I would answer that essential oils have a multitude of uses both through their « aroma » and through their diverse chemical composants. It is true that they all smell, yet reducing their potential to this aspect alone would mean missing out on the enormous range of health benefits they can provide.

*IMPORTANT: Essential oils should always be handled with care. Oregano essential oil is highly dermocaustic in nature, meaning that it can burn the skin and internal muqueuses. In French aromatherapy some essential oils can be taken internally. In the case of oregano, it should only be taken internally in a capsule form (which dilutes the essential oil in a vegetable oil) and it should only be taken a very limited period of time. Always check information about individual essential oils before using them.

For more information on the aroma of Lavander and its effects, check out the following article:

The serene smell of Lavander

[1] de Melo Alves Silva LC et al., Use of Lavandula angustifolia essential oil as a complementary therapy in adult health care: A scoping review. Heliyon. 2023 Apr 14;9(5):e15446.

[2] Farrar AJ, Farrar FC. Clinical Aromatherapy. Nurs Clin North Am. 2020 Dec;55(4):489-504.

[3] Chouhan S et al., Antimicrobial Activity of Some Essential Oils-Present Status and Future Perspectives. Medicines (Basel). 2017 Aug 8;4(3):58.

[4] Orchard A, van Vuuren S. Commercial Essential Oils as Potential Antimicrobials to Treat Skin Diseases. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2017;2017:4517971.