Does Aromatherapy Just Smell Good—or Does It Have Actual Health Benefits?

Relaxation

For nights when your mind is racing, consider diffusing or applying lavender essential oil. This can help calm your senses and cut down on distractions, Fowler explains.

In fact, she calls lavender's ability to soothe legendary, and believe it or not, accidental. As the story goes, after Gattefosse burned his hands, he applied lavender oil to one of the wounds. "He realized the hand that had lavender oil spilled on it healed more quickly," Fowler shares. "We now know lavender oil acts as a cellular regenerator. It encourages the body to produce more cells."

From a scent perspective, Fowler says when we enjoy what we smell, a domino effect happens because of how the body is wired. "Enjoyment of the scent helps the pupils to dilate, and your body will produce chemicals that can encourage the smooth muscle of blood vessels to relax," she explains. "When your body goes through that vasodilation process, your blood pressure lowers, and heart rate slows a little, which is a signal of calmness and relaxation." When shopping for the best candles for aromatherapy, choose ones with cotton or wooden wicks for purer burning scents.

Sound Sleep

If you're having trouble sleeping at night, you're not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in three adults do not regularly get enough sleep. Part of this can be attributed to a "monkey mind" that doesn't allow us to switch off when we hop into bed, says Dendy Engelman, MD, FACMS, FAAD, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and Mohs surgeon.

However, she says practicing aromatherapy daily with soothing oils can significantly help calm the mind and body, preparing you for optimal rest and helping you relax when you're feeling overwhelmed.

"Choose a soothing, comforting aroma like lavender oil, which has been proven to decrease blood pressure and heart rate when inhaled," she recommends. "Add a few drops to your aroma diffuser about an hour before you're ready to go to sleep." For the ultimate experience, splurge on a humidifier like the Crane 4-in-1 Drop Ultrasonic Cool Mist model which also works as a diffuser, sound machine, and nightlight.

Stress Management

For days when the meetings pile on and your to-do list never gets shorter, fighting stress is vital to make it to the end of the day. Fowler says certain oils are ideal to try, depending on what's causing your stress.

"If your personal stress has an element of anxiety, then you might be best suited toward citrus oils, which have been shown to help relieve anxiety. If your stress leaves you feeling off-centered or disconnected, oils from wood like frankincense and sandalwood may be best," she recommends. "If stress has an element of depression with it, you might want to choose something more uplifting in the mint family."

Energy and Focus Booster

As Dr. Engelman puts it, scent is such a powerful sense, it can stimulate surprisingly strong reactions in your body. "Just as lavender promotes calmness and relaxation, bright or spicy scents like citrus, peppermint, and ginger are energizing," she says. "Diffusing these scents can help promote focus, alertness, and productivity, making them great for the morning or as a midday pick-me-up."

She recommends making aromatherapy part of your daily routine by diffusing energizing oils like citrus, peppermint, ginger, eucalyptus, or lemongrass immediately after you wake up. "Instead of reaching for a caffeine-filled drink or sugary snack during your midday energy crash, try aromatherapy instead," she adds.

Deep, Diaphragmatic Breathing

When was the last time you took such a deep breath that it filled your lungs completely, made you feel at ease, and released all that tension in your shoulders? If you can't remember, aromatherapy may be the reminder you need.

"When you smell the scent, you're already beginning the process of deeper breathing. Introducing the chemical compounds found within the oil to your body enhances the deep breathing experience," Fowler explains. "When you're inhaling, the chemotypes in the oil create a wide range of effects."

And to get those feel-good chemical compounds in your system? The fastest avenue is via deep breathing. As you inhale and exhale more mindfully and at a slower pace, Fowler says you produce a reflexive response that encourages your heart rate and blood pressure to decrease and initiates your entire lung capacity, which in turn brings in more oxygen and nutrients.