When people first feel a call to aromatherapy, one of the fears that can come up for them is the idea that essential oils are just ‘woo’ and don’t have any scientific therapeutic value.  So today, I simply wanted to debunk the myth that aromatherapy is something that a ‘charlatan’ advocates and reveal the real healing art and science behind this particular natural, plant-based medicine.

So, let’s dive into three common myths, and explore the real, underlying science and art of this amazing healing therapy, which harnesses plant extracts for healing, and creating positive impact on our health and wellbeing.

Myth #1: Aromatherapy is ‘witchcraft’

I think the most common fear that can come up for people who feel a call to aromatherapy is the idea that they’re dabbling in ‘witchcraft’.  There’s a real fear of the idea of being a ‘witch’, playing with potions, and the idea comes up of mixing things up in a cauldron and creating harm.

Yet there’s a whole load of ‘psychology science’ we can explore here about the ‘witch’ burning times and how that’s ‘conditioned’ us to avoid nature’s healing. Hundreds of years ago, people who did use plants as medicine - herbs and plant extracts - were being burned at the stake; and science proves that the ‘fear’ of what our previous generations went through is going to stick with us.  

In particular, science’s study of ‘epigenetics’ proves that things that have impacted our ancestors will impact their DNA and pass down to us.  This means it’s likely that if your ancestors were healers, and were burned at the stake, the fear of being a ‘witch’ could stick with you.  It’s therefore understandable that you’d feel both the desire and the fear of working with aromatherapy - and yet, you can learn to harness essential oils for good in a world where we are no longer burned at the stake for using what’s healing.

Essentially, Jungian psychology shows that the myth and legend of the ‘witch’ has become this scary figure - a cultural wound - that can innocently put us off embracing the ‘natural healer’ in us that really can work with aromatherapy to create real healing.  

And, whilst we are used to ‘quick fix’ medication in this world, and nature’s medicine can be a ‘longer’ healing route - it’s perhaps not always going to be as ‘fast’ as mainstream medicine, it does still ‘work’.  Now let’s dive into the myth that it doesn’t…

Myth #2: ‘Natural medicine’ is just ‘plants’ - and nature can’t ‘do’ anything

A common belief that many people have about essential oils is that they are ‘natural’ and therefore don’t really ‘do’ anything - and this is a huge misconception.

For one thing - whilst, yes, essential oils are ‘natural’, and there’s been a lot of conditioning about the idea of ‘natural’ medicine not having ‘efficacy’ (performing its task satisfactorily) in our culture - people often forget that plant oils are still chemicals.  This assumption can commonly (and heartbreakingly) lead to the underestimation of the power and misuse of essential oils; for example, see our article on the debate on whether they should be ‘ingested’ (which we don’t advocate for this reason).  

The fact is, in many cases, plant properties have been, or are, used in lots of mainstream medicine - a classic example is how an extract of the opium poppy became morphine - the strong painkiller.  

So, debunking the myth about essential oils being purely ‘woo’ begins with seeing the fact that science itself harnesses nature’s plants - and the fact that these oils are ‘chemicals’ shows we can take them seriously.

Myth #3: Aromatherapy isn’t ‘scientifically’ proven – the oils don’t have ‘therapeutic properties’

Humans have been using plants to heal since ancient times - whether herbs, leaves, fruits or barks - plants and their medicinal properties have been used for thousands of years - and whilst that can make it seem like there’s no ‘science’ behind them, it could also be seen that plants were (are) the foundation of medicine.  

Not only that, but there is much scientific research that has happened over the years, to determine how essential oils are therapeutic and do create change. Recent research from 2024 - which involved a systematic review of 12 years of PubMed aromatherapy publications, done by Pezantes-Orellana et al (1), and presented in ‘Frontiers in Medicine’ journal - concludes:

“Essential oils have been shown to have multiple health benefits, primarily due to their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects.  Essential oils have many therapeutic properties. They are beneficial to human health in many ways.”

Likewise, the FHT (Federation of Holistic Therapists) describes Aromatherapy as the practice of using essential oils for ‘therapeutic purposes’ - whether by scent molecules being inhaled through the nose (working via our olfactory and limbic system), or going directly into the bloodstream (entering via our hair follicles, sweat glands and fat molecules in the skin), via massage. 

Plant ‘family’ properties - where to begin

Now that we’ve established that there is a science and therapeutic benefit (and that you’re not a witch even if you fear being seen as one!), we wanted to complete with a brief overview of the healing properties of some of the common plant ‘families’, so you can begin to get a feel for the general ‘therapeutic’ benefits  of different kinds of essential oils.

This is a very ‘basic’ generalisation of the different plant ‘families’ and their properties, so I advise you begin here and research each oil and its unique therapeutic properties as you go, but it’s a helpful ‘overview’ which can aid you in getting a sense for ‘how’ to begin to work with healing essential oils as you begin to step in.

Mint family 

The mint family of essential oils has a minty scent and includes oils like Spearmint and Peppermint and in general, their therapeutic properties are cooling, energising, invigorating, and clarifying.

Citrus family

The citrus family of essential oils are light oils with a fruity, tangy scent, and include oils like Lemon, Orange, Tangerine, Mandarin, Lime, Lemongrass, Grapefruit and Bergamot and in general, their therapeutic properties are cleansing, refreshing, stimulating, uplifting, energising and emotionally cheering.

Floral family

The floral family of essential oils have a sweet, flowery scent, and are quite feminine and romantic.  They include oils like Lavender, Rose, Geranium, Jasmine, Ylang Ylang, Chamomile and Neroli and in general, their therapeutic properties are relaxing, comforting, hormonally balancing and sleep-inducing.

Camphor family 

The camphor family of essential oils smell strong and medicinal and include oils like Camphor and Eucalyptus. In general, their therapeutic properties are stimulating, warming, refreshing and support strong focus.

Wood family 

The wood family of essential oils smell ‘musky’ and ‘foresty’- perhaps more ‘masculine’.  They include oils like Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Rosewood, Patchouli, Pine and Cypress and in general, their therapeutic properties are grounding, comforting, and balancing.

Spice family 

The spice family of essential oils have an exotic, warm, spicy scent, and include oils like Ginger, Cinnamon and Black Pepper.  In general, their therapeutic properties are warming, energising and stimulating.

Incense family (Resin)

The incense family of essential oils smell earthy and include oils like Frankincense and Myrrh. In general, their therapeutic properties are grounding, relaxing, meditative and spiritually enhancing.

This is just a guideline of their ‘overall’ therapeutic indications as a ‘category’ of oils, so when you’re working with something specific, I’d highly advise you go more deeply into the specific therapeutic properties of each oil; for example, Rose can be very hormonally balancing, works wonders for grief and is excellent for dry, mature skin.  

I’d also invite you to follow your nose - our bodies call us to specific essential oils that we need, so the invitation is to begin to trust that.  

After all, as much as essential oils do have a science, there is also a ‘healing art’ to working with them. That’s why I call them a blend of real science and art.

Happy blending.

Nicole Barton
Consultant Aromatherapist

Disclaimer & Safety Advice

References: 

1. Pezantes-Orellana, C. et al, 2024. Essential oils: a systematic review on revolutionizing health, nutrition, and omics for optimal well-being. Front. Med., Vol 11 2024, Sec. Translational Medicine, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2024.1337785