TITLE:
To Blend or Not to Blend? Anxiety Buffering Effects of Essential Oil Aromas
AUTHORS:
Sophie Swinburne, Samantha Bowerbank, Mark Moss
KEYWORDS:
Aromatherapy, Lavender, Essential Oil, Blend, Anxiety Buffering
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.14 No.3,
March
31,
2023
ABSTRACT: Essential oils of pure lavender and lavender blends have been employed as
potential anxiolytic aromas in aromatherapy, but a direct comparison of their effectiveness is lacking. The current study
investigated the effects of aroma on induced anxiety in non-clinical adults,
comparing pure lavender, a commercially available blend and a no aroma control.
An experimental, quantitative, mixed factorial design with an opportunity
sample of 60 participants was employed. Participants were randomly allocated to
three equal groups, one tested in a room infused with lavender aroma, the
second with the doTerra Peace® blend, and the
third free from any aroma.
Participants’ state anxiety scores were measured before and after a novel
video-based anxiety induction procedure. Data analysis revealed that the
anxiety induction was successful and that both aromas delivered small to medium-sized buffering effects compared to no aroma. The
findings add to a small body of research in an area where the practice is
global yet has limited scientific evaluation. Future studies utilising brain
imaging and blood serum analysis to investigate the anxiolytic mechanism of
aromas would be beneficial to further our understanding.