Essential Oils for Anxiety, Stress and Low Mood: What the Research Shows
What systematic reviews and NIH say about essential oils for anxiety, stress and low mood: lavender is studied most, the evidence is mixed and limited, and crisis help comes first.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Natural products can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read essential oil safety before you use anything on this page.
If you are in crisis, essential oils are not the place to start. In a life-threatening situation call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. If you are suicidal or in emotional distress, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be reached by calling or texting 988, 24 hours a day. [1] See also when 988 comes first.
The rest of this page asks a smaller question: what do trials and official summaries say about the scent of essential oils, and oil used in massage, for feeling anxious, stressed or low? Short answer: lavender has the most research, many small trials report lower anxiety scores, and the quality is often low. It is information, not treatment advice. To tell stress, anxiety and depression apart, see how they differ.
What NIH says
NCCIH says it is unclear whether lavender oil aromatherapy has benefits for anxiety, stress, symptoms of depression, some types of pain, sleep quality or insomnia. [2] In one study of people under stress, lemon scent had a positive effect on mood, but neither lemon nor lavender affected stress indicators. [3] Lavender here means Lavandula angustifolia and lemon means Citrus x limon. [4] [5]
What the research found
| Question | What the source found | Strength of evidence | Population and form studied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lavender and anxiety, all forms | A review of 65 randomized trials found 54 reported at least one significant result favoring lavender, but it noted the low average quality of studies and a high overall risk of bias in most trials. [6] | Promising but limited | Many groups; inhaled, massage and oral products mixed |
| Lavender and anxiety, pooled results | A second meta-analysis found lavender aromatherapy better than placebo or no treatment for anxiety. [7] | Promising but limited | Randomized trials; mostly aromatherapy |
| Lavender and depression scores | A review of 17 articles found lower depression scores than controls, and called for larger trials with more rigorous designs. [8] | Mixed | Mixed groups and routes |
| Lavender on the skin and depression | NCCIH says topical lavender does not seem to affect symptoms of depression. [2] | No good evidence of benefit | Topical use |
| Before surgery | A review of 20 studies with 1,717 adults found aromatherapy reduced anxiety, and asked for better trials. [9] | Promising but limited | Adults awaiting surgery; inhalation, massage and others |
| People with cancer | Aromatherapy was effective for anxiety, with no beneficial effect on depression. [10] | Mixed | People with cancer |
| After childbirth | Four trials with 303 women; depression levels fell, but not by a statistically significant amount. [11] | Insufficient evidence | Postpartum women |
An oral lavender oil capsule product has been tested in anxiety trials, and NCCIH says it might be beneficial but the research has limits: small studies, a lack of independent funding and testing, and a lack of participant diversity. [2] That is a product tested in studies, not a reason to swallow oil from a bottle. Bottled essential oils are not made for swallowing, and misuse can cause serious poisoning. [12]
Reading these results
- Study quality. The largest lavender review said the majority of included trials had a high overall risk of bias. [6]
- Massage is not just scent. One review found lavender massage appears effective, but studies were not sufficient to say whether the benefit is due to a specific effect of lavender. [6] See aromatherapy massage.
- Worry is not always a disorder. Most people feel anxious sometimes, which does not always mean an anxiety disorder. [13] Several reviews looked at anxiety before surgery, a different situation from long-term anxiety. [9]
- Stress has little direct evidence here. We searched PubMed for reviews of aromatherapy for stress alone and the results returned nothing relevant beyond the NIH study above. Proper evidence not found.
Traditional use
A depression review's authors note that lavender is mentioned in Traditional Persian literature. [8] That is a historical use, not evidence from trials.
Frequently asked questions
Does lavender oil help with anxiety?
Many trials report lower anxiety scores, but reviews note low average study quality, and NIH says it is unclear for aromatherapy. [6] [2]
Can essential oils treat depression?
We found no source saying an oil treats depression. A review of lavender found lower depression scores in trials but asked for larger, more rigorous studies, and NIH says topical lavender does not seem to affect symptoms. [8] [2]
What should I do if I feel I might hurt myself?
Call or text 988 (US) or call 911 in a life-threatening situation. [1]
Is lemon or another citrus scent better than lavender?
We do not rank oils. In the one NIH-described study, lemon improved mood but neither scent changed stress indicators. [3] For skin and sunlight cautions with citrus oils, see phototoxicity.
Is it safe to use with anxiety medicines?
NIH says some herbs and medicines interact in harmful ways, and lavender might interact with some sedatives in theory. Ask the prescriber or pharmacist; do not change a medicine on your own. [2]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety
- Lavender aromatherapy is considered possibly safe, but may cause headache or coughing. [2]
- Topical lavender products may cause allergic skin reactions. [2]
- NIH sees theoretical reasons lavender might interact with some sedative drugs or herbs, which matters before surgery. [2] Ask a pharmacist; see medication interactions and supplements and antidepressants.
- Little is known about lavender in pregnancy or breastfeeding. [2]
- Keep bottles away from children: children have thin skin and immature livers, which might make them more susceptible to toxic effects. [12]
When to get care
NCCIH notes that depression can be a serious illness and to consult a health care provider if you or someone in your family may have it. [2] The NHS advises seeing a GP if you think you might have generalised anxiety disorder or treatments are not helping. [13] Our guides to anxiety disorders, therapy for anxiety and stress and stress cover professional care. For the oil itself, see lavender oil.
References
- Help for Mental Illnesses (NIMH, National Institutes of Health; last reviewed April 2026). https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help. Read 2026-10-23.
- Lavender: Usefulness and Safety (NCCIH, last updated February 2025). https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/lavender. Read 2026-10-23.
- Aromatherapy (NCCIH, last updated January 2020). https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/aromatherapy. Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy name match: Lavandula angustifolia (GBIF). https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/match?name=Lavandula+angustifolia. Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy name match: Citrus limon (GBIF). https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/match?name=Citrus+limon. Read 2026-10-23.
- Effects of lavender on anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis (Phytomedicine, 2019). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31655395/. Read 2026-10-23.
- Effects of lavender on anxiety, depression, and physiological parameters: systematic review and meta-analysis (Asian Nursing Research, 2021). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34775136/. Read 2026-10-23.
- The antidepressant effects of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.): a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials (Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2021). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33549687/. Read 2026-10-23.
- The effectiveness of aromatherapy on preoperative anxiety in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (International Journal of Nursing Studies, 2020). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32861206/. Read 2026-10-23.
- The effects of aromatherapy on anxiety and depression in people with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis (Frontiers in Public Health, 2022). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35757624/. Read 2026-10-23.
- Aromatherapy for postpartum depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis (Journal of Family & Reproductive Health, 2023). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37538225/. Read 2026-10-23.
- Essential oils: Poisonous when misused (Poison Control). https://www.poison.org/articles/essential-oils. Read 2026-10-23.
- Generalised anxiety disorder in adults (NHS, UK; page last reviewed 22 October 2024). https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/generalised-anxiety-disorder/overview/. Read 2026-10-23.