History of Aromatherapy: From Distillation to the Word "Aromatherapie"
How aromatic plant oils came to be called aromatherapy: what sources say about early use, distillation, the word coined in France in the 1930s, and why the dates differ.
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Aromatherapy as a named practice is young, but people have used scented plants and oils for a very long time, according to supporters of aromatherapy and to reviews. [1] This page follows what published sources say about both, and is open about where the sources disagree. History explains where an idea came from. It is not evidence that an oil works; for that, see Essential oil research and evidence.
The French chemist and perfumer René-Maurice Gattefossé is credited by several sources with coining the term "aromatherapy" in the early twentieth century. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) says he published a book of that name in 1937. [1] Interest then faded and was revived later in the century, notably by the French physician Jean Valnet. [1] The sources we read disagree on the year he coined the word (1928 or 1935) and agree on 1937 for the book, so we do not give a single date for the word.
From practice to research
The NCI summary says little aromatherapy research appeared in the English-language medical literature until the early or mid-1990s, and that nurses, who were the main practitioners in the US and UK, conducted most of it. [1] It also says Gattefossé proposed aromatherapy for diseases in virtually every organ system, citing mostly anecdotal and case-based evidence. [1] A US poison center similarly notes that many essential oils have a long history of medicinal use based largely on traditional practices and folklore, and that few uses have been studied scientifically. [7]
What history can and cannot tell you
- It shows the idea is old and widely practiced. That helps explain why people still reach for scented oils.
- It does not show that any oil works. Traditional use and research are separate. A long history is not a trial, and the NCI says Gattefossé's own claims rested mostly on anecdotal and case-based evidence. [1]
- Popular accounts vary. We found different years for the same event in the sources above. We left out dramatic claims that we could not trace to a record we could check.
- The word has outgrown its origin. One review notes that the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) now has an extension code for essential oils used in aromatherapy. [4] What counts as "aromatherapy" on a product label is a separate matter; see Aromatherapy candles, sprays and room products.
Where to go next
For how the oils themselves are made today, see How essential oils are made. For the difference between traditional use and clinical evidence, see Traditional use vs clinical evidence for aromatic plants. For how the Research Library treats old texts, see Traditional and historical sources. For who trains aromatherapists today, see Aromatherapists: training, certification and what the titles mean.
Frequently asked questions
Who invented aromatherapy?
Sources credit René-Maurice Gattefossé with coining the word, and the NCI says he published a book of that name in 1937. The practice of using aromatic plants is much older. [1]
When was the word "aromatherapy" first used?
Sources disagree. One review says 1935 and another 1928, and the NCI points to a 1937 book of that name. [4] [2] [1]
Who discovered distillation of essential oils?
One review credits the Persian scholar Avicenna in the 10th century, with rose as the first oil. We could not confirm this with a second source we could read. [2]
Is aromatherapy ancient?
Aromatic plants have a long history of use in many regions, according to supporters and reviews, but aromatherapy as a named practice dates from the early twentieth century. [1]
Does a long history prove essential oils work?
No. Many oils have a long medicinal history based largely on traditional practice and folklore, and few uses have been studied scientifically. [7]
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.
A timeline, with the limits of each source
| Period | What the source says | Source type and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Early use, many regions | The NCI summary says proponents link aromatherapy to infused oils and unguents in the Bible and ancient Egypt, remedies used in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and the burning of aromatic plants in religious rites. [1] | "Proponents report": this is the account of supporters of aromatherapy, not a historical study. Traditional use only. |
| Early use, named records | A pharmaceutical review cites an Egyptian papyrus dated 2551 to 2528 BC and clay writings from Mesopotamia, and names Shennong's Herbal in the Chinese tradition and an Ayurvedic text in India. [2] | A review of pharmaceutical uses, not a history paper. We did not check the underlying finds. Traditional use only. |
| Distillation, 10th and 13th centuries | The same review says the Persian scholar Avicenna discovered the distillation method in the 10th century, with rose the first oil extracted, and that distilling a great variety of aromas expanded in the 13th century. [2] | Single review; we could not find a second readable source, so treat the dates as that review's claim. |
| 19th century | A review of how fragrance ingredients are extracted says perfumes were made from natural, mostly plant, ingredients for centuries, and that organic synthesis from the 19th century added many synthetic notes. [3] | Review abstract only. |
| 1928 to 1937 | The NCI says Gattefossé coined the term and published a book of that name in 1937; another review dates the term to 1935 with a 1937 book called Aromathérapie; a third gives 1928. [1] [4] [2] | Dates differ between sources. One further review gives 1973 for the book, which conflicts with all the others, so we do not use it. [5] |
| Mid-century | The NCI summary says Gattefossé and colleagues in France, Italy and Germany studied aromatherapy for about 30 years, that it went out of fashion, and that Jean Valnet published The Practice of Aromatherapy in 1982. [1] A review says nurse Marguerite Maury, inspired by Gattefossé, worked on aromatherapy for beauty and well-being in England and published a book in 1961. [4] | Reviews; no first-hand records read. |
| 1990 | A UK working party was set up to promote a single body for the practice of aromatherapy, because health professionals were concerned about training and standards. [6] A review says a 1990 book by Daniel Pénoël and Pierre Franchomme reported medical properties of more than 270 oils. [2] | Reviews and a professional-body paper. |
References
- National Cancer Institute (NCI). Aromatherapy and Essential Oils (PDQ), health professional version. Latest summary update listed as 10/31/2024. Read 2026-10-23.
- Cimino C and colleagues. Essential oils: pharmaceutical applications and encapsulation strategies into lipid-based delivery systems. Pharmaceutics. 2021 (review; history section read via Europe PMC). Read 2026-10-23.
- Burger P and colleagues. Extraction of natural fragrance ingredients: history overview and future trends. Chemistry and Biodiversity. 2019 (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- Aesthetic nursing and aromatherapy: reflection on interlocution, applicability and potential. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, 2025 (review; full text read via Europe PMC). Read 2026-10-23.
- Exploring pharmacological mechanisms of essential oils on the central nervous system. Plants (Basel), 2021 (review; full text read via Europe PMC). Read 2026-10-23.
- Baker S. Formation and development of the Aromatherapy Organisations Council. Complementary Therapies in Nursing and Midwifery. 1997 (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- Poison Control. Essential oils: Poisonous when misused. Article date not shown on the page. Read 2026-10-23.