Aromatherapy massage combines Swedish massage technique with essential oils blended and diluted for your specific goal, usually at a concentration of one to three per cent in a carrier oil. The scent acts on the limbic system while the strokes work on muscle. Evidence supports it for anxiety, mood and sleep. A genuine aromatherapy treatment involves a consultation and a bespoke blend, not a pre-mixed scented oil.
Key takeaways
- The blend should be made for you
- A genuine aromatherapy treatment involves a consultation and oils selected and blended on the day, not a pre-mixed bottle off a shelf.
- Dilution matters
- Essential oils are used at one to three per cent in a carrier oil. Undiluted essential oil should never be applied to skin.
- Scent works through the limbic system
- Olfactory input reaches the brain areas handling emotion and memory directly, which is why smell affects mood so immediately.
- The evidence is best for anxiety and mood
- Consistent findings for reduced anxiety, with sleep improvement commonly reported.
- Some oils are contraindicated
- Pregnancy, epilepsy, high blood pressure and some medications all restrict which oils can be used.
- Leave the oils on afterwards
- Most aromatherapists suggest not showering for a few hours so absorption and the scent effect continue.
- Look for a specific qualification
- Aromatherapy is a separate qualification from massage. Ask what the therapist trained in.
What aromatherapy massage is
Aromatherapy massage is Swedish massage technique combined with essential oils selected for you. The physical work is largely what you would receive in a Swedish massage: long gliding strokes, kneading, and coverage of the back, legs, arms, neck and shoulders at light to medium pressure.
What is added is a consultation at the start, in which the therapist asks what you want from the session, what is going on in your life, whether you are sleeping, and importantly which scents you like. They then blend two or three essential oils into a carrier oil for that treatment.
That last part is the distinction worth understanding. A massage using a pre-mixed lavender oil from a bottle is a scented massage. An aromatherapy massage involves a blend made for you on the day, and if there was no conversation about oils, you probably did not have one.
How oils are blended
Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts and are never applied undiluted to skin. They are diluted into a carrier oil, typically sweet almond, grapeseed, jojoba or sunflower.
- Standard dilution: two to three per cent, which is roughly 12 to 18 drops of essential oil per 30ml of carrier.
- Sensitive skin, elderly clients, children: one per cent or lower.
- Pregnancy: usually one per cent, with a restricted list of oils.
- Facial work: one per cent or less.
Aromatherapists traditionally blend across top, middle and base notes: top notes such as citrus oils, which are bright and evaporate quickly; middle notes such as lavender and geranium, which form the body of the blend; and base notes such as frankincense and sandalwood, which are heavier and last longest.
Your preference matters as much as the properties. A blend you dislike will not relax you, whatever the literature says about it.
Common oils and what they are used for
| Oil | Commonly used for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lavender | Relaxation, sleep, anxiety | The most researched and most widely used |
| Roman chamomile | Calming, irritability, sleep | Gentle; often used with children and sensitive skin |
| Bergamot | Low mood, anxiety | Can cause photosensitivity unless bergapten-free |
| Frankincense | Grounding, slowing the breath | Base note, often used to anchor a blend |
| Ylang ylang | Relaxation, tension | Strong; used sparingly |
| Peppermint | Alertness, headaches, digestion | Avoided in pregnancy and with young children |
| Rosemary | Alertness, muscular aches | Avoided in pregnancy, epilepsy and high blood pressure |
| Eucalyptus | Congestion, muscular aches | Avoided with asthma in some cases |
| Clary sage | Tension, menstrual discomfort | Avoided throughout pregnancy until labour |
| Sweet marjoram | Muscular tension, sleep | Common in blends for physical tension |
Fuller detail on oil selection is in best essential oils for massage.
What the evidence supports
Reasonably supported: reduced anxiety, improved mood, and improved sleep quality. Studies comparing aromatherapy massage with massage alone have generally found the aromatherapy version performs somewhat better on anxiety measures, which is a useful comparison because it isolates the oil component rather than simply comparing treatment with no treatment.
Plausible: short-term pain perception, nausea relief, and comfort in palliative care settings, where aromatherapy massage is widely used.
Not supported: treating disease, antimicrobial effects at the concentrations used in massage, hormonal regulation, or detoxification. NHS guidance is that complementary therapies should be used alongside conventional care rather than as a substitute[1].
The mechanism for the mood effect is plausible: olfactory nerves connect directly to the limbic system, the part of the brain handling emotion and memory, without the relay through the thalamus that other senses use. That is why smell affects mood so immediately and why particular scents trigger memories so vividly.
What a session involves
- Consultation. Longer than for a standard massage: health history, medication, allergies, pregnancy, what you want from the session, and scent preferences.
- Blending. The therapist selects two or three oils, often offering you a smell before committing, and blends them into a carrier oil.
- Undress and drape. As with any oil massage, to your comfort level under towels.
- Treatment. Swedish technique at light to medium pressure, usually 60 or 90 minutes, sometimes including inhalation moments where the therapist cups their hands near your face.
- Aftercare. Most therapists suggest leaving the oils on for a few hours and drinking normally.
Wear clothes you do not mind smelling of the blend, and book a time when you do not need to be anywhere immediately afterwards.
Safety and contraindications
Essential oils are pharmacologically active and are not automatically safe because they are natural.
- Pregnancy. A restricted list applies, and clary sage, rosemary, juniper and several others are avoided. Only book with a therapist trained in both aromatherapy and pregnancy massage. See the pregnancy massage guide.
- Epilepsy. Rosemary, fennel and some others are avoided.
- High blood pressure. Rosemary and some stimulating oils are avoided.
- Asthma. Strong oils can trigger symptoms in some people.
- Photosensitivity. Citrus oils, particularly bergamot, can increase sun sensitivity.
- Allergies and sensitive skin. Nut-based carrier oils matter here, and a patch test is sensible.
- Medication. Some oils may interact; mention anything you take.
- Children and infants. Much lower dilutions, and many oils avoided entirely.
Spotting a genuine treatment
Aromatherapy is a separate qualification from massage, typically a Level 3 diploma covering oil chemistry, contraindications and blending. Ask what the therapist trained in and check for membership of a body such as the International Federation of Aromatherapists or registration with the CNHC[2].
Signs of a genuine treatment: a consultation that asks about your goals and scent preferences, oils blended on the day, questions about pregnancy, medication and allergies, and aftercare advice.
Signs it is a scented massage: a single pre-mixed bottle, no discussion of oils, no questions about contraindications, and a menu offering a choice of three fixed blends by name.
Neither is bad, but they are different things at different prices. Expect £50 to £70 for a genuine aromatherapy massage in the UK, as set out in how much a massage costs in the UK.
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This article is researched by the Massages Bristol editorial team using NHS guidance, professional body standards and published research, and is checked against the practice of the qualified therapists listed in our Bristol directory. It is reviewed and updated when guidance or standard practice changes. It is general information, not medical advice: speak to your GP if you have a health condition that may affect treatment.