Aromatherapy has effects on the body thanks to multiple methods of delivery. First, in the back of the nasal cavity, olfactory (smell) nerves, which carry over a thousand receptors, detect individual components of the volatile oil;[1] the olfactory system is connected directly to the limbic system[2] and to the hypothalamus,[3] which is involved in control of the autonomic nervous system and is part of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the body’s stress management system. Second, in the lungs, volatile oil molecules can diffuse directly into the body in the capillary blood vessels of the alveoli.[1] Finally, when volatile essential oils are applied topically, they can diffuse through the skin into subcutaneous tissue, and from there into the blood.[1]
How does aromatherapy work?
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•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
Aromatherapy works through various delivery methods, including the detection of volatile oil components by olfactory nerves that connect to the limbic system and hypothalamus, which regulate the autonomic nervous system and stress response. Additionally, these oils can enter the body through the lungs or via topical application, which allows them to diffuse into the bloodstream.