A double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation of the acute effects of Essence ring aromatherapy on sleep using...

Aromatherapy may represent a low-cost intervention for disturbed sleep that presents minimal risks as compared with alternative pharmacotherapies. Confirmation of effectiveness and an understanding of the mechanism of action are necessary to support clinical applications. The present study evaluated the impact of two odorants (lavender and peppermint) on sleep behavior using a double-blinded, placebo-controlled design. Consistent with the marketed aromatherapy uses of these odorants, lavender was expected to improve sleep while peppermint was expected to enhance arousal and disrupt sleep. Fifty-nine undergraduate students completed two sleep sessions, 1 week apart, during which active or placebo aromatherapy was initiated at their intended sleep time. A wrist-worn tracking device was used to quantify sleep behavior in their typical sleep environment. Both lavender and peppermint aromatherapy significantly disrupted sleep relative to placebo as measured by reduced minutes asleep, F = 5.65(1, 59), p < 0.02, and sleep efficiency F = 5.59(1, 59), p < 0.02. However, peppermint produced significantly greater disruption than lavender, consistent with its purported arousal-enhancing properties. To the extent that lavender aromatherapy improves sleep, repeated applications may be required, establishing lavender as a sleep cue. It is hypothesized that the more substantial disruption of sleep caused by peppermint may result from activation of the trigeminal nerve upon inhalation.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41105-025-00608-6.