Aromatherapy is a holistic science used to treat various conditions. They mainly use plant oils and essential oils for the cure. This is used for improving psychological health as well as physical health. However, the term aromatherapy was not used until the 20th century even though it is an ancient science. It is thousands of years old. People have been using essential oils for curing various ailments for thousands of years. The use of aromatherapy traces back to ancient Chinese culture. The practice involved burning incense sticks so that there is an equal balance of harmony and peace.

The ancient Egyptians used several oils extracted from cedarwood, olive, cinnamon, myrrh and nutmeg to embalm bodies. Most of the oils came from spices and also some flower essence and fruit oils were also used. Some types of oils were known to preserve certain qualities of the skin. The Egyptians studied the characteristics of the oil in depth and they infused different types of oil for various cures. They also invented the perfume. Both ancient Egyptian men and women used perfume. Ancient Greeks make perfumes that were used for health benefits and also as fragrances. All these concepts were deep rooted in aromatherapy.

In the 11th century, with the invention of the coiled cooling pipe, aromatherapy revolutionized. This invention allowed extraction of many essential oils from plants that were deemed beneficial for body and mind. Essential oils became more popular in the 13th century when the pharmaceutical industry came into being. During the 14th century, when Black Death was rampant, many herbal preparations were used widely to combat the plaque. It is believed that some people who made perfumes actually avoided death by plaque because they were in constant contact with oils.

In the 19th century, important discovery was made about the various compounds found in many essential oils. At the same time, the perfume industry was booming and perfumes and fragrances were in high demand. In the 20th century, the compounds from essential oils were used to manufacture various drugs and synthetic chemicals. However, this had a negative impact on the aromatic benefits of essential oils because modern medicine was prospering. However, in the late 20th century and the 21st century, people started realizing the importance of essential oils and their aromatic benefits. Today, aromatherapy has witnessed resurgence as there are many books and resources available on the Internet to spread the word.