Aromatherapy is truly one of the oldest methods of holistic healing, with origins dating back 5000 years or more. Aromatherapy, as it is practiced today, began with the Egyptians, who used the method of infusion to extract the oils from aromatic plants which were used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes as well as embalming.

The Chinese used aromatics in religious ceremonies. The use of aromatics in China was linked to other ancient therapies such as massage and acupressure.

The Greeks seem to have acquired most of their medical knowledge from the Egyptians and used it to further their own discoveries. They established that the fragrance of some flowers was stimulating while others had relaxing properties. The use of olive oil as the base oil absorbed the aroma from the herbs or flowers and the perfumed oil was then used for both cosmetic and medicinal purposes.

The Romans learned from the Greeks and became well known for scented baths followed by massage with aromatic oils. The popularity of aromatics led to the establishment of trade routes, which allowed the Romans to import "exotic" oils and spices from distant lands such as India and Arabia.

Modern medicine has attempted to duplicate the healing powers of herbs by isolating the active ingredients and manufacturing a synthetic form of it. While that may be perceived as being helpful in getting higher doses of the "healing power," unfortunately scientists are unable to duplicate all the minute and complex structures of the herbs. Nature is perfect and herbs contain many complex structures that are natural buffers. The human body readily accepts these healing properties as a whole and usually does not have unconstructive side effects. If you do notice side effects, they are usually a constructive benefit to another part of your body or systems of your body.

Though it was not until the 19th century CE that scientists in Europe and Great Britain began researching the effects of essential oils on humans. It was French chemist, Rene Maurice Gattefosse who discovered the healing powers of lavender oil after burning his hand in his laboratory. He published a book on the anti-microbial effects of the oils in 1937 CE and the term "Aromatherapy" was born.