While plants and plant extracts have been used empirically for thousands of years (evidence of this can be found in India, Pakistan, Iran, China and Ancient Egypt), it was not until 1830, in Grasse, France a city of perfume-makers and a venerated centre of distillation, that the study of essential oils came into being.
The history of aromatherapy dates back over 3500 years BC, initially used for religious rituals, perfumes, and medicine. The term "aromatherapy" was coined by French chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé in 1935 following a personal incident where he treated a burn with lavender essential oil. Aromatherapy is part of phytotherapy and involves using the volatile active compounds of aromatic plants for therapeutic purposes, often extracted through steam distillation or mechanical cold pressing for citrus oils. Historical figures like Hippocrates used aromatic vapors for treatment, and scientific investigation of essential oils began in Grasse, France, in 1830. Influential scientists such as Louis Pasteur and Charles Chamberland explored the antimicrobial effects of essential oils. Gattefossé's work, the establishment of the French Society of Aromatic Products, and subsequent publications helped legitimize the field. Progress continued with Sévelinge's demonstrations of antibacterial effectiveness and Pierre Franchomme's introduction of the "chemotype" concept in the 1970s. Aromatherapy is now a recognized branch of medicine, with over 17,000 scientific articles published globally. Users are advised to handle essential oils with care and consult usage guidelines.