Aromatherapy

As stated in the slides, aromatherapy is considered treatment using fragrances or oils extracted from plants and often infused with other chemicals aimed at promoting health of body, mind and spirit.

From a simple reasoning, you might conclude that smelling these fragrances may trigger psychological reactions in subjects such as memory sharpening, etc. But I don't think broad claims like this should be approved without having conclusive proof from studies.

The hardest thing about conducting these studies is that it is hard to remain objective in them without the placebo effect taking place. However, the fragrances or "fake" essential oils gimmicks, I believe they don't do anything good to our bodies other than give us headaches and possibly make us think that those fake smells make us feel good by law of placebo effect.

In the other hand, as a biology major student, considering the many pathways triggered upon smelling toxic substances and how the body quickly reacts to them, it only makes sense that something is happening to our bodies when we smell these essential oils. Specially since we've long heard about the anti-aging or antibiotic properties in some essential oils like rose hip seed oil or sea buck thorn oil when applied topically.

Here's a video pointing out how the way surveys are handled can alter the results thus making it harder to conclude positive links between essential oils and well-being: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MJpurZ9ShI