Aromatherapy Market Size & Share Analysis - Trends, Drivers, Competitive Landscape, and Forecasts (2025 - 2032)

Aromatherapy Market Trends & Drivers

Consumer Preference for Natural Products Is Major Trend

• Since essential oils are extracted from plants, they are nontoxic and safe for inhalation and topical use.
• The rising awareness of their therapeutic uses has been shifting the preference of consumers toward these products.
• There has also been a steep rise in the number of people opting for self-medication to deal with various types of pain and common cold.
• Further, the high risk of the adverse effect of conventional pharmaceuticals is a key reason for the shifting interest of people toward natural therapies.
• For instance, rosemary oil can cure both cold and cough or a headache, if inhaled, and it can also be used as a topical solution for skin and haircare.
• Thus, the benefits offered by natural products in treating various health condition has changed consumers’ preference from synthetic products to the former, which in turn, contributes to the growth of the market.
• Additionally, the demand for aerial diffusion is growing due to its extensive use in the natural treatment of the common cold and flu.
• The demand for atomizers, candle diffusers, and ultrasonic diffusers is expected to increase owing to their potential to promote relaxation, relieve anxiety and tension, boost energy, and help people with respiratory illnesses.

Rising Incidence of Lifestyle-Associated Diseases Drives Market

• The increasing disposable income and emergence of technology has changed the way of life of people.
• The various social, psychological and biological factors have changed lifestyle behavior of individual which further result into various health conditions such as mental health, respiratory diseases, allergies, insomnia, and depression.
• According to the American Sleep Foundation (ASF), insomnia is the most common specific sleep disorder among Americans. Also, according to the WHO, more than 300 million people of all ages suffer from depression, globally.
• Similarly, studies estimate around 30% of the people in the world to be insomniacs.
• Furter, the global prevalence of chronic pain is pegged at around 1.5 billion people.
• Aromatherapy has emerged as a natural and potential solution to help lift mood, alleviate the symptom of depression and prevent future episodes.
• The aromatic molecules in the essential oils cross the blood/brain barrier and have direct impact on the areas of brain which control feelings of anxiety, stress and depression. Essential oils such as lavender, grapefruit, and chamomile are most commonly used for treating depression.
• The demand for therapeutic aromatic products is projected to also be driven by the increasing prevalence of dermatological diseases.
• They are frequently used by people who have skin rashes because these products lower inflammation and nourish the skin. Further, because of their negative effects, the preference of people for synthetic products is decreasing.
• Various skin and hair disorders can be treated with aromatic natural substances, which have antifungal, antiseptic, and antibacterial characteristics.
• Even after the pain is gone, hypertrophic scars due to burns can persist for long.
• Additionally, surgical stitches and accidental wounds cause scars, which can be minimized with aromatic oils.
• Additionally, it supports healthy weight control, healthy gallbladder and liver, and the treatment of neurological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory issues.

Segmentation and Category Analysis

Product Insights

The consumables category dominated the market, with 65% revenue share, in 2024, and it will also showcase the higher CAGR. This is due to the rising usage of aromatic essential oils and carrier oils for treating various conditions Essential oils treat pain, help relieve stress, and enhance overall wellness.

Essential oils are being used widely as a therapy for various medical conditions, such as pain, skin-related problems, cardiovascular disorders, digestion problems, cold and cough, respiratory disorders, immune system dysfunction, anxiety, insomnia, and wounds. Further, people are now more concerned about acne-related problems, due to which they are opting for therapeutic-grade essential oils.

Furthermore, people suffering from pain due to burns use these oils for massages, or opt to inhale them, for recovery, since burn scars can also be managed by aromatic essential oils. Thus, these products are expected to form an important part of alternative medicines, with a gradual shift toward natural healing from laboratory-produced drugs. Hence, the market will boom in the coming years due to the growing scientific evidence of the effectiveness of aromatherapy and topical essential oil therapies in pain alleviation for people with illnesses such as dysmenorrhea.

These products are covered:

• Consumables (Larger and Faster-Growing Category)
  • Essential oils
    • Singles
      • Herbaceous
      • Woody
      • Spicy
      • Floral
      • Citrus
      • Earthy
      • Camphoraceous
      • Others
    • Blends
  • Carrier oils
• Equipment
  • Ultrasonic diffuser
  • Nebulizing diffuser
  • Evaporative diffuser
  • Heat diffuser

Mode of Delivery Insights

Topical application is the preferred mode of delivery, and this category will also have the highest CAGR, of 10%. This is due to the increase in the topical application of aromatherapy oils for various skin-related problems. This is itself because essential oils can be diluted in a cream or carrier oil and applied, as required, to the concerned area of the body. This method of delivery can be used for various purposes, such as arthritis and back pain management, detoxification, and wound healing. Moreover, with the rising prevalence of skin-related problems, consumers are preferring organic products, which are chemical-free, over those with synthetic chemicals.

These modes of delivery are covered:

• Topical Application (Largest and Fastest-Growing Category)
• Aerial Diffusion
• Direct Inhalation

Application Insights

The relaxation category dominates the market with 30% share, and it is also the fastest-growing category. This is due to the rising population experiencing anxiety and mental instability due to their chaotic lifestyles.

These products have a calming impact, which helps balance the mental condition. Due to the rising concerns about managing their stress, people choose such therapies, because of the prevalent trend of natural remedies.

These applications are covered:

• Relaxation (Largest and Fastest-Growing Category)
• Skin and Hair Care
• Pain Management
• Cold and Cough
• Insomnia
• Scar management
• Others

Distribution Channel Insights

The B2B bifurcation holds the larger share because aromatherapy services are generally provided at spas & wellness centers. These places generally have specific suppliers, with whom they operate under long-term contracts. Moreover, buying in bulk allows B2B users to save money and have ample stock to serve the rising demand.

The D2C bifurcation will witness the higher CAGR during the forecast period, of 9%. This is attributed to the rising incidence of lifestyle-associated diseases and of the role of aromatherapy in alleviating them. Promotional blogs, marketing campaigns, and social media influencers are driving people to self-administer essential oils and other basic aromatherapy treatments at home.

These distribution channels are covered:

• Direct-to-Customer (Faster-Growing Category)
• B2B (Larger Category)

End User Insights

Spas & wellness centers dominate the market with 55% share because they are the traditional places for people to avail of such treatments. With the rising incidence of lifestyle-associated diseases, a number of such places have emerged around the world. Moreover, most five-star hotels and resorts house spas & wellness centers, especially in places renowned for providing relaxation, such as Thailand, Kerala, Sweden, Bali, Japan, and China. Additionally, couple’s massages are often included in honeymoon travel packages as a means to develop intimacy between the newlyweds.

Home-use is the fastest-growing category in the market due to the increasing awareness of ways to reduce chronic stress, depression, pain, sleeplessness, and anxiety via aromatherapy. Additionally, the easy availability of the associated products online drives people to buy them for use at home. Moreover, it is not easy for people with chronic diseases and the elderly to visit a spa every time they want a massage or other aromatherapy procedure, which drives the usage of these products at home.

These end users are covered:

• Home Use (Fastest-Growing Category)
• Spa and Wellness Centers (Largest Category)
• Hospitals and Clinics
• Yoga and Meditation Centers
• Others

Aromatherapy Market Geographical Analysis

North America held the largest share in the market in 2024, of 40%. This is mainly attributed to the surging at-home usage of aromatherapy, rising consumer preference toward natural products, growing prevalence of lifestyle diseases, increasing disposable income of the consumers, and side effects associated with pharmaceutical therapies.

There are several companies providing aromatherapy solutions in North America for lifestyle, stress, and other related issues. dōTERRA International LLC, NOW Health Group Inc., and Mountain Rose & Herbs are some leading manufacturers of aromatherapy products.

Moreover, according to an article published by the NCBI, older people and highly educated consumers in the U.S. prefer to use herbal medicines than conventional ones. Also, natural medicines promote healthier living, boost immunity, and help combat several diseases, thus, driving the consumer shift toward them.

Chronic stress is a major issue being faced by the North Americans. Over 55% of the regional population has stress due to changes in lifestyle patterns, which affects their day-to-day activities. Since aromatherapy can be effectively used for stress management and people are switching from synthetic to natural therapies, the increase in stress-related issues is also expected to boost the aromatherapy market. The market here will grow further owing the rising knowledge of the benefits of alternative therapies and the favorable legislation and regulations for essential oil processing.

APAC will witness the highest CAGR in the market, of 10.5%, during the forecast period. This growth is supplemented by increasing awareness about the benefits of aromatherapy in treating various health conditions, high production of essential oils in the countries including China, India, Australia, and Indonesia, and growing trade of essential oils in and outside the region.

Further, APAC is a potential market for the growth of players in aromatherapy due to the high population base, increasing prevalence of chronic and lifestyle-associated disease, and increasing disposable income of people in the region. As per studies, over 55 million people in the country suffer from chronic depression. Further, Japan and South Korea have a high proportion of elderly people in their populations, who are highly prone to depression, stress & anxiety, chronic pain, and insomnia.

Further, many of the products used for aromatherapy, especially botanical extracts and essential oils, have already been used for thousands of years in traditional Indian and Chinese medicine. Their marketing, backed by scientific claims of their benefits, has helped alleviate people’s concerns about this approach to wellness being a pseudoscience. Further, the government support for traditional systems, such as the setup of the Ministry of Ayush by the Government of India to promote R&D in Ayurveda, will continue to drive the market for aromatherapy products here. Similarly, Kerala, Bali, and Thailand are widely popular among medical tourists as spa destinations, which propels the number of people seeking relaxing massages and essential oil therapy.

The regions and countries analyzed for this report include:

• North America (Largest Regional Market)
  • U.S. (Larger and Faster-Growing Country Market)
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany (Largest Country Market)
  • U.K.
  • France (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia-Pacific (APAC) (Fastest-Growing Regional Market)
  • China (Largest Country Market)
  • Japan
  • India (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • South Korea
  • Australia
  • Rest of APAC
• Latin America (LATAM)
  • Brazil (Largest and Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • Mexico
  • Rest of LATAM
• Middle East and Africa (MEA)
  • Saudi Arabia (Largest Country Market)
  • South Africa
  • U.A.E. (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • Rest of MEA

Aromatherapy Market Share

• The market is fragmented as some or the other form of aromatherapy has been known for thousands of years in the traditional medicine systems of Asia.
• Moreover, despite scientific claims, this approach is still considered a pseudoscience; hence, the regulations, if existent, mostly revolve around highly toxic substances.
• These two factors mean that a huge number of local companies offer a wide array of consumables and equipment for aromatherapy.
• Additionally, the actual product to be used differs as per the exact application.
• Further, not all companies offer everything; while some majorly sell carrier and essential oils, other specialize in equipment.

Aromatherapy Market News & Updates

• In January 2025, coworking space company UrbanWork entered into a partnership with Breathe Aromatherapy to introduce two new fragrances under the Fragrances for Spaces line of Breathe Aromatherapy. The products claim to sharpen the focus of employees, while reducing their stress, thus boosting productivity.
• In January 2025, The Lab Co. launched 12 candles made completely from natural soy wax for aromatherapy.
• In December 2024, British firm Aluxury introduced a new line of diffuser oils, essential oils, and waterless diffusers.
• In October 2024, wellness company Secret Alchemist, which focuses on aromatherapy, announced actress Samantha Prabhu as its co-founder. The announcement came after the startup raised USD 500,000 in seed funding from Inflection Point Ventures and other investors.