Complementary Therapies in Medicine, December 2025 | Yi-Ren Wang et al., National Chung Cheng University
Most people who reach for lavender expect to feel calmer. A new trial measured exactly how much, and it found that the effect extends well beyond mood.
Researchers at National Chung Cheng University in Taiwan conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled trial with 58 adults aged 40–60, all diagnosed with hypertension. Participants in the lavender group inhaled Lavandula angustifolia essential oil for 15 minutes daily via a clip attached to a face mask; the placebo group used odorless sweet almond oil. Outcomes were measured after a single session and again after seven consecutive days.
The anxiety reduction after one session was immediate and substantial—the lavender group’s scores dropped by 15.7 points on a standardized anxiety scale versus 0.9 points in the placebo group. Sleep quality and fatigue responded more gradually, with significant shifts emerging by day seven: sleep scores improved markedly and fatigue scores were meaningfully lower in the lavender group. Blood pressure followed the same pattern—no significant change after one session, but after seven days, both systolic and diastolic readings were significantly lower compared to the placebo group.
The researchers identified the mechanism as lavender’s influence on the autonomic nervous system, specifically its active compounds linalool and linalyl acetate, which appear to reduce stress hormone activity and promote a parasympathetic response.
Though the sample was small and the authors describe the findings as exploratory, the consistency of results across four separate outcome measures gives the study meaningful weight.
Tip: When choosing a lavender essential oil for aromatherapy, the species matters. The research on lavender’s calming and physiological effects has been conducted specifically on Lavandula angustifolia—true or English lavender—rather than hybrid or other lavender varieties. Look for a product that names the species clearly and contains 100% pure essential oil with no additives or carrier oils blended in. Steam distillation from the flower and stem is the standard extraction method for preserving the active aromatic compounds.
