According to the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy, aromatherapy is "the art and science of utilizing naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, harmonize and promote the health of body, mind and spirit."

Aromatherapy can be used both as a preventive tool and as an acute treatment for stress. It is a fast growing field of alternative medicine and has been used for pain relief, to improve energy and for stress reduction. It should, however, not be considered a...