Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine, which is based on the use of essential oils and other aromatic compounds in order to change a person's mood, cognitive functions (the so-called "mental state") and health.

The work of aromatherapy is explained by two main mechanisms. One of them is the influence of aroma on the brain, especially the limbic system (the system participates in the regulation of functions of smell, internal organs, emotions, instinctive behavior, memory, sleep and wakefulness) through the olfactory system. Another mechanism is the direct pharmacological effect of essential oils.