Aromatherapy for Labor and Childbirth: What Is Known
What guidelines and trials say about aromatherapy in labor: results on pain and anxiety are mixed, NICE advises against offering it in early labor, and safety needs a midwife's input.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
Safety first. Essential oils can cause rashes, and some can be poisonous if swallowed or absorbed through the skin; a US poison center says misuse can cause serious poisoning. [1] If anyone swallows an essential oil, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222. Call 911 for collapse, a seizure or trouble breathing. In pregnancy and labor, talk with your midwife or doctor before using any oil, and let the hospital know beforehand if you plan to bring one. [2]
Aromatherapy in labor has been tested in many small trials, mostly measuring pain and anxiety reported by the mother. The results are mixed. Three meta-analyses of trials report lower pain or anxiety. [3] [4] [5] An older Cochrane review found too few trials to say. [6] A 2026 network meta-analysis found that, compared with a placebo, aromatherapy was linked to slightly higher first-stage pain, and noted that most of the studies were of low quality. [7]
The English guideline from NICE advises against offering or advising aromatherapy for pain relief in the early (latent) first stage of labor, and also says a woman who wants to use it should be supported. [8] This page describes the research and the guidance. It is not advice to use oils in labor.
What guidance says
| Body | What it says |
|---|---|
| NICE, England (intrapartum care guideline NG235, published 2023) | Advises healthcare professionals not to offer or advise aromatherapy, yoga or acupressure for pain relief during the latent first stage of labour, and to support a woman's choice if she wants to use them. [8] The only aromatherapy recommendation we found in the guideline text is about the latent first stage. |
| NHS, England | Lists aromatherapy among alternative treatments a woman may choose, says most of these techniques are not proven to provide effective pain relief, and advises discussing them with a midwife or doctor and letting the hospital know beforehand. [2] It also says most hospitals do not offer them. [2] |
The same NICE guideline says breathing exercises, a shower or bath, and massage may reduce pain in the latent first stage. [8] We did not read guidance from obstetric or midwifery bodies outside England, so check what your own country's body and your own birth unit say.
What studies found
| Source | What it looked at | What it found | Evidence label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cochrane review, 2011 | Two trials, 535 women, comparing aromatherapy with placebo, no treatment or other non-drug methods | No difference between groups for pain intensity, assisted vaginal birth or caesarean section. The authors said further research was needed before recommendations could be made. [6] | Insufficient evidence (old, very few trials) |
| Meta-analysis, 2019 | 17 trials in low-risk laboring women | Aromatherapy reduced pain in the transition phase and shortened the active phase and third stage, with no effect on emergency caesarean section. [3] | Promising but limited |
| Meta-analysis, 2021 | Nine trials in first-time mothers | Aromatherapy decreased pain and anxiety in the first stage of labor. [4] | Promising but limited |
| Meta-analysis, 2022 | 27 studies, 2,566 women | Aromatherapy relieved labor pain overall, with no effect on 1-minute or 5-minute Apgar scores (a quick newborn check). [5] | Promising but limited |
| Systematic review of anxiety, 2019 | 14 published and two unpublished papers | A majority of studies suggested a positive effect on anxiety in the first stage; the authors called for methodologically rigorous studies. [9] | Promising but limited |
| Network meta-analysis, 2026 | 41 studies of several non-drug methods | Versus placebo, aromatherapy increased first-stage pain; versus routine care it reduced pain in first-time mothers. The authors wrote that most studies were of low quality with a high risk of bias. [7] | Mixed |
| Service evaluation, UK hospital, 1990 to 1998 | 8,058 mothers offered aromatherapy, compared with unit audit data | More than 50% rated it helpful and 14% unhelpful. About 1% recorded an associated symptom, and these were mild. [10] [11] This was not a randomized trial. | Preliminary (observational) |
Why the results differ: the studies used different comparisons (placebo, usual care, or no treatment), different oils and ways of using them, and pain scores reported by the mothers themselves. Because oils have a scent, it can also be hard to keep a mother unaware of which group she is in, which is a general limit of scent trials rather than a finding from these reviews.
Which oils, and how they were used
One review of 33 studies found that most were done in Iran, and that aromatherapy was given by inhalation, massage, footbath, birthing pool, acupressure and compress. Lavender was the most popular oil, alone or in blends. [12] Another review listed lavender (five papers), then rose, clary sage, geranium and frankincense (three each), and several others. [9] The UK service evaluation used 10 oils plus a carrier oil by skin absorption and inhalation, and its authors suggested that clary sage and chamomile are effective in easing pain. [11]
A result for one oil, amount and way of using it does not transfer to another, so these findings are not a guide to choosing an oil. Details on single oils are on Clary sage oil and Lavender oil, and on delivery methods in Inhalation aromatherapy and Aromatherapy massage.
Starting labor: Proper evidence not found. We searched PubMed for trials of clary sage in labor and read the reviews above. None of the sources we read showed that an oil can start labor. One meta-analysis found no influence of aromatherapy on spontaneous labor onset. [3]
Questions to ask your midwife or doctor
- Does my birth unit allow essential oils or diffusers, and does it have its own policy?
- Is there anything in my health history, such as asthma, allergies or the medicines I take, that makes an oil a poor fit?
- What non-drug options does the unit offer instead? NICE names breathing exercises, a shower or bath, and massage for early labor. [8] See Breathing exercises for labor and childbirth and Acupressure in labor and pregnancy.
Frequently asked questions
Is aromatherapy proven to reduce labor pain?
No. Several meta-analyses report lower pain scores, an older Cochrane review found no difference, and a 2026 network meta-analysis found mixed results with mostly low-quality studies. [3] [6] [7]
Does NICE recommend aromatherapy in labor?
NICE advises against offering or advising aromatherapy for pain relief in the latent first stage of labor, but says a woman who wants to use it should be supported. [8]
Can essential oils start labor?
Proper evidence not found. A meta-analysis found no influence of aromatherapy on spontaneous labor onset. [3]
Are essential oils safe in pregnancy?
That depends on the oil, and sources flag concerns for some compounds. A 2021 review called their use in pregnancy questionable, and survey authors noted that some oils may be unsafe. [14] [13] Ask your midwife or doctor first.
What should I tell the hospital?
The NHS advises discussing any alternative technique with your midwife or doctor and letting the hospital know beforehand, because most hospitals do not offer them. [2]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety in pregnancy and labor
- Many pregnant women use oils on their own. An Australian survey of 8,200 women found 15.2% of pregnant women self-prescribed aromatherapy oils. The authors noted that some oils may be unsafe in pregnancy and that practitioners and patients need to talk about this. [13]
- Some oil compounds raised concerns in reproduction studies. A 2021 review said the use of essential oils during pregnancy is questionable. It listed concerns such as abortion, hormone effects, toxicity to the mother and harm to the fetus, for compounds including camphor, thujone, pulegone and methyl salicylate. [14] Several findings in that review come from rats and laboratory tests, which do not show what happens in people. [14]
- Skin, allergy and medicines. A poison center notes that oils are potent, that rash is the most common allergic reaction, and that essential oils may interact with medications. [1]
- Swallowing is a poisoning risk. See Swallowing essential oils for what poison centers say.
For the broader picture, read Essential oils in pregnancy and breastfeeding and Pregnancy and breastfeeding: supplements and herbs.
References
- Poison Control. Essential oils: Poisonous when misused. Article date not shown on the page. Read 2026-10-23.
- NHS (England). Pain relief in labour. Page last reviewed 13 March 2023. Read 2026-10-23.
- Chen SF and colleagues. Labour pain control by aromatherapy: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Women and Birth. 2019 (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- Liao CC and colleagues. Aromatherapy intervention on anxiety and pain during first stage labour in nulliparous women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2021 (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- Shaterian N and colleagues. Labor pain in different dilatations of the cervix and Apgar scores affected by aromatherapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Reproductive Sciences. 2022 (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- Smith CA, Collins CT, Crowther CA. Aromatherapy for pain management in labour. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2011 (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- Dong J, Li M. Efficacy and safety of some nonpharmacological interventions for pain relief during childbirth: a network and meta-analysis. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine. 2026 (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), England. Intrapartum care, NG235: Recommendations. Published 29 September 2023. Read 2026-10-23.
- Ghiasi A, Bagheri L, Haseli A. A systematic review on the anxiolytic effect of aromatherapy during the first stage of labor. Journal of Caring Sciences. 2019 (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- Burns EE and colleagues. An investigation into the use of aromatherapy in intrapartum midwifery practice. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2000 (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- Burns E and colleagues. The use of aromatherapy in intrapartum midwifery practice: an observational study. Complementary Therapies in Nursing and Midwifery. 2000 (summary read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- Tabatabaeichehr M, Mortazavi H. The effectiveness of aromatherapy in the management of labor pain and anxiety: a systematic review. Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences. 2020 (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- Sibbritt DW and colleagues. The self-prescribed use of aromatherapy oils by pregnant women. Women and Birth. 2014 (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- Dosoky NS, Setzer WN. Maternal reproductive toxicity of some essential oils and their constituents. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2021 (review; full text read via Europe PMC). Read 2026-10-23.