Essential Oils for Older Adults: Skin, Falls and Medicines
What sources say about essential oils and aromatherapy for older adults: sleep and mood research, medicine and falls questions, smell changes, and who to ask first.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Natural products can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read essential oil safety before you use anything on this page.
Safety first. Essential oils are strong. Do not swallow them, and do not use them on damaged skin. Keep bottles out of sight and reach of children and pets. If anyone swallows an essential oil, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US). Call 911 for collapse, a seizure or trouble breathing. [1]
What research shows for older adults
Aromatherapy means using essential oils, most often by inhaling them or by applying a diluted form to the skin. [2] The research is best described as promising but limited.| Question | What the source found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Sleep in older adults | A 2024 meta-analysis of trials in older adults reported better sleep quality with aromatherapy. [3] A 2021 review of adults and elderly people also reported a statistically significant overall effect on sleep quality across 30 studies. [4] | Promising but limited |
| Sleep, general view | NIH's NCCIH says that, for insomnia, we do not know if it helps because little rigorous research has been done. [2] | Insufficient evidence |
| Agitation in dementia | Trials of this question exist and are listed in a National Cancer Institute review. [5] See our page on dementia and agitation. | See that page |
Two cautions apply. First, the 2024 meta-analysis authors themselves note that few studies have looked at older adults specifically. [3] Second, scent trials are hard to hide from the people taking part, and many measure self-reported sleep or mood, so a helpful result may partly reflect expectation. See how scent works.
Medicines
Poison Control notes that essential oils may interact with medications. [1] The sources we read do not list particular oil and medicine pairs for older adults. Anyone taking several medicines, including blood thinners, should ask a pharmacist before adding a new product, and the general guides are at Essential oils and medicines and older adults and medicine interactions.Falls, dizziness and slippery floors
The National Institute on Aging says some medications can raise the risk of falling because they cause side effects such as dizziness or confusion. [6] It also lists slipping on a wet floor as an everyday cause of falls. [6] Whether a spilled oil makes a floor more slippery, or whether a particular oil causes dizziness in older people, is not described in the sources we read, so we make no claim about it. If a new scent is followed by dizziness, headache or confusion, tell a clinician.Changes in smell
Problems with the sense of smell increase as people get older. [7] The same source calls smell a warning system for a gas leak, spoiled food or a fire. [7] The sources we read do not say whether a strong added scent changes how well that warning works, so it is a reasonable thing to raise with a clinician rather than a documented risk. A person who cannot smell an oil well may also not notice that a room has become very strongly scented.Skin
The sources we read do not describe skin in older age and essential oil reactions specifically. The general rules apply: many essential oils can cause rashes, and oils should not be used on damaged skin. [1] Some citrus oils can be harmful on skin exposed to sun. [8] See skin reactions and allergy.Who to ask
A pharmacist or the person's regular clinician is the right first stop, especially before surgery, with kidney or liver conditions, or with asthma or breathing problems. Our safety essentials page lists the main hazards.Frequently asked questions
Are essential oils safe for people over 65?
There is no age cutoff in the sources we read. They describe general risks, such as rashes and poisoning if swallowed, and note that essential oils may interact with medications. [1] A clinician or pharmacist can say what suits one person.
Can aromatherapy help older adults sleep?
A 2024 meta-analysis reported improved sleep quality in older adults, with the authors noting few studies had looked at this group specifically. [3] NCCIH says little rigorous research exists on aromatherapy for insomnia. [2] We rate the evidence as promising but limited.
Do essential oils interact with medicines?
Poison Control says they may. [1] Specific pairs are not listed in the sources we read. Ask a pharmacist.
Does losing some sense of smell matter?
Smell problems become more common with age, and smell is a warning system for danger such as fire or gas. [7] Mention smell changes to a clinician.
What if someone swallows an oil?
Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 in the US. [1] Call 911 for collapse, a seizure or trouble breathing.
References
- Poison Control (National Capital Poison Center). Essential oils: Poisonous when misused. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Aromatherapy. Last updated January 2020. Read 2026-10-23.
- Xu K, Wang S, Ji Q, Ni Y, Liu T. Effects of aromatherapy on sleep quality in older adults: A meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2024. Abstract read. Read 2026-10-23.
- Her J, Cho MK. Effect of aromatherapy on sleep quality of adults and elderly people: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med. 2021. Abstract read. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Cancer Institute, PDQ Integrative, Alternative, and Complementary Therapies Editorial Board. Aromatherapy With Essential Oils (PDQ), Health Professional Version. Updated 10/31/2024. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Institute on Aging (NIA). Falls and Fractures in Older Adults: Causes and Prevention. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). Smell Disorders. Read 2026-10-23.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Aromatherapy. Content current as of 09/08/2023. Read 2026-10-23.