{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,2]],"date-time":"2026-02-02T20:13:43Z","timestamp":1770063223463,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":120,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,2]],"date-time":"2026-02-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1769990400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Women"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Aromatherapy, the therapeutic use of essential oils, is increasingly recognized as a complementary approach to women\u2019s mental health, particularly during hormonally sensitive life stages such as menstruation, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause. Concerns about the side effects of pharmacological treatments during these periods have driven interest in non-pharmacologic interventions. This narrative review synthesizes current clinical evidence on the efficacy of aromatherapy in alleviating psychological distress in women. A comprehensive literature review between 2000 and 2025 across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases identified 47 studies focusing on essential oils for anxiety, depression, or stress in female populations. The most substantial evidence supports the use of lavender, bergamot, rose, chamomile, clary sage, and ylang-ylang, with inhalation and massage as the most frequently studied delivery methods. Outcomes include reductions in cortisol, heart rate, and subjective stress, along with improvements in mood and emotional regulation. Aromatherapy demonstrates particular promise in postpartum and perimenopausal care. However, methodological heterogeneity and variability in oil composition limit generalizability. Despite these challenges, the evidence suggests that aromatherapy may serve as a safe, low-cost adjunct for managing mood disorders and stress in women, particularly when integrated into personalized, holistic care strategies.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/women6010011","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,2]],"date-time":"2026-02-02T09:00:33Z","timestamp":1770022833000},"page":"11","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Aromatherapy in Women\u2019s Mental Health: A Narrative Review on Anxiety, Depression, and Stress Management"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"6","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8287-1357","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sara","family":"Diogo Gon\u00e7alves","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Academic Center of Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes and Alto Douro (CACTMAD), University of Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0001-5266-9334","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ver\u00f3nica","family":"Esteves","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Community Care Unit of Alij\u00f3, 5070-021 Alij\u00f3, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Rita S.","family":"Matos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Academic Center of Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes and Alto Douro (CACTMAD), University of Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"},{"name":"Palliative Medicine, Local Health Unit of Nordeste (ULSNE), 5370-210 Mirandela, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2540-682X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ana","family":"Caramelo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Academic Center of Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes and Alto Douro (CACTMAD), University of Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"},{"name":"School of Health, University of Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal"},{"name":"RISE@UTAD-Health Research Network, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,2]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"17455057251331721","article-title":"Stages and future of women\u2019s health: A call for a life-course approach","volume":"21","author":"Lassi","year":"2025","journal-title":"Womens Health"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"677","DOI":"10.1007\/s40266-013-0100-1","article-title":"Depression in peri- and postmenopausal women: Prevalence, pathophysiology and pharmacological management","volume":"30","author":"Soares","year":"2013","journal-title":"Drugs Aging"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Barat, S., Ghanbarpour, A., Mirtabar, S.M., Kheirkhah, F., Basirat, Z., Shirafkan, H., Hamidia, A., Khorshidian, F., Talari, D.H., and Pahlavan, Z. 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