Aromatherapy is a holistic therapy approach using aromatic materials which produce aroma or odors that stimulate our olfactory senses triggering therapeutic responses of our physical, mental and emotional bodies. It has been around for thousands of years and recorded in many ancient scripts including the Bible. The aromatic materials are taken from plants using steam distillation for which will produce materials known as essential oils. Essential oil taken from a specific plants provides a unique set of properties. Some essential oils might have similar therapeutic effects, however the scent and total effects of each essential oil is unique.

The most common methods used in aromatherapy are through inhalation and applied directly to the skin. There are many applications for each method. Popular applications are by using aromatherapy diffuser, aromatic candles, aromatic incenses, aromatic baths, directly dropped to pillow, bed or handkerchief, applied directly to skin or diluted as massage oils.

The therapeutic effects of aromatherapy have been extensively researched. Below is the list of therapeutic effects of aromatherapy:
- Antiseptic and antibacterial
- Analgesic
- Antifungal
- Anti inflammatory
- Antitoxic
- Antiviral
- Balancing
- Deodorant
- Digestive
- Diuretic
- Energizing
- Granulation-promoting
- Hormonal
- Hyperaemic
- Immunostimulant
- Insecicidal and repellent
- Mucolytic and expectorant
- Sedative
- Spasmolytic
- Stimulating and aphrodisiac

Aromatherapy according to Wikipedia:

In English: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses volatile liquid plant materials, known as essential oils (EOs), and other aromatic compounds from plants for the purpose of affecting a person's mood or health. Essential oils differ in chemical composition from other herbal products because the distillation process only recovers the lighter phytomolecules. For this reason essential oils are rich in monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, as well as other VOC substances (esters, aromatic compounds, non-terpene hydrocarbons, some organic sulfides etc.).

Aromatherapy is a generic term that refers to any of the various traditions that make use of essential oils sometimes in combination with other alternative medical practices and spiritual beliefs. Popular use of these products include massaging products, medicine, or any topical application that incorporates the use of essential oils to their products.[1] It has a particularly Western currency and persuasion. Medical treatment involving aromatic compounds may exist outside of the West, but may or may not be included in the term 'aromatherapy'.

In Bahasa Indonesia: http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aromaterapi
Aromaterapi ialah istilah generik bagi salah satu jenis pengobatan alternatif yang menggunakan bahan cairan tanaman yang mudah menguap, dikenal sebagai minyak esensial (Red: Minyak Atsiri), dan senyawa aromatik lainnya dari tumbuhan yang bertujuan untuk mempengaruhi suasana hati atau kesehatan seseorang, yang sering digabungkan dengan praktek pengobatan alternatif dan kepercayaan kebatinan.

Minyak esensial berbeda susunan kimianya dari produk herbal lainnya karena proses distilasi yang hanya memulihkan fitomolekul ringan.

Aromaterapi sudah ada sejak 6000 tahun yang lalu. Kata "aromaterapi" digunakan oleh kimiawan Perancis Rene-Maurice Gattefosse pada tahun 1920-an, yang mencurahkan hidupnya untuk meneliti sifat penyembuhan minyak esensial setelah musibah laboratorium parfumnya.