Chamomile Essential Oil Benefits: Aroma First, Studies Second

Ask ten people what chamomile oil is good for and you will get ten different answers, most of them borrowed from chamomile tea. The honest picture is more interesting. Chamomile oil's clearest strengths are the ones you can smell and use, and the research that exists is narrower than the internet suggests.

Roman Chamomile Essential Oil bottle

Roman Chamomile Essential Oil

Our own Roman Chamomile Essential Oil, in sizes from 0.5 oz to bulk.

From $32.99

Shop Now →

The benefit you can check for yourself: the aroma

Roman chamomile has one of the more distinctive scents in the oil shelf: sweet, apple-like and herbaceous, softer and fruitier than German. Our German chamomile is sweet and herbaceous with a hay-like softness, and it is the one with the deep blue colour. As a middle note, either one rounds out a blend, and we list lavender, bergamot, clary sage, geranium, sweet orange and frankincense as partners for the Roman oil. Our scent guide and blending guide go further.

That aroma is why people reach for chamomile in diffuser blends, linen sprays, natural perfumery, candles and soap, and why it appears in diluted face and body oils. For skin use we recommend 0.5% to 2% in a carrier oil, patch tested first. A little goes a long way, and our oils arrive undiluted, so the measuring is part of the pleasure of using them.

What the research covers

Chamomile is one of the most studied herbs, but nearly all of that work is on tea and oral extracts, which are different materials from an essential oil. NIH's National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health has a chamomile page that discusses tea and supplements and does not cover the essential oil, which tells you where the bulk of the research sits.

Studies on the essential oil itself are fewer and smaller. One example is a double-blind trial in Iran of 154 patients with acute coronary syndrome (Pourshaikhian and colleagues, 2024). Participants inhaled either 7 drops of a 10% chamomile oil or 7 drops of sesame oil on cotton for two nights, and the chamomile group reported a larger fall in a short anxiety questionnaire. That is what the trial measured, in a hospital setting, with a blinding that scent makes imperfect. It is a useful piece of the picture, not a promise about any bottle, and the concentration used is not a skin dilution. We make no health claims for our oils, and for anxiety, sleep, pain or any medical question the right person is a physician or pharmacist.

The wider lesson is a good one to carry into any "benefits" article: ask what form was tested, how it was used, and in whom. If you want to go deeper, our posts on anxiety and stress and an evening routine look at the scent-and-routine side with the same care.

Skin and hair: cosmetic uses

For cosmetic use, chamomile oil is a fragrant ingredient in a diluted face or body oil, a balm or a bath blend. Our cosmetic care guide shows how people use it, and our carrier oil guide helps with the base. Carrier oils are not something we sell, so you will find those at a pharmacy, grocery or craft supplier.

Who should check first

Chamomile belongs to the daisy family. NCCIH notes allergic reactions are more likely in people allergic to ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds or daisies. If that is you, an allergist should weigh in first. For pregnancy, babies, pets, or anyone taking prescription medicines, ask a physician, pediatrician or veterinarian. Never swallow the essential oil.

The simplest way to learn what chamomile oil does for you is to smell it. Try a small bottle of each oil and see which one earns a place on your shelf.

Roman Chamomile Essential Oil bottle

Roman Chamomile Essential Oil

Roman Chamomile Essential Oil from our own shop, in sizes from 0.5 oz to bulk.

From $32.99

Shop Now →

Sources & Further Reading