The Benefits of Tea in Aromatherapy

Tea is a delicious beverage that’s been traditionally enjoyed for thousands of years. While most people realize there are benefits to drinking tea regularly, the aromatic benefits of tea are rarely discussed. Interestingly, it turns out that there may be some distinct benefits to just the smell of tea alone.

Below, we’ll reveal exactly what those aromatic benefits are. But before we get started, if you’re unfamiliar with the benefits of drinking tea, we’ll jump into a quick overview of this delicious and healthy beverage.

The Benefits of Drinking Tea

When it comes to overall health, different teas offer a wide ranging list of benefits. Green teas such as jasmine may raise the metabolic rate, making green tea a popular weight loss aid. The catechins found in jasmine and other green teas have also been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects, and may even benefit cardiovascular health. Most studies theorize that this is because of the rich antioxidant content found in green teas. 

Aged teas like pure tea (which comes in both green and black varieties) may be particularly helpful when it comes to circulation and digestion. This may be one reason why traditionally, pure tea was often consumed after heavier or larger meals, or served with dim sum: to help assimilate the extra food and nutrients, and aid in digestion. Several studies have found an association with regular pure tea consumption and reduced body fat, as well as improved lipid profiles.

Tea and Aromatherapy

Tea’s aromatherapeutic potential is less widely known than the benefits of simply drinking tea. However, recent studies continue to shine light on this promising area. 

Regular tea drinkers may tell you that the aroma of well-brewed tea is calming in and of itself. As it turns out, they’re not wrong. One 2005 study found that the diffusion of jasmine tea’s aroma produced calming, yet vigorous mood states in 24 healthy human subjects. Researchers concluded that the aroma of jasmine “has sedative effects on both autonomic nerve activity and mood states.”

A Japanese study published in 2018 found similar effects when the scent of black tea was inhaled. The subjects of the study were given stress-inducing arithmetic problems. The researchers found that “inhaling black tea aroma may diminish stress levels caused by arithmetic mental stress tasks.” The scent of one black tea in particular (Darjeeling) even “tended to improve mood before mental stress load.”

Our 5 Favorite Tea Scents

Looking to reap the benefits that a quality tea aroma can offer? These are our favorite choices for filling your space with the calming scents of tea.

1. Green Tea & Lemongrass - Harness the soothing effects of lemongrass, jasmine and green tea to create a revitalizing and exotic atmosphere
2. Black Tea & Teak - Earthy, warm, and autumnal, this black tea blend also features musky notes of cedar wood entwined with sheer bergamot and a hint of zesty lemon 
3. White Tea - Delicate white tea meets just the right amount of floral and citrus notes: rose, zesty oranges, and sweet geraniums. 
4. White Tea & Thyme - This white tea blend features soothing thyme and jasmine notes while lily pad, cedar, and amber dance lightly in the background.
5. White Tea & Bamboo - Striking the perfect balance between white tea and bamboo, this aroma oil blend is simultaneously soothing and invigorating. 

How to Scent with Tea

If you already have a favorite tea, you can place the dry, scented tea leaves in an open container within the room you wish to scent. Eventually, the aroma of the leaves themselves will scent the room. The downside of this method is that it’s only really effective for quite small rooms, and of course it eventually spoils the tea leaves that you could otherwise brew delicious tea with.

That’s why we recommend our own tea aroma oils listed above. The aroma oil blends feature pure essential oils and are 100% safe for your home, family, and pets. If you diffuse them with one of our cold air diffusers, the aroma can last for many hours and cover a much wider surface area. You can learn more about our diffusers here.