Effect of Topical Rose Oil Aromatherapy on Insomnia and Sleep Quality in Female Medical Students: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial Publisher

Summary: Could rose oil ease insomnia? In an 80-person randomized trial, seven nights of topical aromatherapy improved self-reported sleep, though follow-up was short. #SleepHealth #Aromatherapy

Razavinia F ; Moradinejad Z ; Nimrouzi M ; Ebrahimian A ; Ghazinezhad N ; Razavinia Z ; Yazdi N ; Ashrafi S
Source: Jundishapur Journal of Natural Pharmaceutical Products Published:2026

Abstract

Background: Sleep disturbances and insomnia are highly prevalent among medical students and are associated with adverse physical, psychological, and academic outcomes. Complementary therapies, such as aromatherapy, have been proposed as low-risk approaches for improving sleep quality; however, evidence regarding rose oil aromatherapy in this population remains limited. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of topical rose oil aromatherapy on insomnia severity and subjective sleep quality among female medical students living in university dormitories. Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial included 80 female medical students with poor sleep quality according to the Pittsburgh Insomnia Rating Scale Short (PIRS-20). Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (rose oil aromatherapy, n = 40) or the control group (placebo oil, n = 40). Both groups applied 3 - 5 drops of the assigned oil topically to the forehead with gentle massage each night before bedtime for seven consecutive days. Sleep quality and insomnia severity were assessed at baseline and after the intervention using the PIRS-20. Each item was scored from 0 to 3, with 3 indicating the greatest negative effect. Total scores ranged from 0 to 60, with higher scores indicating poorer sleep quality. Analyses included independent-samples and paired-samples t tests, chi-square tests, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to adjust for baseline differences and potential confounders. Results: At baseline, the intervention group had significantly poorer sleep quality than the control group (PIRS-20: 52.37 ± 9.45 vs. 45.60 ± 8.86; P = 0.001). After the intervention, the mean PIRS-20 total score decreased significantly in the intervention group (to 37.50 ± 7.35), whereas only a modest reduction was observed in the control group (43.55 ± 9.31). The between-group difference in post-intervention PIRS-20 scores was statistically significant (P = 0.002). Sleep duration increased significantly in the intervention group (mean change = 0.57 ± 0.91 hours; P < 0.001) but not in the control group. Changes in sleep-onset latency were small and not statistically significant. After adjustment for baseline values and confounding variables using ANCOVA, the improvement in overall sleep quality remained significant (β = -6.47, 95% CI, -10.42 to -2.52; P = 0.002), whereas adjusted differences in sleep duration (β = 0.62, 95% CI, -0.05 to 1.31; P = 0.07) and bedtime (β = -0.325, 95% CI, -0.604 to -0.046; P = 0.07) were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Short-term topical rose oil aromatherapy significantly improved subjective sleep quality and reduced insomnia severity among female medical students. Although modest improvements in sleep duration were observed, the effects on sleep-onset latency were limited. Given the short intervention period and the reliance on self-reported measures, further research with longer follow-up and objective sleep assessments is warranted. Copyright © 2026, Razavinia et al.