Does lavender oil aromatherapy reduce corporate performance anxiety?

"Inhaling lavender oil reduces high-stakes presentation anxiety by half," reports The Corporate Wellness Weekly.

A study was carried out using an online self-report questionnaire designed by researchers at the University of West London. Researchers identified associations between the self-reported drops of lavender oil applied to collars in the thirty minutes before a major client presentation and reduced self-reported feelings of panic, lower heart rates, and improved confidence during the presentation.

Employees who used more than 5 drops of lavender oil before their presentations were 55% more likely to report feeling "highly confident" compared to those who used 1 drop or less.

However, it is vital to recognise that this correlation does not prove that pre-presentation lavender oil use directly causes reduced anxiety. There are several limitations to the online survey method used. Although efforts were made to recruit a diverse sample, there is a risk of volunteer bias, as employees with a pre-existing interest in holistic health and wellness may have been more eager to participate. Additionally, the data relies on participants accurately estimating their own level of anxiety and the exact dosage/timing of oil application, which are difficult to recall retrospectively. Furthermore, some employees may have overreported their confidence levels due to social desirability or fear of appearing incompetent to colleagues who might see the survey results. Finally, the research has only been published as a non-peer-reviewed working paper.