This kind of post hoc reasoning abounds in the literature of alternative health care. Such testimonials are never met with skepticism or even curiosity as to what evidence there is for them. They are just passed on as if they were articles of faith. Besides personal experience, the only kind of research aromatherapists seem interested in is in reading what other aromatherapists have said or believed about plants or oils. The practitioners and salespersons of aromatherapeutic products seem singularly uninterested in scientific testing of their claims, many of which are empirical and could be easily tested.
Aromatherapy is said to restore or enhance mental, emotional, physical or spiritual health.
Such claims are essentially non-testable. They are part of New Age mythology and can't really engender any meaningful discussion or debate. When aromatherapists get into professional debates about empirical matters it is generally over such matters as whether natural oils are superior to synthetic ones, though even here references to scientific studies of the issue are sought in vain. In her book, Aromatherapy, she gives some botanical and historical information about the plant, including a claim by Matthiole, a 16th century botanist, that lavender is a panacea which can cure epilepsy, apoplexy and mental problems. Lavender also contains a high percentage of phenol, a strong antiseptic and antibiotic.