## 4 Discussion
The impact of aromatherapy and VR on older adults can also differ when the intervention is conducted in a controlled and unfamiliar environment versus a real-life environment such as a hospital and long-term care setting or a more familiar setting such as a home setting. Future researchers who are conducting studies regarding VR and aromatherapy should have detailed descriptions of their choice of aroma and how they set up the environment. They can also compare and explore the appropriate environment that best supports older adults in experiencing the impact of smell with VR. Furthermore, the papers reviewed show that the aims of the VR programs with aromatherapy are different for older adults in different settings. For example, older adults living in long-term care (LTC) may need VR and aromatherapy to support their exposure to outdoor experiences as they have limited opportunities to enjoy outdoor spaces due to their physical constraints [36; 39]. Older adults in hospitals may have different needs than the populations in LTC. [PERSON] [35] mentioned that these individuals would face uncertainty in their prognosis, separation from families and unfamiliar environments. Thus, the role of VR and aromatherapy will be different. Instead of bringing them to the outdoor spaces, VR and aromatherapy serve as a tool to help older adult patients escape from their stressful situations for a short time, removing their worries and achieving happiness and well-being. The older population is heterogeneous and has diverse needs along its care continuum, from community to acute care settings. Future research can explore how VRand aromatherapy achieve different purposes to support the well-being of older adults in diverse contexts. Besides diverse contexts, there is also limited analysis of how the impact of VR programs supported by aromatherapy can be affected by the intersecting identities of older adults. The reviewed studies have limited information on the demographics of older adult participants. Although a few mentioned their gender and age, no information is provided regarding their cultural backgrounds. Older adults from diverse backgrounds may respond differently to specific smells and VR technologies [42]. Despite the positive impacts shown in the included studies, the demographic information and analysis will provide an extra layer of understanding into how VR with aromatherapy can support older adults from diverse backgrounds and if there are specific considerations when implementing these interventions for certain groups of older adult communities. Notably, there is a limited focus on older adults living with dementia. With the growing population of older adults living with dementia and the increasing complexity of the needs of these individuals in different care settings, researchers can further explore the impact of VR with aromatherapy for older adults living with dementia and compare their perceptions of this combined intervention with older adults who do not have cognitive impairment. Another scoping review on essential oils highlighted several outcomes, including antistress, antianxiety, analgesic, cognitive, and autonomic effects [43]. It examined both physiological and pathophysiological outcome measures. Physiological outcomes investigated included arousal, cognitive performance, circadian eating behavior, emotional modulation, consumer acceptance, preferences, and purchasing intentions. Pathophysiological conditions assessed included pain, depression, anxiety, stress, sleep disorders, mental fatigue, agitated behavior, and quality of life. The review concluded that essential oils showed promising effects on the nervous system, suggesting their potential applications in functional foods, beverages, and alternative therapies. A separate systematic review focused on aromatherapy for older adults with dementia, examining outcomes such as agitation (n = 10), behavioral symptoms (n = 8), quality of life, mood, sleep, and activities of daily living across 13 studies [16].