With aromatherapy, the massage therapist uses therapeutic scents in the form of candles, in baths, candle-lit diffusers, massage lubricants, incense, and aromatherapy diffusing units or heating units that are customized to meet the client's needs.

A therapist can use aromatherapy during a massage in the form of oils, which can scent a room and be used in a massaging lubricant. However, the therapist should carefully read the oil's label for warnings and precautions before using it on the client. Several scents, such as cedar, clary sage, jasmine, juniper, marjoram, peppermint, and rosemary should not be used on pregnant women or clients with specific neurological disorders, like seizures. Likewise, some aromatherapy oils should not be used on people with sensitive skin, like fair-haired and fair-skinned people. Oils to avoid using on people with sensitive skin include cinnamon, peppermint, lemongrass, lemon balm, ginger, lemon, and orange.

A carrier oil - like almond oil - should always be mixed with an essential oil. Also, the therapist should not use essential oils that are photosensitive or produce hypersensitivity when exposed to ultraviolet light or sunlight. In particular, the therapist should avoid using bergamot and lemon. If the client has skin allergies or dermatitis, do not use pine, jasmine, rose, germanium, or ylang-ylang.

In all cases, only a few drops of essential oil should be used on the client. Despite all these precautions that need to be taken, using essential oils in a massage can improve the health of a client.