Aromatics and Mental Health Review #2

July 25, 2026

Book review by Dr Sandi Nye (January 2025)

Jade Shutes, founder and director of education of the School for Aromatic Studies, is a woman of many talents. With over 30 years of experience in the field of natural health and wellness, she is a respected aromatherapist and herbalist within the aromatic medicine community, with a passion for aromatic plants, essential oils, and aromatherapy education. She is also a keen gardener, aromatic distiller, and researcher, and the author of many articles, and author and co-author of several books, some of which appear to have evolved from her teaching courses.

Examples of author publications:

• Aromatherapy for Bodyworkers (2006)
• The Ultimate Guide to Aromatherapy [principal author] (2020)
• Aromatic Medicine thru the Lens of Western Herbal Energetics (2020)
  
• The Dynamics of Blending (2022)
• The Carrier Oil Palette (2022) – Co-author, with Sherilyn Siegmund-Roach.
• Aromatics & Mental Health - A Holistic Approach to AromaPsychology (2024)

General Overview:

Shutes’ latest book, Aromatics and Mental Health - A Holistic Approach to AromaPsychology, is self-published by the School for Aromatic Studies. It is a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the intersection between aromatherapy and mental well-being. The writing is clear and accessible, breaking down complex scientific concepts without oversimplifying them. The friendly and authentic delivery reflects the author’s voice, style and versatile ethos throughout.

The inclusion of practical blending guides and specialized sections adds an extra layer of utility, ensuring that the book is as functional as it is informative. It is suitably illustrated with charming line drawings and delightful colour images and charts, in addition to being adequately and accurately referenced and indexed. It is well-researched, with mindful and logical flow, presenting an innovative and balanced approach to the topic.

The core of the book focuses on the practical application of aromatherapy for mental health, but not to the detriment of either holistic or scientific aspects. The content is a good balance between science, holism and integrative health care practises, without being dogmatic or prescriptive. One of the book’s strengths lies in this balanced approach. It combines evidence-based research with hands-on guidance, ensuring that readers not only understand the science but also feel equipped to apply the knowledge.

Content breakdown:

Shutes covers some foundational basics relating to essential oils and their psychological effects, as well as specialized sections on aromatics for various populations and conditions. Presented in 12 parts/chapters, the first 11 parts explore the science and specific psychological effects of different essential oils, providing readers with a deep understanding of how to harness the power of aromatics for their mental health. Each section is well-balanced, with sufficient and relevant scientific information and evidence, to provide a clear and relatively concise exploration of each concept. Each part is structured in a ‘lesson’ format that builds upon the foundation, while expanding on and exploring the various aspects of mental wellness.

The author has packed a powerful punch of information into 282 pages. Each chapter deserves to be briefly outlined, to do justice to both the topic and the author’s dedication and passion - and to provide potential readers with a glimpse into the fascinating world of aroma-psychology.

Part One, the Introduction, lays the Foundation, in a 6-parts ‘lesson’ format, which delves into understanding, nurturing, and protecting our well-being. It commences with sections on: Mental Health; Emotions, Feelings, and Moods; and continues with looking into The Biopsychosocial Model; Somatics, Affirmations, and Breathwork; Somatics and Mental Health; and ending with a section on Breathwork and Mental Health.

Part Two consists of lessons divided into 7 sub-sections, relative to Anatomy and Physiology. These consist of a comprehensive overview of: The Nervous System; The Central Nervous System; The Peripheral Nervous System; The Enteric Nervous System; The Vagus Nerve; The Endocrine System – inclusive of a Deep Dive into Oxytocin; The Immune System plus Essential Oils and Immune System, and an overview of Forest Bathing; followed by Mechanisms of Action on the Nervous System and Related Systems; and it ending with The Endocannabinoid System and Essential Oils. The inclusion of an introduction to the endocannabinoid system, is considered by Shutes to be a key player in mental health and stress. This concept, and the botanicals that influence it, may be novel to some readers, but is of interest to many people working within the natural and herbal medicine fields.

Part Three, titled The Sense of Smell, is divided into 4-lessons. This is a comprehensive section focused on unveiling the importance of olfaction in human life. It starts with an overview of The Sense of Smell; proceeds to The Limbic System, including sub-sections on Aromas and Hedonics, plus a look at Aromatics and Brainwaves; followed by Olfactory Dysfunction, as well as a look at Olfactory Testing - From Threshold to Identification. The section ends with an overview of Olfactory Training, and The Power of Olfactory Learning and Conditioning.

Part Four, presented in 4-part lessons, dives into Stress and Resiliency, starting with an overview of Psychoneuroimmunology; moving on to Understanding Stress, inclusive of a Deep Dive into Cortisol, plus a peep into the Gut-Brain Axis and stress, and an additional exploration of the difference between Stress, Anxiety, Burnout, and Trauma. It ends with an exploration of The Relaxation Response - a natural state of deep rest that can be entered into by using specific relaxation techniques.

Part Five, is a 2-lesson chapter: Mental Health With a Focus on Anxiety and Depression. It commences with a section on Anxiety and Aromatics, plus a look at Top Essential Oils for Anxiety. It concludes with a look at Depression and Aromatics, and includes sub-sections on The Vagus Nerve and Mental Health, plus a section on Healing the Heart. This latter section, referring to heart rate variability and trauma, is authored by Jon Keyes.

Part 6, Young Children to Teenagers, is focused on Essential Oils for Kids. It explores how aromatherapy can support the mental well-being of children and teenagers. Shutes outlines the need to understand the current state of youth mental health and recognize common warning signs

of emotional struggles in children and teenagers. The section also highlights the basic concepts of brain development in children and adolescents, and explores commonly used essential oils, and their specific benefits, which can be used to support the emotional health and well-being of children and teenagers. It also looks at practical strategies for using aromatherapy to address common challenges in child and adolescent development, such as tantrums, sleep issues, school anxiety, and concentration difficulties. Shutes commendably accredits the work of Holly Brandenberger (creator of Science of Essentials) for the creation and inspiration of this lesson.

Part 7 outlines the intimate and vital relationship between Sleep and Mental Health, including an overview of the basic structure of sleep, common sleep disorders, how stress affects sleep, and stress management techniques to improve sleep quality, plus the potential benefits of using essential oils for sleep improvement. It concludes with an overview of the integration of Progressive Muscle Relaxation and Aromatherapy for mental health and sleep management.

Part 8, Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Cognition is an important inclusion, considering the devastating impact that these disorders can have on everyone affected by them. The section commences with an overview of Neurodegenerative Diseases, ending with Aromatics and Cognitive Enhancement, relative to the potential role of essential oils for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Part 9, Formulating for Mental Health, reflects on addressing mental health concerns through aromatherapy, reminding readers that it is crucial to move beyond a purely chemical approach. Shutes asserts that ‘while the chemistry of essential oils is important, mental and emotional well-being often benefits more from holistic methods.’ This section, which focuses on the aromatherapy consultation and treatment design, recommends considering approaches to mental health formulations via methods such as Morphology blending, The Aromatic palette, System affinities, and Core indications. The section ends with a reminder that it is essential for aromatherapy practitioners to develop strong interpersonal skills for building rapport and trust with those they treat. Three key abilities to be explored that can enhance the therapeutic relationship are outlined, namely: active listening, empathy, and mindfulness.

Part 10 consists of a colourful Essential Oil Indications Chart, listing essential oils, from A to Y (Amyris to Yuzu), according to their actions and indications for treating mood/emotion. This comprehensive resource covers 53 essential oils and their corresponding psychological effects, making it an appealing go-to reference for both practitioners and individuals seeking to integrate aromatherapy into their holistic mental health approach.

Part 11, the semi-final section, segues effortlessly from Part 9, and is something for which the author has become renowned: Morphology Blending Technique. As Shutes states: ‘The concept of morphology is bound by the idea that everything that is alive pulsates with energy and that all energy contains information’. Expounding on the framework for building a blend based on morphology, the author suggests choosing a core essential oil, choosing an enhancer/support essential oil, choosing an enhancer essential oil, choosing a harmonizing’ essential oil, and choosing additional oil/s if required.

A case study example, as well as some Morphology recipe ideas, is also included. The section ends with a comprehensive overview of the concept, beautifully illustrated with colourful images, highlighting the essence/core of the various energies that align with this concept: seed, root, wood, resin, leaf/needle, flower and fruit/zest energies.

Part 12, the Summary, recaps the essential highlights of the book, concluding with the message that the field of aromatherapy, for mental health, is dynamic and evolving. This section is followed by the Reference and Index.

Conclusion

Shutes' meticulous research, combined with her practical expertise, makes this book a must-read, and is relevant for a wide range of readers, particularly those interested in exploring the profound connection between scent and the mind. The harmonious Body/Mind/Spirit interface approach ensures that the content is engaging, from start to finish. It is a significant resource for practitioners, students, and anyone interested in the field of aroma-psychology and aromatherapeutics.

Personal:

Would I recommend it? Absolutely!

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