A Text Mining-Based Analysis of Research Trends on Aroma oil and Sleep

In modern society, sleep problems are emerging as a significant public health issue related to increased stress, and aromatherapy is attracting attention as a non-pharmacological intervention for improving sleep. This study analyzed 165 domestic academic studies on aroma oils and sleep using text mining to identify key research topics and identify research trends. The results showed that “stress,” “sleep,” “effect,” “experiment,” “aroma,” “oil,” and “inhalation” had high frequency and centrality, confirming that domestic research is focused on examining the effects of aroma oils on stress relief and sleep quality improvement. In particular, oils such as lavender, marjoram, clary sage, and chamomile were frequently used, contributing to improved sleep through physiological effects such as brainwave stabilization, melatonin secretion promotion, and autonomic nervous system regulation. LDA-based topic analysis yielded three topic areas: “Melatonin and Physiological Mechanisms,” “Aromatherapy Intervention Effects,” and “EEG-Based Neurophysiological Responses.” This suggests that domestic aroma-sleep research is evolving into a multi-layered approach that integrates psychological and physiological factors. In conclusion, experimental approaches centered on fragrant stimuli (especially lavender and marjoram) form a structure that links stress relief → physiological stabilization → sleep improvement. Future research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of action of individual oils and the effects of complex blending.