Rosemary Oil
Also called rosemary essential oil, Rosmarinus officinalis oil, Rosmarini aetheroleum, rosemary oil for hair, Salvia rosmarinus oil.
Best grade C across 5 graded outcomes Botanical Last checked
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The short answer
From 6 sourcesRosemary oil is best known for hair. In one trial of 100 people with pattern hair loss, rosemary oil and 2% minoxidil raised hair counts similarly after 6 months, with less scalp itch on rosemary, but there was no placebo group. Small trials of inhaled rosemary aroma reported less night-shift sleepiness and pre-surgery anxiety. The EU lists it for traditional skin use.
Quick pick
From a partner brand · paid link
NOW Foods Organic Rosemary Oil, 1 oz
from HerbsPro
Label: 100% pure organic rosemary essential oil, 1 oz bottle.
Best for trying one bottle: $11.24 one-time (checked Oct 15, 2026).
Every graded outcome on this page
5 rows · line = participantsKey facts
- What it is
- Essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis; EU-registered products use 6% to 10% in a semi-solid base applied to the skin1
- EU traditional use
- Relief of minor muscle and joint pain and minor circulation problems, applied 2 to 3 times a day, based on long-standing use1
- Hair loss trial
- Hair count rose by 6 months on rosemary oil and on 2% minoxidil, with no difference between them (100 people); no placebo arm2
- Side effects
- EU monograph: contact dermatitis and asthma-like hypersensitivity, frequency unknown1
- Age limit
- The EU monograph does not recommend use under 18 years1
What it is
Rosemary oil is the essential oil of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), used diluted on the skin and scalp or inhaled as an aroma.
How it works
ProposedThe hair-loss trial authors point to rosemary's reported effect on small-vessel blood flow (microcapillary perfusion) as a possible mechanism; the trial did not measure it. How inhaled rosemary aroma might affect sleepiness or anxiety is not established.2
Forms, side by side
2 forms named in our sources. The rest show what our data holds, and say plainly where it holds nothing yet.
Rosemary Oil forms compared
2 forms| 2 forms | Diluted oil, ointment or cream on skin and scalp | Inhaled aroma (drops on a mask, pad or inhaler) |
|---|---|---|
| Absorption in people | Applied to the skin or scalp, not swallowed.1 | Inhaled; our sources give no absorption data.4 |
| GI tolerance | EU monograph: contact dermatitis and asthma-like hypersensitivity (frequency unknown); not for broken or irritated skin. In the hair trial, scalp itching rose with both rosemary oil and minoxidil, less often with rosemary.12 | The inhalation trial abstracts do not describe side effects; the EU monograph lists asthma-like hypersensitivity among possible reactions.145 |
| Studied for | Pattern hair loss (compared with minoxidil); 6% to 10% preparations are the EU traditional range for muscle and joint pain | Night-shift sleepiness, pre-surgery anxiety, exam anxiety (blend with lavender) |
- Diluted oil, ointment or cream on skin and scalp
- Absorption in people
- Applied to the skin or scalp, not swallowed.1
- GI tolerance
- EU monograph: contact dermatitis and asthma-like hypersensitivity (frequency unknown); not for broken or irritated skin. In the hair trial, scalp itching rose with both rosemary oil and minoxidil, less often with rosemary.12
- Studied for
- Pattern hair loss (compared with minoxidil); 6% to 10% preparations are the EU traditional range for muscle and joint pain
- Inhaled aroma (drops on a mask, pad or inhaler)
- Absorption in people
- Inhaled; our sources give no absorption data.4
- GI tolerance
- The inhalation trial abstracts do not describe side effects; the EU monograph lists asthma-like hypersensitivity among possible reactions.145
- Studied for
- Night-shift sleepiness, pre-surgery anxiety, exam anxiety (blend with lavender)
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form line shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
Trial map
5 graded outcomes, largest study first5 graded outcomes: 4 improved, 1 no effect. The largest, a 2024 randomized trial of 236 people on anxiety before general surgery, found an improvement.
1Anxiety before general surgery
Improved · Grade C · RCT, 236 people, 2024
236 patients scheduled for general surgery, randomised to rosemary aroma, music, both, or an aromatic placebo (59 per group)
Dose, result and source| Outcome | Found | People | Study | Who was studied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anxiety before general surgery | Improved | 236 | Grade C · RCT, 2024 | 236 patients scheduled for general surgery, randomised to rosemary aroma, music, both, or an aromatic placebo (59 per group) |
| Hair count in pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) | Improved | 100 | Grade C · RCT, 2015 | People with androgenetic alopecia, randomised 50 to rosemary oil and 50 to 2% minoxidil |
| Patchy hair loss (alopecia areata) | Improved | 86 | Grade D · RCT, 1998 | 86 dermatology outpatients with alopecia areata (43 active, 41 control analysed) |
| Sleepiness and alertness on night shifts | Improved | 80 | Grade C · RCT, 2021 | Shift-working nurses, 40 per group |
| Exam (test) anxiety | No effect | 45 | No-effect grade · Crossover RCT, 2023 | First-trimester chiropractic students; 45 randomised, 38 completed per protocol |
Every graded row
5 rowsShowing 5 of 5 outcomes. Human trials only.
CGrade CAnxiety before general surgeryAnxietyLower anxiety before surgeryRCT
n 236 · 2024
Improved State anxiety fell significantly with rosemary aromatherapy (p = 0.001), music (p < 0.001) and the combination (p = 0.001); the authors report rosemary alone had the largest effect. The abstract gives no between-group difference against the placebo aroma.
- Design
- RCT, n = 236, 2024
- Population
- 236 patients scheduled for general surgery, randomised to rosemary aroma, music, both, or an aromatic placebo (59 per group)
- Form
- Inhaled rosemary essential oil (25%)
- Dose
- Three drops inhaled over 30 minutes, starting 1 hour before surgery
- Duration
- Single session
- Source
- Reference 5 · PubMed 38242798 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CHair count in pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia)Hair lossSimilar to 2% minoxidil; no placeboRCT
n 100 · 2015
Improved No change in hair count in either group at 3 months; at 6 months hair count had risen significantly from baseline in both groups, with no difference between rosemary oil and minoxidil. Scalp itching rose in both groups but was more frequent with minoxidil.
- Design
- RCT, n = 100, 2015
- Population
- People with androgenetic alopecia, randomised 50 to rosemary oil and 50 to 2% minoxidil
- Form
- Rosemary oil applied to the scalp
- Dose
- Concentration and frequency not stated in the abstract
- Duration
- 6 months
- Source
- Reference 2 · PubMed 25842469 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CSleepiness and alertness on night shiftsAlertnessLess sleepiness after one inhalationRCT
n 80 · 2021
Improved Sleepiness score fell from 12.15 to 8.3 with rosemary and rose from 11.41 to 13.76 with water (p < 0.001); alertness scores also differed in favour of rosemary (p < 0.001).
- Design
- RCT, n = 80, 2021
- Population
- Shift-working nurses, 40 per group
- Form
- Inhaled rosemary essential oil
- Dose
- One drop on a mask (control: one drop of distilled water)
- Duration
- Single session
- Source
- Reference 4 · PubMed 33550193 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DPatchy hair loss (alopecia areata)Hair loss44% vs 15% improvedRCT
n 86 · 1998
Improved 19 of 43 (44%) improved with the essential-oil blend vs 6 of 41 (15%) with carrier oil alone (p = .008), judged on photographs by two dermatologists.
- Design
- RCT, n = 86, 1998
- Population
- 86 dermatology outpatients with alopecia areata (43 active, 41 control analysed)
- Form
- Blend of thyme, rosemary, lavender and cedarwood essential oils in jojoba and grapeseed carrier oils
- Dose
- Massaged into the scalp daily (control: carrier oils only)
- Duration
- 7 months
- Source
- Reference 3 · PubMed 9828867 (opens PubMed)
∅No effectExam (test) anxietyAnxietyNo better than waterCrossover RCT
n 45 · 2023
No effect Change in anxiety did not differ between aromatherapy and control (intention-to-treat p = .10; per-protocol p = .07).
- Design
- Crossover RCT, n = 45, 2023
- Population
- First-trimester chiropractic students; 45 randomised, 38 completed per protocol
- Form
- Nasal inhaler with a rosemary and lavender essential-oil blend
- Dose
- Personal inhaler on exam days (control: distilled water)
- Duration
- 2 exam days with a 2-day washout
- Source
- Reference 6 · PubMed 36306254 (opens PubMed)
What the numbers add up to
Each point is worked out from the data and the sources numbered on this page, with the arithmetic shown under it. It adds no new data and is not medical advice.
Matched minoxidil, but no placebo
The only rosemary-oil trial for pattern hair loss in our sources compared it with 2% minoxidil, not a placebo, and neither group improved until 6 months. Without a placebo arm, the trial cannot show how much of the change rosemary caused.2
Most other hair data are blends
The double-blind alopecia areata trial used rosemary together with thyme, lavender and cedarwood oils, so its 44% vs 15% result applies to that blend.3
Studied doses
Doses used in research, shown against the official limits. They describe the studies, not a recommendation for you.
Studied doses in research, not advice. These are amounts used in research, not personal advice. Your clinician or pharmacist can say what fits you.
Doses studied in human trials
Interactions and safety
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
What Rosemary Oil meets
0 cited rows 2 tested togetherMedicines 0
No medicine rows in our sources.
Supplements and foods 1
- Tested together in a graded trial
Choose a medicine or supplement above to read its cited rows here.
Also cited: 2 tested together
LavenderLavender page
Tested together
Patchy hair loss (alopecia areata). Graded on the Rosemary Oil page; tested together is not a claim that they work better together.
Tested together
Exam (test) anxiety. Graded on the Rosemary Oil page; tested together is not a claim that they work better together.
Interactions
0 agentsNone found in our sources.
Check with what you take
Kept on this device onlyAdd what you take. We list every interaction our evidence profiles cite between Rosemary Oil and your picks, and between your picks.
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Add a supplement or medicine you take to check it against Rosemary Oil.
Starting from one medicine? The interaction checker rates how serious each pair is, on a curated list of 19 entries for 11 medicines. This cabinet has no severity rating: it lists every interaction row our supplement pages cite.
Who should be careful
5 groups- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- EU monograph: safety has not been established, and use during pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended.1
- Children and teenagers
- EU monograph: use under 18 years is not recommended because adequate data are lacking.1
- Broken skin, eyes and mucous membranes
- EU monograph: do not apply to broken or irritated skin, avoid contact with the eyes and do not apply near mucous membranes.1
- Allergy
- Do not use if hypersensitive to rosemary oil; reported reactions include contact dermatitis and asthma (EU monograph).1
- Joint swelling or sudden leg symptoms
- EU monograph: see a doctor for joint pain with swelling, redness or fever, or for sudden swelling, redness and heat in one or both legs.1
How to read the label
What to check on the Supplement Facts panel.
How to read the label
2 checksWhere to buy Rosemary Oil
Products from brands we partner with that contain Rosemary Oil. Check the amount per serving against the doses studied above, and the label for other ingredients.
Rosemary Oil products from partner brands
1 product Paid links · we earn a commission- Quick pickHerbsProNOW Foods Organic Rosemary Oil, 1 oz
100% pure organic rosemary essential oil, 1 oz bottle; the label directs dilution with a carrier oil (jojoba, grapeseed, olive or almond) for any use other than aromatherapy
$11.24one-timeChecked Oct 15, 2026
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions; the numbers link to the sources below.
Common questions
7 answersDoes rosemary oil regrow hair?
One trial in 100 people with pattern hair loss found hair counts rose after 6 months on rosemary oil, similar to 2% minoxidil. There was no placebo group, so the evidence is limited.2
Does smelling rosemary oil help alertness or anxiety?
What is rosemary oil traditionally used for in the EU?
The EU monograph lists it as a traditional herbal medicine, applied to the skin as a 6–10% cream or ointment 2–3 times a day, for minor muscle and joint pain and minor circulation problems. It advises seeing a doctor if symptoms last over 4 weeks.1
Is rosemary oil safe on the scalp?
The EU monograph lists contact dermatitis and asthma-like reactions and advises against use on broken skin, near the eyes, in pregnancy or breastfeeding, and under 18.1
How long does rosemary oil take to work on hair?
In the trial, neither rosemary oil nor minoxidil changed hair count at 3 months; increases appeared by 6 months.2
Does rosemary oil interact with medicines?
The EU herbal monograph for rosemary oil applied to the skin lists no reported interactions. That reflects limited data, not proof of safety, and it does not cover swallowing the oil.1
Is rosemary oil better than minoxidil?
Not shown. The single head-to-head trial found no difference in hair count at 3 or 6 months; scalp itching was less frequent with rosemary oil.2
Sources
6 sources: trial abstracts, NIH fact sheets and reference databases. Numbers in the text link here.
Sources cited on this page
6 sources- 1European Union herbal monograph on Rosmarinus officinalis L., aetheroleum (Final, Revision 1; EMA/HMPC/513893/2021)Guideline European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC), 2024 · ema.europa.eu
- 2Rosemary oil vs minoxidil 2% for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia: a randomized comparative trial.RCT Skinmed, 2015 · PMID 25842469
- 3Randomized trial of aromatherapy. Successful treatment for alopecia areata.RCT Arch Dermatol, 1998 · PMID 9828867
- 4The effect of rosemary essential oil inhalation on sleepiness and alertness of shift-working nurses: A randomized, controlled field trial.RCT Complement Ther Clin Pract, 2021 · PMID 33550193
- 5Comparing the effects of rosemary aromatherapy and music therapy on anxiety levels in patients undergoing general surgery: A randomized controlled clinical trial.RCT Explore (NY), 2024 · PMID 38242798
- 6Effect of lavender and rosemary aromatherapy on test anxiety in chiropractic students.Crossover RCT J Chiropr Educ, 2023 · PMID 36306254
What changed
Every dated change to this page: what changed, who made it and why.
Change log
2 entries| Date | Change | Who and why |
|---|---|---|
| FAQ | Added FAQs on drug interactions and the EU traditional-use listing, both from the EMA/HMPC rosemary oil monograph (interactions: none reported). Interaction check: no ODS, NCCIH, LiverTox or LactMed entry covers rosemary oil, and the EMA monograph lists none, so the interaction list stays empty. PubMed search for 2023–2026 trials and meta-analyses found no new qualifying row: a 2025 network meta-analysis of hair-loss products (PMID 41051009) gives no rosemary-specific numbers in its abstract. | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: A–Z page audit |
| all | Initial editorial evidence review. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities esummary (title, year, journal; none retracted) and each cited abstract read; numbers taken from the abstracts (full text used only where noted for participant counts, duration or funding). Funding: Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences funded the pre-surgery anxiety trial; the other abstracts name no funder (disclosed as not stated). Safety only from the EMA/HMPC EU herbal monograph on rosemary oil (Revision 1, adopted 29 May 2024). Where to buy: NOW Foods Organic Rosemary Oil (label checked 2026-10-15). | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: new page |
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