Aromatherapy in the Middle Ages

Aromatic Knowledge Through Dark Times

The Middle Ages (5th-15th centuries) were a period of both preservation and development for aromatic plant knowledge in Europe and the Islamic world.

Monastic Medicine

Monasteries became the repositories of ancient medicinal knowledge. Monks cultivated herb gardens and prepared aromatic remedies following classical texts. Lavender, rosemary, thyme, and sage were staples of monastic pharmacies.

The Islamic Golden Age

Avicenna (Ibn Sina, 980-1037) perfected the art of steam distillation, making it possible to produce true essential oils. His Canon of Medicine described the properties and uses of numerous aromatic plants.

The Plague

During the Black Death (1347-1351), aromatic substances were believed to protect against the disease. “Plague doctors” wore beak-shaped masks filled with aromatic herbs. While they didn’t understand germ theory, many of the plants they used (rosemary, thyme, clove) do have genuine antimicrobial properties.