This systematic literature review examines the roles of essential oils in Asia across three major dimensions: health and biological effects, wellness and traditional practices, and production with socio-economic significance. Essential oils are widely used for therapeutic, cultural, and economic purposes, yet existing knowledge remains fragmented, creating a gap in integrating biomedical evidence, cultural practices, and production dynamics. The objective of this study is to synthesize available research to provide a comprehensive overview and to highlight gaps that hinder the full potential of essential oils in the region. Following the PRISMA framework, an extensive database search was conducted and fifteen eligible studies were analyzed. The results were categorized into three themes: (1) health and biological effects, including antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and vector-control properties; (2) wellness and traditional practices, where essential oils are embedded in cultural health systems such as Batak steam-bathing and Thai massage, serving both therapeutic and identity-preserving roles; and (3) production and socio-economic aspects, where improvements in cultivation, extraction, and processing enhance yield, quality, rural livelihoods, and export economies. Despite these contributions, gaps remain as clinical validation is still limited, socio-economic studies often overlook labor, gender, and community participation, and Malaysian research—especially on Bornean biodiversity and traditional practices—remains scarce. Addressing these gaps will help position essential oils as strategic resources that advance human health, safeguard cultural heritage, and promote sustainable socio-economic development across Asia.
A?imovi?, M. (2021). Essential oils: Inhalation aromatherapy—a comprehensive review. J Agron Technol Eng Manag, 4(2), 547–557.
Ali, B., Al-Wabel, N. A., Shams, S., Ahamad, A., Khan, S. A., & Anwar, F. (2015). Essential oils used in aromatherapy: A systemic review. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, 5(8), 601–611. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apjtb.2015.05.007
Ameen, I. A., & Okab, H. F. (2024). Phyto-activity of Syzygium aromaticum extract against pathogenic bacteria isolated from chronic tonsilitis patients. Romanian Journal of Infectious Diseases, 27(1), 5–10. https://doi.org/10.37897/RJID.2024.1.1
Bakkali, F., Averbeck, S., Averbeck, D., & Idaomar, M. (2008). Biological effects of essential oils – A review. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 46(2), 446–475. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2007.09.106
Batubara, I., Wahyuni, W. T., & Farid, M. (2023). Combination of Extraction and Distillation Red Ginger Rhizome on the Composition of Active Compounds and Tyrosinase Inhibitory Activity. International Journal on Advanced Science, Engineering and Information Technology, 13(2), 431–437. https://doi.org/10.18517/ijaseit.13.2.17606
Cheong, M. J., Kim, S., Kim, J. S., Lee, H., Lyu, Y.-S., Lee, Y. R., Jeon, B., & Kang, H. W. (2021). A systematic literature review and meta-analysis of the clinical effects of aroma inhalation therapy on sleep problems. Medicine, 100(9), e24652.
Chomchalow, N. (2000). Production of medicinal and aromatic plants in Southeast Asia.
Daryono, E. D., & Hudha, M. I. (2016). Determinating patchouli alcohol of patchouli oil using distillation technique. International Journal of ChemTech Research, 9(3), 108–116. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84963644292&partnerID=40&md5=2914400286806aa516c8e91a0c484cd5
Das, K. (2013). Essential Oils And Their Application. New India Publishing Agency.
Diniz do Nascimento, L., Moraes, A. A. B. de, Costa, K. S. da, Pereira Galúcio, J. M., Taube, P. S., Costa, C. M. L., Neves Cruz, J., de Aguiar Andrade, E. H., & Faria, L. J. G. de. (2020). Bioactive Natural Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oils from Spice Plants: New Findings and Potential Applications. In Biomolecules (Vol. 10, Issue 7). https://doi.org/10.3390/biom10070988
Edris, A. (2007). Pharmaceutical and Therapeutic Potentials of Essential Oils and Their Individual Volatile Constituents: A Review. Phytotherapy Research?: PTR, 21, 308–323. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.2072
El-Saber Batiha, G., Alkazmi, L. M., Wasef, L. G., Beshbishy, A. M., Nadwa, E. H., & Rashwan, E. K. (2020). Syzygium aromaticum L. (Myrtaceae): Traditional Uses, Bioactive Chemical Constituents, Pharmacological and Toxicological Activities. In Biomolecules (Vol. 10, Issue 2). https://doi.org/10.3390/biom10020202
Grand View Research. (2021). Essential oils market size, share & trends analysis report by product, by application, by sales channel, by region, and segment forecasts, 2021-2028. https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/essential-oils-market
Idris, H., Nurmansyah, Wiratno, Mayura, E., Riska, Budiyanti, T., Gustia, H., & Ramadhan, A. I. (2024). Effect of doses fertilizer and harvest interval on the intensity of leaf spot diseases, production and quality of citronella grass (Cymbopogon nardus L.) essential oils in ultisols soil. HELIYON, 10(5). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26822
Irshad, M., Subhani, M. A., Ali, S., & Hussain, A. (2019). Biological importance of essential oils. In Essential Oils-Oils of Nature. IntechOpen.
Jacobsen, N., & Salguero, C. P. (2014). Thai herbal medicine: Traditional recipes for health and harmony. Simon and Schuster.
Jotisalikorn, C. (2012). Thai spa book: The natural Asian way to health and beauty. Tuttle Publishing.
Kamarubahrin, A. F. (2025). Agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis): A review on ecosystem, functions, threats, and potential market in Malaysia. International Wood Products Journal, 16(2), 157–162.
Kim, M., Sowndhararajan, K., & Kim, S. (2022). The chemical composition and biological activities of essential oil from Korean native thyme Bak-Ri-Hyang (Thymus quinquecostatus Celak.). Molecules, 27(13), 4251.
Lee, M., Lim, S., Song, J.-A., Kim, M.-E., & Hur, M.-H. (2017). The effects of aromatherapy essential oil inhalation on stress, sleep quality and immunity in healthy adults: Randomized controlled trial. European Journal of Integrative Medicine, 12, 79–86.
Mitasari, A., Santjaka, A., & Ardiansyah, I. (2024). The Effectiveness of Various Essential Oils on the Market as Aedes Aegypti Mosquito Repellent. JURNAL KESEHATAN LINGKUNGAN, 16, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.20473/jkl.v16i1.2024.1-9
Miyazaki, Y. (2018). Shinrin-yoku: the Japanese way of forest bathing for health and relaxation. Hachette UK.
Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., & Altman, D. G. (2009). Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 62(10), 1006–1012. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2009.06.005
Nguyen, T. N., Nguyen, K. A. T., Le, T. V. N., Nguyen, C. K., Nguyen, N. T. T., Kuo, P. C., Tran, G. B., Le, N. A., Tran, T. L., & Nguyen, N. T. (2024). Research on chemical constituents, anti-bacterial and anti- cancer effects of components isolated from Zingiber officinale Roscoe from Vietnam. PLANT SCIENCE TODAY, 11(1), 156–165. https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.2410
Nurhadianty, V., Sarosa, A. H., Wahyuningsih, I., & Cahyani, C. (2020). Improving yield and quality characteristics of kaffir lime oil (citrus hystrix DC) by solid fermentation pretreatment using tempeh yeast. MALAYSIAN JOURNAL OF FUNDAMENTAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES, 16(4), 493–496.
Pergola, M., De Falco, E., Belliggiano, A., & Ievoli, C. (2024). The most relevant socio-economic aspects of medicinal and aromatic plants through a literature review. Agriculture, 14(3), 405.
Quan, N. X. H., Nga, V. T., Nhi, D. N. K., Duong, N. T. T., Vinh, H. N., Phung, N. K. P., & Thu, N. T. H. (2020). Physicochemical character of fresh and black garlic: 12-day thermal aged process. VIETNAM JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY, 58(4), 500–505. https://doi.org/10.1002/vjch.202000013
Rajput, D., Khabiya, R., Dwivedi, A., Soni, V., & Soni, P. (2025). Essential Oil from Medicinal and Food Plants: A Pharmacological Approach. In Bioactive Compounds (pp. 166–187). CRC Press.
Riaz, U., Iqbal, S., Sohail, M. I., Samreen, T., Ashraf, M., Akmal, F., Siddiqui, A., Ahmad, I., Naveed, M., & Khan, N. I. (2021). A comprehensive review on emerging importance and economical potential of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) in current scenario.
Sentari, M., Harahap, U., Sapiie, T. W. A., & Ritarwan, K. (2019). Blood cortisol level and blood serotonin level in depression mice with basil leaf essential oil treatment. Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences, 7(16), 2652–2655. https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2019.819
Shakri, N. M., Salleh, W. M. N. H. W., Khamis, S., Mohamad Ali, N. A., & Shaharudin, S. M. (2020). Chemical composition of the essential oils of four Polyalthia species from Malaysia. Zeitschrift Fur Naturforschung - Section C Journal of Biosciences, 75(11), 473–478. https://doi.org/10.1515/znc-2020-0097
Shan, J., Rodgers, K., Lai, C.-T., & Sutherland, S. (2007). Challenges in natural health product research: The importance of standardization. Proceedings of the Western Pharmacology Society, 50, 24–30.
Sharafan, M., Jafernik, K., Ekiert, H., Kubica, P., Kocjan, R., Blicharska, E., & Szopa, A. (2022). Illicium verum (star anise) and trans-anethole as valuable raw materials for medicinal and cosmetic applications. Molecules, 27(3), 650.
Silalahi, M. (2019). An ethnobotanical study of traditional steam-bathing by the Batak people of North Sumatra, Indonesia. Pacific Conservation Biology, 25(3), 266–282. https://doi.org/10.1071/PC18038
Smith, H., Assagaf, M., Suwarda, R., Budiyanto, A., Adinegoro, H., Manalu, L. P., Manoi, F., & Loppies, J. E. (2024). The Flow Rate of the Condenser Cooling Water in the Distillation Process Increases the Quality and Quantity of Patchouli Oil. Scientific World Journal, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/9844242
Soh, S. H., Jain, A., Lee, L. Y., Chin, S. K., Yin, C.-Y., & Sundaramurthy, S. (2021). Techno-economic and profitability analysis of extraction of patchouli oil using supercritical carbon dioxide. Journal of Cleaner Production, 297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126661
Thipmanee, O., Waema, S., Samanman, S., & Benhawan, A. (2025). Effectiveness of Zingiberaceae Herbal Extracts from the Hala-Bala Forest for Application in Thai Massage. Molekul, 20(2), 339–348. https://doi.org/10.20884/1.jm.2025.20.2.14695
Thomas, J., Joy, P. P., Mathew, S., & Skaria, B. P. (2000). Plant sources of aroma chemicals and medicines in India. Chemical Industry Digest (Special Millennium Issue), 104–108.
Trifu, A., Smîdu, E., Badea, D. O., Bulboac?, E., & Haralambie, V. (2022). Applying the PRISMA method for obtaining systematic reviews of occupational safety issues in literature search. MATEC Web of Conferences, 354, 00052. https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/202235400052
Valdivieso-Ugarte, M., Gomez-Llorente, C., Plaza-Díaz, J., & Gil, Á. (2019). Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Immunomodulatory Properties of Essential Oils: A Systematic Review. In Nutrients (Vol. 11, Issue 11). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11112786
Yang, J. J., Song, X. Z., Hu, H. B., Zhong, W., Cao, R. Y., Xu, Y. K., & Li, R. (2022). Chemical Composition and Antifungal, Anti-Inflammatory, Antiviral, and Larvicidal Activities of the Essential Oils of Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC. from China and Myanmar. MOLECULES, 27(16). https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27165243
Zainol, R. M., Ashri, N. A., Rosmi, M. N. M., & Ibrahim, M. S. N. (2023). The effect of using quality rice seed varieties on rice cultivation activities. Journal of Food Technology Research, 10(3), 62–74. https://doi.org/10.18488/jftr.v10i3.3486
Zhong, J., Muhammad, N., Yang, X., & Li, J. (2022). Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Eight Essential Oils Obtained from Traditional Chinese Medicines Using Supercritical Fluid Extraction Coupled Molecular Distillation. Journal of Essential Oil Bearing Plants, 25(5), 1145–1158. https://doi.org/10.1080/0972060X.2022.2142484
Ibrahim, M. S. N., Julius, A., & Silvester, C. (2025). Essential Oils in Asia: A Systematic Review of Health Outcomes, Traditional Practices, and Socio-Economic Dimensions. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 15(9), 1265–1283.
Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s)
Published by Knowledge Words Publications (www.kwpublications.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
