Aromatherapy Governing Body Aromatherapy Representative Body Scientific Empirical Information Training Support

Aromatherapy Governing Body Aromatherapy Representative Body Scientific Empirical Information Training Support
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Bringing UK quality
The First and Foremost
Governing Body for Aromatherapy
Celebrated 40 Years in 2025
Bringing British standards internationally.
Changing lives through regulation and specialist qualifications
that develop and recognise world-class Clinical Aromatherapists.
IFA Updates
IFA Conference 2026 @ The British Library
We’re excited to announce that on
10th October 2026
, the IFA will host a conference at the iconic British Library Knowledge Centre in London. This event brings together leading industry experts, including world-renowned authors, doctors, and researchers. Featured speakers include
Dr. Valerie Worwood, Professor Emmanuel Adukwu (University of Bristol), Dr. Pauline Hili, Dr. Oluwadamilola Racheal Okeyoyin, and Salvatore Battaglia.
Discover the latest insights in aromatic research and integrated care, with engaging talks covering microbiology, herbal medicine, essential oils, and skincare. Leave inspired and equipped with practical insights to enhance your practice. Tickets are limited, and a complimentary lunch is included. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to connect, learn, and advance your expertise.
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IFA Latest Charity Project Update
We are delighted to announce that Mandeville School in West London, with ‘outstanding’ rating status by Ofsted, have now fully integrated the IFA Aromacare program into their specialist and therapeutic provision. The training was part funded by the IFA, the results of which have been both encouraging and exciting: “
Just over a year ago, Justyna shared with me that her pupil loves to use his sense of smell and researched how this could be developed. We now have four fully trained teachers at Mandeville and they are cascading their knowledge and the benefits of massage and smell to nearly 100 staff at school! Children are benefiting enormously from this therapeutic approach which compliments and supports other therapeutic approaches offered
” - Bryony O’Brien, Deputy Head.
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IFA Research Project Results
The IFA funded the psychology department of Northumbria University to undertake three studies to determine whether essential oils can reduce chronic stress comparing CO2 and traditionally obtained oils. Previous studies have not kept the essential oils active, subjecting it to oxygen and sunlight, which quickly kills the active ingredients, so results until now have not been accurate. Previous studies have also only investigated acute effects of stress with the impact of a single exposure of an essential oil sniffed over 10, 20, 30 minutes once. Our pioneering study involved tackling chronic stress rather than just lowering stress levels for a small amount of time in response to an immediate stressor. The positive scientific results have been published in the International Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
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Membership Benefits Highlights
Professional Status
Unparalleled Recognition
PSA Accredited, CNHC Verified and NHS Referred
- an important and valuable asset to your business
The International Federation of Aromatherapists (IFA) is the voluntary regulator for aromatherapy practitioners worldwide. The IFA register of aromatherapists is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA), a UK body accountable to the British parliament. IFA membership includes listing and registration on the IFA PSA accredited register which is referred to by the NHS.
The IFA also verifies aromatherapy practitioners for the CNHC (meaning if you are a postgraduate member of the IFA, you will be eligible to apply to them) should you also wish to join their organisation – note this is limited to UK practitioners only.
There is no higher mark of quality in the UK for aromatherapists than the IFA PSA quality mark.
Professional Status
Professional sealed
certificate
to display in your place of work and clinic plus enamel
badge
Use of the
IFA (and PSA logo
if working in the UK)
Differentiating you from other aromatherapists. It provides a visual indicator that you have met the highest standards of practice in your work building trust and confidence with clients, commissioners and other healthcare providers.
As the first established body for aromatherapy, we have a long-standing reputation in the industry as the organisation that delivers dedicated and professional practitioners. Our symbol is
recognised worldwide.
IFA registrants can use the
suffix
'MIFA' after their name
Corporate branding
on business cards, leaflets, website plus access to professional embossed tunics, essential oil bags, smelling strips and more - adding a professional touch to your branding.
Discounted Products
To reduce the costs of overheads the IFA have secured discounts for our registrants from the following high-end brands:
50% off Terre Verdi
www.terreverdi.com
30% off Micheline Arcier
www.michelinearcier.com
30% off Pepperfit
www.pepperfit.com
30% off Botanicals
www.botanicals.co.uk
25% off Oshadhi
20% off Neals Yard Remedies
www.nealsyardremedies.com
10% off Ease Me
www.easeme.co.uk
10% off Tisserand
www.tisserand.com
10% off Base Formula
www.baseformula.com
10% - 20% off Aqua Oleum
www.aqua-oleum.co.uk
10% off Fragrant Earth
www.fragrantearth.com
10% off Butterbur & Sage
www.butterburandsage.com
10% off Nativilis
www.nativilis.co.uk
10% off Couch Rolls
www.couchrolls.co.uk
10% off Aeos
www.aeos.net
10% off Odylique
www.odylique.co.uk
The terms and conditions and codes to provide at checkout can be found in the members area*
Employment Opportunites
Employment Opportunities
The Government Department of Health
and
The General Medical Council
advise doctors to
refer
patients to practitioners on PSA Accredited Registers. IFA PSA practitioners are recognised for employment with the
NHS
and are referred to on their website, providing our registrants with excellent career prospects.
It is free for employers to
post jobs
with the IFA, which we circulate to registrants as and when they are received.
We provide registrants with a
sample CV
and
cover letter, credential descriptions, promotional literature, plus sample GP introduction letters
to introduce yourself to your local GP and communities.
The IFA is
recommended by the UK National Careers Office
as the body of choice that assists aromatherapists throughout their career.
Business Promotion
Listing
on the IFA PSA accredited register where clients, employers and commissions can verify a practitioner and source a reputable practitioner, which is part of a
UK government-backed scheme
to protect the public.
Driving more business to your website
and increase your client base. Last year, the IFA’s register was viewed approximately 65,000 times.
IFA registration is recognised for reimbursement with
Health Shield
UK Healthcare
and
Westfield Health
Private Healthcare Cash Plans
, which allows clients who hold the relevant plans to reclaim the cost of their treatment with an IFA registered aromatherapist.
Various opportunities arise throughout the year for IFA practitioners to
showcase their talents
. Whether your forte is to write, provide talks or in guiding others, there are various opportunities to raise your profile in the media with IFA membership. Registrants have in the past featured in Good House Keeping magazine, Vogue and in the Daily Mail.
Every year the IFA hosts its registered national
Aromatherapy Awareness Week
bringing more press coverage to the profession, the work of the IFA and our registrants. All registrants are provided with template press releases, posters, leaflets, statistics and information to promote their practice during this week.
Partake in our internationally acclaimed
charity and research projects
. In the past our charity projects have gained Guiness World Record status and our Aromcare program sponsored by Everton Football Club, with some of our registrants having been employed by the hospitals and hospices they were involved in as part of a project. Our latest research trial on essential oil aroma and subjective stress gave all our member participants not only exclusive access to the blend but will also means they will be part of the historic groundbreaking results.
Webinars & Workshops
Members can access a wide range of webinars in the form of online lectures and training workshops to assist their continual professional development and contribute towards their annual CPD points, to reduce the cost of overheads.
These webinars focus on evidence-based practice, so, whether you want to enhance your techniques, build your knowledge in a specific area or grow your business, theres something for everyone.
Our member exclusive webinars are
delivered by world-renowned industry experts, completely free of charge to ensure members stay-up to date with the latest developments in aromatherapy, research and also allied subjects. Currently the following are available to view in the members area with more being scheduled – so stay tuned!
Salvatore Battaglia: The Spiritual Dimension of Scents
Suzanne Catty:  Hydrosols: New Research in Practice
E.J.Bowles: Impact of Hedonics on Mood Effects of Essential Oils
Madeleine Kerkhof: Dementia Care, Essential Oils and CO2 Oil’s
Felicity Warner: Sacred Oils – To Heal Spirit and Soul
Carol Rose: Integrating Clinical Aromatherapy in Palliative Care
Pam Conrad: Aromatherapy and Women's Mental Health
Dr Peter Makereth: Cancer Care: Utilising Aromasticks
Susan Parker: The Rose Botanical Family Oils
K.G.Styles: Essential Oils & The Chinese Meridian Time Clock
Dr Mark Moss: Rosemary Essential Oil and Cognition Research
Dr Jane Johnson: What Goes Wrong with the Knee and Why
Beth Spindler: Facial Freedom: Releasing Stress Stored in the Muscles
Dr Hether Herington: Lingering Psychological Trauma
Margaret Ann Lembo: Essential Oils and Vibrational Matching Gemstones
Shawnee Thornton Hardy: Autism, Neurodiversity and Sensory Processing
Emma Holly: Scar Massage
Jimm Harrison: Healing of Scent, Phytotherapy & Skin Care
Rachel Fairweather & Meghan Mari: 12 Steps to Business Success
Josie Donaldson: Why Do My Muscles Hurt
Dr Nina Kocevar Glavac: Cosmetic Preservation: What is there to know
Michelle Fury: The Mindfulness of the Five Senses
Beverley De Valois: Understanding Cancer Survivorship: How Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine can help
Stefan Batorijs - Wild Life: Shinrin-yoku and The Practice of Healing Through Nature
Purodem: Natural Skincare Products: Making A Simple Face Cream
Purodem: Natural Skincare Products: Making a Nourishing Repair Hand Cream
Purodem: Natural Skincare Products: Making a Massage Cream
Carina Coen: Client Modesty and Towel Management
The Harmony Principle: The Creative Cycle and Aromapoint Therapy
Shehbaz Khan: Frankincense
Lise (LisaLise) Andersen: Deconstructing and Reconstructing Plants to Make Holistic Products
Claire Snowdon-Darling: Improving the Menopause Experience Through Nutrition and Lifestyle
Rhonda Pallas Downey: The Alchemy of Blending Aromatherapy with Flower Essences
Helen Portsmouth: The Pressures of Being Human
Elizabeth Ashley: Blue Lotus
Nick Singer: Aromasticks – an application not to be sniffed at
Melinda Coss: Six Ways to Earn a Proper Living Using Your Aromatherapy Skills
Tanya Moulding: Scent sparks - Olfaction as a creative muse
Hilary Lewin: The Art of N.A.V.E.L Gazing
Hana Tisserand: Inhalation as a Powerful Tool for Aromatherapy: An Evidence-Based Overview of Best Practices
Specialist Guidance
The benefits of belonging to a therapy-specific body are that we understand the therapy inside out.
We understand the challenges, education, research and development requirements of our registrants
, allowing us to deliver a specialist service.
Specialist guidance
, which address specific and specialist areas of aromatherapy - with over 25 downloads.
50 strong team of professionals
and experts in the field - so if it’s not covered in our guidance, reassurance and information is just an email away.
Quarterly
Aromatherapy Times Magazine
registered with the British Library, which prides itself on publishing high quality articles, expert insights and practical tips, covering all aspects of aromatherapy.
Access to
research hub
with an easy-to-use drop-down function so the evidence you need is at your fingertips, to ensure our members remain informed about new advances in the field and explore the empirical information that supports it.
Research guidelines
of how to construct a scientific manuscript so that they may be worthy of academic interest.
Additional resources include carefully sourced links to other authoritative sites of interests,
discounts off books
and more.​​
Career Development
Registrants have the opportunity to develop their careers and become a
teacher and course provider
of the IFA diploma courses and go on to train the next generation of aromatherapists.
Click here
for procedure.
The IFA is committed to promoting excellence in aromatherapy and advancing the field through high-quality education and training opportunities. Members can access
teacher training
courses,
upgrade courses
and
refresher courses
tailored and exclusive to those who have met the IFA standards for membership to take your career to the next level.
Operational Support
Operational Templates
Access to a wide range of
business templates
to personalise, compiled by legal advisors and solicitors for the smooth running of your business -
30 + free templates
For example, accident and incident policy and logbook, complaints policy, equality (EDI) statement, data protection, health and safety policy, privacy policy, risk assessment, sale of goods contract, consultancy terms and conditions, website disclaimer etc
In a business world that’s constantly changing IFA membership can help you
stay ahead
as we provide our registrants with the support they need when any
newly introduced law or legislation
impacts the way in which they operate - to ensure you remain compliant with all the latest business practices.
Access to
clinic forms:
consultation forms, prescription sheet, appointment schedule, treatment follow up, referrals template and aftercare information.
Other Operational Support
Tailored
discounted insurance package
Alan Boswell Discounted Insurance Package
In some areas of the UK, particularly London,
special treatment licenses
are required for businesses that provide complementary and beauty treatments by local councils. As a member of the IFA, you will be exempt from paying the license fee – potentially saving you hundreds of pounds a year. See
List of Exemption Fee Boroughs for IFA Registrants
Product making and Legislation updates
affecting the production and sale of aromatic substances.
With IFA registration you have
more scope in how you can describe the profession
as agreed between the IFA and the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and download descriptors to ensure compliance.
Other resources include HMRC starter up information, business planning, forecasts and also expansion guidance and links to marketing technologies.
Mentoring & Networking
Regional Groups
Being an aromatherapist can at times feel lonely, especially for those self-employed. IFA regional groups provide an excellent opportunity to forge relationships with your colleagues, share knowledge and talk about your work.
Some of the groups offer evening group sessions, breakfast meetings, organise trips to distilleries and herb gardens others are online for those in remote areas etc.
Members Facebook Group
The IFA Members Closed Facebook Group is a lively platform for registrants to connect to like-minded people and support one another. In this group members discuss issues affecting their work, share ideas, advice and encouragement.
The IFA is also present in the group, providing latest news and developments. We also from time-to-time, post Q&A questions posed to our specialist advisors to promote learning.
Networking
All members get free entry to the IFA's Annual General Meetings (AGM) which provide an opportunity to have your say in the next chapter of the IFA, interact with colleagues and network. Our AGMs are fun and informal with a chance for professional debate - full of great company, lively discussion and what more - great food!
We also hold conferences from time to time, which allow attendees to listen to motivating and inspiring talks, to gain valuable knowledge and skills transferable to their practice.
Mentoring
All practitioners can have blind spots in their work with clients from time to time, no matter how experienced they are. Particularly with newly qualified practitioners, sometimes there is a lack of specific knowledge of the best way to treat a client.
We provide support to qualified aromatherapists and, depending on the nature of their enquiry, put them in touch with other more senior aromatherapists to assist and or for specific questions -  gain advice from our specialist committee members. This objective view can offer a useful alternative perspective to the subjectivity of the practitioner towards their clients and a healthy balance between empathy and objectivity.
Member Webinar Lecturers
Industry Insights
Safety & Toxicology
Essential oils have been used medicinally for thousands of years and when used appropriately pose little risk. Essential oils are obtained from plants and, when processed correctly, contain potent chemical compounds each with their own proven therapeutic properties. Some oils are carcinogenic, phototoxic, hepatotoxic, neuro-toxic and renal toxic. Others can cause sensitisation and irritation and should not be applied to the skin. It is vitally important that they are handled with the relevant knowledge to ensure their safe and effective use.
Essential Oil Legislation
While it is impossible to predict the long-term implications that Brexit may have on the essential oil trade industry, it will be ‘business as usual’ until the UK government decide which of our current laws and regulations they wish to keep, and which to amend. Approximately 60% of these laws were put in place by the EU so it seems unlikely all of these are going to change any time soon. Importantly, no matter what changes the UK decides to make, all products supplied to EU member states must continue to comply with the existing EU regulations.
Healthcare Policy Updates
The IFA are a stakeholder in National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) who advise Government health policy. The Prescribing Observatory for Mental Health 10-year report highlights good practice in antipsychotic medicine prescribing for patients with dementia. This includes suggestions for alternatives, namely aromatherapy as an alternative. This was highlighted in NICE’s patient decision aid who also call for improvements to be made in the frequency of reviewing antipsychotic medication for people with dementia.
Science Is Catching Up
A 2024 study by Kokubun et al., published in Brain Research Bulletin, provides compelling evidence that essential oils influence brain structure. Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in human participants, researchers found increased gray matter in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), linked to memory and reduced activity in the amygdala, associated with stress. These findings suggest essential oils support neuroplasticity, cognitive function and, emotional regulation, marking an important step in bridging aromatherapy and modern neuroscience.
Accreditations, Affiliations and Recommendations