The term “aromatherapy” was coined by René-Maurice Gattefossé in the 1930s and first appeared in print with the publication of his book, Aromathérapie: Les Huiles Essentielles, Hormones Végétales in French, first published in English in 1993.

Many enthusiastic and professional people—coming from a scientific background or not—lay out the path for education and popularising aromatherapy in the coming decades. We experience a changing world around us with many challenges and changing trends in and around our beloved “therapy” that was initially built on the healing properties of essential oils. 

With a newer generation evolving, we wanted to know about the individuals—or we can call them pioneers or GIANTS—who worked effortlessly to get this field accepted.

In this edition, Aromatika editor Ildikó Berecz interviewed American aromatherapist, educator Annette Davis, who started her aromatherapy career since she was 18, including service as NAHA President since 2015.

Having her major studies with Dr Jean Claude Lapraz, she continues to popularise endobiogeny and her successful enterprise Time Laboratories. 

How did you initially get involved with aromatherapy, and what made you start working with essential oils? Where did you start your career? 

My involvement with aromatherapy almost feels predestined. My grandmother, Annemarie Buhler, grew up in Zurich, Switzerland, surrounded by the herbs and aromatic plants her mother used to help family and friends.

After immigrating to the United States and working in pharmaceutical manufacturing, she longed to return to her roots and create plant-based products. She became one of the first to import essential oils from Europe to America and, in 1973, founded Time Laboratories in Southern California.

Time Labs was one of the few woman-owned businesses of that era. I joined the Time Labs team in 1989, the summer after graduating high school. My plan was to help Grandma for the summer before starting college in Utah, but she had fallen ill and was managing the business from her bedside.

I stepped in to organize daily projects, oversee imports, and keep operations running. Her encouragement, along with my growing love of holistic products, led me to transfer to Cal State to study nutritional science, and I became a permanent part of Time Labs. My husband, Eric, joined the team in 1990.

My mother and uncle, both teachers, eventually returned to the company, and my children and sister have also worked with us, making us a four-generation family aromatherapy business. 

Four generation aromatherapy family: Nica George, Annette Davis, Eric Davis, Annemarie and Peter Buhler
Image: © 2026 Annette Davis, All rights reserved

What is your first memory about your first contact with essential oils? 

From a very young age, I remember essential oil bottles around the house. We lived in Idaho while my grandmother was in California, so she would send us a package every time she brought new oils home from Europe.

She would sneak them onto the airplane, hidden in wine bottles in her suitcase! I was fascinated by those little blue bottles and loved how they smelled, though I didn’t yet understand what role they would play in my life. 

My most vivid early experience came during a trip to San Diego. My grandmother loved taking us to the beach, and my brother and I spent far too long boogie boarding.

 I became quite ill with sunstroke, but Grandma made a blend with melissa essential oil, diluted as a spritzer and foot bath. I started feeling better almost immediately.

That was the moment I thought, “Wow, these essential oils Grandma is always tinkering with are pretty amazing.” 

What did aromatherapy mean in the US when you started practicing? 

When I started in 1989, aromatherapy was virtually unknown in America. The pioneers of that era were working to import essential oils, create products, form associations, and introduce aromatherapy to American culture. 

It’s remarkable to look back at how these passionate individuals came together in the 1980s and built the foundation for what the field has become today. 

Who did you study with? Who was your inspiration or the most influential person/people, and why? 

My main teacher was Dr. Jean-Claude Lapraz, a French medical doctor whom my grandmother brought to the United States to teach clinical phyto-aromatherapy to healthcare professionals. 

As my grandmother’s assistant, I helped organize these seminars and assisted with translation. Patients had difficulty understanding Dr. Lapraz’s French accent, so when he began seeing patients, I would sit in, take notes, and help facilitate communication.

He taught me as we went along, and I attended the medical seminars, eagerly absorbing everything he taught. Witnessing patients who had suffered from chronic illness for years transforming their lives through clinical phyto-aromatherapy was inspiring and solidified my commitment to this work.

 Of course, my grandmother Annemarie was my original inspiration. She was one of the first to bring essential oils from Europe to the United States and served as Chairman of the Board of the American Aromatherapy Association (AATA).

Her legacy of combining ancient plant wisdom with practical scientific application continues to guide my work. 

Annette and Eric with Dr Lapraz and his wife Nelly
Image: © 2026 Annette Davis, All rights reserved

Is there an area of special interest to you within aromatherapy? 

My special focus has been advocating for the safe internal use of essential oils. When I first became involved with NAHA, internal use was considered taboo.

Many of NAHA’s original members were trained to avoid internal use, and concerns arose about MLM companies failing to teach proper safety protocols. Many practitioners simply declared internal use off-limits. 

Having learned from Dr. Lapraz since age 18, I knew this blanket prohibition was unfortunate. Essential oils can be amazing when used internally if you understand the rules, proper dilution, and safe blending practices.

I made it my mission to educate professionals that this could be done safely and shouldn’t remain taboo. 

My second passion is building an inclusive aromatherapy community. I’ve worked to bring different groups together rather than allowing various schools of thought to divide us.

Everyone practicing aromatherapy shares the common goal of improving lives. I believe we can build on that foundation. 

My third focus is research. Having been taught “show me the research” in college, I value both ancient wisdom and scientific validation. 

I’ve worked to help NAHA crowdfund scientific studies led by Dr. Jessie (Hawkins) Cavanaugh to validate the safety and efficacy of essential oils.  

Can you give a summary of the works of Dr. Jean-Claude Lapraz and how that inspired you to pursue your path in that direction? 

Dr. Lapraz and his colleagues practiced clinical phyto-aromatherapy, combining essential oils with other forms of plant medicine such as tinctures, glycerin macerates, powdered herbal extracts, and teas. This methodology evolved into Endobiogeny, a medical treatment approach based on the endocrine theory of terrain. 

What inspired me most were the patient outcomes I witnessed. Patients who had suffered from chronic illness for years would transform their lives through this integrative approach. 

One of the first patients to see Dr. Lapraz in the US was a young mother, a marathon runner with a healthy lifestyle, who had just received a stage four cancer diagnosis.

Clinical phyto-aromatherapy combined with conventional treatments helped her recover, and she is living a normal, healthy life to this day.

Watching desperate patients, thosewho had tried everything without success, experience transformation through dietary changes, lifestyle modifications, mental health support, and phyto-aromatherapy treatments convinced me this was my life’s work.

Helping someone go from feeling constantly sick and depleted to living with energy and enthusiasm is profoundly fulfilling.

Have you been involved in any aromatherapy or other organizations?

Yes. My grandmother was Chairman of the Board of the American Aromatherapy Association (AATA), the first aromatherapy association in America.

When Marcel Lavabre, who was president at the time, asked my grandmother to bring me along to take minutes at their annual meeting, he essentially recruited me as secretary because I was a fast typist.

AATA eventually dissolved, but from it emerged the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA).

I became involved with NAHA gradually – first as Idaho Regional Director, then Director Coordinator, then Vice President, and eventually President.

I've now been involved with aromatherapy associations continuously since age 18: over 35 years of service to the professional aromatherapy community.

NAHA Board at the 2025 Conference: Rose Chard (Sec.), Sharon Chapman (DC), Jennifer Hochell Pressimore (VP), Annette and Eric Davis, Kelly Holland Azzaro (absent)

Image: © 2026 Annette Davis, All rights reserved

What inspired you to start teaching and establish your school? 

My teaching grew organically from my work with Dr. Lapraz and Time Laboratories.

I conducted monthly workshops teaching everything from infant massage safety for new mothers to sessions focused on PMS, menopausal symptoms, and fibromyalgia.

Local community members would attend to learn how to improve their health naturally. 

We also sponsored and organized Dr. Lapraz’s medical seminars for healthcare professionals. The beauty of phyto-aromatherapy is that there are levels for everyone—from mom caring for her family at home to practicing medical doctors. 

Everyone can learn to function within their knowledge base. The Endobiogenic Integrative Medical Center (EIMC) came about serendipitously. Dr. Jean Bokelmann attended one of our medical seminars in Pocatello while developing an integrative medicine track for Idaho State University residents.

She became fascinated with clinical phyto-aromatherapy and Endobiogeny. Dr. Bokelmann, my grandmother, Eric, and I formed EIMC as a teaching clinic.

We're currently developing online courses to reach a larger audience while maintaining our commitment to live, personalized teaching. There is simply no substitute for shaking hands, giving hugs, and building personal relationships with students.

What is/was your philosophy in teaching aromatherapy? 

I have three core philosophies: First, everyone is welcome. The more people we educate, the more people will use essential oils safely.

I reject the mentality that certain people shouldn't be allowed to learn based on their background or previous training. Being inclusive strengthens our entire community.

Second, teach safety. Many people still use essential oils in ways that aren't optimal, but I've never met a student who wasn't willing to change when properly taught.

Rather than dismissing people as "unsafe" and brushing them aside, we should embrace every opportunity to educate. When students understand proper practices, they're generally eager to implement them.

Third, be mindful of sustainability. Now that aromatherapy is so popular, we risk depleting plant populations.

There's always an alternative essential oil with similar properties to one that isn't sustainable.

We must focus on importing and using sustainably sourced essential oils while supporting organizations like Airmid Institute, whose mission is to protect medicinal and aromatic plants – and their use in traditional medicine – for future generations.

What was the biggest challenge in your aromatherapy career? 

One significant challenge was overcoming the blanket taboo on the internal use of essential oils.

The aromatherapy community had divided itself into camps, with some practitioners declaring certain practices completely off-limits rather than teaching safe application methods.

Bridging these divides and helping the community understand that properly trained practitioners could safely incorporate internal use required persistent education and diplomacy over many years.

Another ongoing challenge is balancing multiple demanding roles: being a mom, co-running Time Laboratories with my husband, serving as NAHA president, and maintaining clinical work at EIMC, all while upholding quality in each area.

If you had to choose one oil or hydrosol to take with you to a deserted island, which one would it be? 

Difficult choice, but melissa would be it. It holds special significance as the oil my grandmother used to help me recover from sunstroke at the beach as a child.

Melissa has remained dear to me ever since, and its broad therapeutic properties would serve both practical and emotional purposes on a deserted island.

What is one way you incorporate aromatherapy into your daily life?

At Time Laboratories, we’ve developed many formulations that have become essential for daily health and wellness.

One product Dr. Bokelmann and I created is called "Super Alpha Calm." We found ourselves recommending similar formulations repeatedly for the stressed women we were seeing with exhausted adrenals and nervous system imbalances.

Having these professionally formulated products readily available on the shelf allows aromatherapy to be seamlessly integrated into daily wellness routines, whether through topical application, internal use, or simply having the aromatic support available when needed.

Annette creating products in the lab
Image: © 2026 Annette Davis, All rights reserved

What do you think about the present trends in aromatherapy - worldwide and in the US - and where do you see aromatherapy in the future? 

I've witnessed tremendous advancements. Scientific studies on essential oils have exploded.

You can jump onto PubMed and find thousands of published studies. Of course, some are well designed studies, and some are not, but that's a topic for another day.

People are actively seeking education, and there's genuine awareness of what essential oils are and what they can do.

Of course, we still battle misconceptions such as synthetic "aromatherapy" candles, lotions, and bath oils, which confuse synthetic fragrance with true therapeutic aromatherapy.

But overall, the trajectory is positive. The field has transformed remarkably in the 35+ years I've been involved.

How do you envision aromatherapy in 10 years? And 20 years? 

I believe we'll see continued integration of aromatherapy into mainstream healthcare as research validates its efficacy.

The studies NAHA has sponsored: lavender and tea tree safety, clary sage safety in pregnancy, aromatherapy for childhood respiratory health, seasonal stress support for children with autism, and lavender oil for children's wound care will contribute to a stronger evidence base that healthcare professionals can trust.

I envision greater unity within the aromatherapy community, moving beyond the "us vs. them" mentality that sometimes divides organizations.

We're already making progress, and with each passing year, we get closer to the shared goal of improving people's lives through essential oils. Sustainability will become even more critical as demand grows.

The industry must embrace responsible sourcing and educate consumers about choosing sustainably harvested oils. I applaud Dr. Kelly Ablard and Airmid Institute for their work in this area.

 What do you think is the greatest achievement in your aromatherapy career?

I would say facilitating research through crowdfunding. NAHA has now sponsored five studies led by Dr. Jessie (Hawkins) Cavanaugh. Our first landmark study addressed whether lavender and tea tree were endocrine disruptors.

The results showed both oils are safe to use in children's products. Four additional studies have been completed or are in progress, helping validate safety and efficacy while addressing concerns about vulnerable populations.

What would be your tips for a new or upcoming aromatherapist new to the field?

Don't try to run before you can crawl. In other words, don't be so overzealous that you try to do things beyond your current knowledge base.

Start slowly, educate yourself thoroughly, and proceed at a pace that makes you feel comfortable practicing safely. Essential oils are powerful and demand respect.

Consider using professionally formulated aromatherapy products until you have the knowledge to blend them yourself.

Seek quality education from reputable sources such as NAHA-approved aromatherapy schools and educators. Be open to learning from different perspectives within the aromatherapy community.

And remember that there's always more to learn. Even after 35 years of aromatherapy education, I continue to learn and grow.

Jennifer Hochell Pressimone, Salvatore Battaglia, Annette Davis, Jonathan Benavides at the 2023 NAHA conference
Image: © 2026 Annette Davis, All rights reserved

What are the opportunities and challenges of leadership within such an organization as NAHA?

The opportunity is immense. NAHA can serve as a unifying force that brings the aromatherapy community together, funds important research, establishes safety standards, and elevates the entire profession.

With over 7,000 members, we have the collective power to make meaningful change.

The challenges include navigating the "us vs. them" mentality that persists among different groups, balancing diverse perspectives on controversial topics like internal use, and managing the workload that comes with running a volunteer-driven nonprofit association.

What do you think about the bridge between allopathic and alternative (complementary) medicine?

This bridge is essential and growing stronger. My work with Dr. Lapraz and Dr. Bokelmann demonstrated that clinical phyto-aromatherapy can be used alongside conventional medicine to dramatically improve patient outcomes.

The establishment of EIMC, in cooperation with Idaho State University's medical residency program, demonstrated that integration is possible within academic medicine.

Watching patients who couldn't be helped with conventional medicine alone convinced me that these modalities must work together.

We need research to validate what practitioners observe clinically, and we need healthcare systems open to incorporating evidence based complementary approaches.

What are your thoughts about CO2s in practice and their future in aromatherapy?

CO2 extracts offer unique therapeutic profiles that expand our aromatic toolkit. They can capture constituents that steam distillation doesn't, providing different therapeutic applications.

As extraction technology continues advancing, CO2s will likely become more accessible and better understood.

I see them as valuable additions to the aromatherapist's repertoire, though proper education about their properties and applications is essential.

Where do you think energetics fit in the framework of aromatherapy?

I believe honoring both traditional wisdom and modern research complements our ability to support wellness.

Further research could shed light on this fascinating area.

How do you think aromatherapy affected you during your journey spiritually, mentally or emotionally?

The influence has been profound. I was immersed in aromatherapy at such a young age that I can't imagine life without essential oils.

Being part of this community, building connections, helping people, and continuing my grandmother's legacy is spiritually and mentally uplifting.

Building a career that genuinely helps people and makes the world a better place is incredibly fulfilling. Aromatherapy fits that purpose perfectly.

When you watch someone go from suffering to thriving, from having no energy to living fully, you're reminded why this work matters. That sense of purpose has sustained me through difficult times.

What do you think about COVID, and more precisely, how it changed our lives socially, our smell and our perception of life? Can aromatic substances and essential oils help, and if so, how?

The pandemic profoundly impacted our industry. It sparked a new era of remote connection, wonderful in some ways, but we lost the hands-on experiences, live workshops, and seminars that are central to teaching and learning.

COVID reminded us not to take for granted the ability to gather, to hug, to experience aromatics fully. As things have calmed down, the appreciation for live  conferences and in-person connections has deepened.

The anosmia that many COVID patients experienced highlighted how essential our sense of smell is to our perception of life and emotional well-being.

Essential oils offer gentle olfactory stimulation that may support recovery, and their immune, respiratory, and mental health benefits make them especially relevant.

What kind of projects are you working on currently?

NAHA held its 2025 conference in Tampa, Florida, and it was wonderful to bring the community together there.

Now we’re focused on translating conference lectures into various languages to serve our global community.

We also continue supporting research studies, sustainability projects, and enhanced member benefits.

At Time Laboratories, I am always looking for ways to enhance our research-based product line, which includes essential oils, aromatherapy products, and dietary supplements.

What are your aromatic plans for the future? 

I want to continue building on my grandmother's legacy, advancing safe essential oil education, supporting research, uniting the aromatherapy community, and helping NAHA, Time Laboratories, and EIMC thrive.

I'm committed to seeing the current research studies through completion and supporting new studies that address other safety questions and therapeutic applications.

Growing conference attendance and maintaining the sense of community that in-person gatherings provide remain a priority.

Ultimately, my aromatic plan is the same as it has always been.

Help people use essential oils safely and effectively to improve their lives, supported by family, amazing colleagues, and a passionate community united by our love of aromatherapy.

Annette, Eric and Kelly Ablard at the Crete Aromatic Tapestry Tour in 2025
Image: © 2026 Annette Davis, All rights reserved