Formulation and Evaluation of Aromatherapy Roll-on Preparation Combination of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and Peppermint (Mentha piperita) Essential Oils as a Relaxation Agent
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Abstract
Stress, anxiety, and mental fatigue are common conditions that can interfere with daily activities. One widely used non-pharmacological method to promote relaxation is aromatherapy using essential oils. This study aimed to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of a roll-on aromatherapy formulation combining lavender and peppermint essential oils as a relaxation agent. This was an experimental study with four formulations (F0–F3), where F0 contained no essential oils, F1 contained 10% lavender and 5% peppermint essential oils, F2 contained 7.5% lavender and 7.5% peppermint essential oils, and F3 contained 5% lavender and 10% peppermint essential oils. The quality evaluation of the formulations included organoleptic test, homogeneity, pH, spreadability, viscosity, hedonic test, and irritation test. The effectiveness test was conducted on 24 respondents who met the inclusion criteria, with relaxation levels measured using the DASS-21 questionnaire over five days. Data were analyzed using the Shapiro–Wilk normality test and One-Way Anova for formulation evaluation, Paired T-test for pre-test and post-test questionnaire analysis, and Two-Way Anova for effectiveness testing. The results showed that all formulations had a clear color, characteristic lavender and peppermint aroma, liquid texture, good homogeneity, acceptable pH values ranging from 4.3 to 5.82, spreadability from 6.5–7.1 cm, and viscosity values from 26.1–29.8 cPs. The hedonic test indicated that the formulation with balanced concentrations of lavender and peppermint (F2) was the most preferred and considered comfortable by respondents without causing skin irritation. The DASS questionnaire results demonstrated a gradual reduction in stress scores over time from pre-test to post-test. The effectiveness test showed improved relaxation in formulations containing essential oils compared to the formulation without essential oils.