Rosemary oil
Rosemary oil might help male pattern hair loss, but the evidence is a single small trial: over 6 months it raised hair count about as much as minoxidil 2%, with no placebo group and nothing longer or larger to confirm it. It is generally well tolerated on the skin, but the essential oil must be diluted, kept away from eyes and never swallowed. Anyone pregnant, breastfeeding or with epilepsy should ask a doctor first.
At a glance
Last reviewed 30 September 2026What it's used for
Evidence is rated per use. The same ingredient can be strong for one thing and traditional for another.
| Use | Evidence | What the research shows |
|---|---|---|
| Male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) | Limited | One randomised trial in 100 men aged 18 to 49 compared rosemary oil with minoxidil 2%, both twice daily for 6 months. Hair count had not changed at 3 months in either group but had risen significantly by 6 months in both, with no significant difference between them. Reviews describe it as single-blind, with only the two arms and no placebo, so we cannot tell how much of the gain is natural variation; the abstract gives no hair-count numbers. Minoxidil 2% is also the weaker of the two strengths sold (5% is common). A 2025 network meta-analysis included this as the only rosemary trial, and the reviews we read all call for larger, longer, placebo-controlled trials. No study in women was found.1,3,4,5 |
| Patchy hair loss (alopecia areata), as part of an essential-oil blend | Limited | In an 86-person double-blind trial, daily scalp massage with thyme, rosemary, lavender and cedarwood oils in carrier oils (jojoba and grapeseed) led to improvement in 44% (19 of 43) versus 15% (6 of 41) with carrier oils alone, over 7 months (P = .008). This is a four-oil blend, so the result cannot be credited to rosemary. A 2023 systematic review placed essential-oil aromatherapy among the better-supported complementary options for alopecia areata but called the overall evidence limited and inconsistently reported. We found no repeat of the trial.2,6 |
| Memory and alertness (aroma) | Limited | In one randomised study of 144 healthy adults, breathing rosemary aroma while doing computer tests improved overall memory quality and secondary memory compared with no odour, but slowed speed of memory, and mood ratings differed too. It was a single acute experiment in healthy people, not a treatment trial. No evidence was found that it helps memory problems or dementia.7 |
| Minor muscle and joint pain (topical, traditional) | Traditional | The EU regulator records traditional use of rosemary leaf as a bath additive, and of rosemary oil in semi-solid preparations at 6 to 10% essential oil, for minor muscle and joint pain. The regulator states that no clinical studies were performed for these uses, so the rating rests on long-standing use alone.8,9 |
| Indigestion (leaf tea, not the oil) | Traditional | The EU regulator accepts rosemary leaf as a tea for dyspepsia and mild gut spasm on traditional use only, and notes it found no marketed rosemary essential oil products for oral use. This applies to the dried leaf tea, not to swallowing the essential oil.8,9 |
How much
Ranges below are what studies used and what supplements commonly contain. They are not a recommendation for you. Start at the low end.
How people take it
Safety
Who should avoid
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding — EU regulator advises against, safety not established
- Children and adolescents under 18 — EU regulator: too little data for the essential oil
- Epilepsy or seizures — the oil contains camphor, which causes convulsions when swallowed
- Broken, inflamed or irritated skin — the oil can be absorbed more and cause reactions
- Known allergy to rosemary or other mint-family plants — contact dermatitis and asthma reported
- Eyes and mucous membranes — keep the oil away
- Swallowing the essential oil — not for oral use
Known interactions
Make it yourself
DIY guides that use rosemary oil, with quantities and safety notes.
Questions people ask
Does rosemary oil work for hair growth?
Possibly for male pattern hair loss, though the evidence is thin. One 6-month trial in 100 men found rosemary oil raised hair count about as much as minoxidil 2%, but it had no placebo group and has not been repeated in the reviews we read. There is no good evidence for hair loss in women or for other causes, apart from a four-oil blend trial in alopecia areata.
How do I use rosemary oil, and what are the side effects?
Dilute the essential oil in a carrier oil, test a small area first, massage it into the scalp gently and keep it out of your eyes; the trial used two applications daily for 6 months. Reported problems are skin irritation and allergic contact dermatitis, with occasional asthma from the essential oil. The trial itself recorded scalp itching, which was commoner with minoxidil than with rosemary oil. Do not swallow the essential oil, and avoid it in pregnancy, breastfeeding or epilepsy unless a doctor says otherwise.
Is rosemary oil good for skin or the face?
We found no clinical trials of rosemary oil for facial skin, acne or ageing, so we cannot say it works. The essential oil can cause contact dermatitis, and the EU regulator warns against using it on broken or irritated skin, so a patch test and heavy dilution matter more on the face than the scalp. Studies for scalp itch and dandruff that we found were laboratory or animal work, not human trials.
How do I make rosemary oil at home?
Home-made rosemary oil is usually dried leaves steeped in a carrier oil. That infusion is not the same as the steam-distilled essential oil used in the trials, and its strength and safety are unstudied. A separate DIY guide covers the method.
Sources
- Randomised trial Panahi Y, Taghizadeh M, Marzony ET, Sahebkar A. Rosemary oil vs minoxidil 2% for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia: a randomized comparative trial. Skinmed. 2015.
- Randomised controlled trial Hay IC, Jamieson M, Ormerod AD. Randomized trial of aromatherapy. Successful treatment for alopecia areata. Arch Dermatol. 1998.
- Network meta-analysis Gupta AK, Bamimore MA, Talukder M. Relative Efficacy of Conventional Monotherapies and Select Nonconventional, Over-the-Counter Products for Male Androgenetic Alopecia: A Network Meta-Analysis Study. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2025.
- Narrative review Bin Rubaian NF, Alzamami HFA, Amir BA. An Overview of Commonly Used Natural Alternatives for the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia, with Special Emphasis on Rosemary Oil. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2024.
- Systematic review Allam AT, El-Shiekh RA, El-Dessouki AM, et al. Pathophysiology, conventional treatments, and evidence-based herbal remedies of hair loss with a systematic review of controlled clinical trials. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2025.
- Systematic review Tkachenko E, Okhovat JP, Manjaly P, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine for alopecia areata: A systematic review. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2023.
- Randomised trial Moss M, Cook J, Wesnes K, Duckett P. Aromas of rosemary and lavender essential oils differentially affect cognition and mood in healthy adults. Int J Neurosci. 2003.
- Regulator assessment report European Medicines Agency HMPC. Assessment report on Rosmarinus officinalis L., aetheroleum and Rosmarinus officinalis L., folium (EMA/HMPC/681037/2021). 2024.
- Regulator monograph European Medicines Agency HMPC. European Union herbal monograph on Rosmarinus officinalis L., folium, Final – Revision 1 (EMA/HMPC/513940/2021). 2024.
Last reviewed 30 September 2026 · Next review March 2027 · How we rate evidence
Reader notes
Experiences and questions from readers, read by an editor before they appear. They are personal accounts, not evidence, and are not medical advice.