Scent & Greenery: China's aromatherapy industry embracing eco-civilization for green, sustainable growth

The Green Transformation of the Aromatherapy Industry: Aligning with Ecological Civilization

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the construction of ecological civilization has been placed in a prominent position in overall work. The concept of "Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" has been deeply rooted in people's hearts, and significant steps have been taken towards building a beautiful China. Against this grand historical backdrop, the aromatherapy and aromatherapy machine industry, once regarded as a traditional fast-moving consumer goods sector, has proactively aligned itself with the "dual carbon" goals. It has phased out highly polluting paraffin and benzene-containing solvents, promoted natural plant wax-based, biodegradable materials, and low-energy consumption cold mist fragrance diffusion technology, responding to the people's new expectations for a beautiful ecological environment and healthy lifestyle with a "green olfactory economy".

In the past, aromatherapy candles mostly used paraffin wax, which releases trace amounts of black smoke and sulfides during combustion. Now, leading companies have all switched to 100% bio-based waxes such as soy wax, beeswax, and shea butter wax, which burn without black smoke and reduce carbon emissions by over 90%.

The hardware of aromatherapy machines is iterated synchronously with aromatherapy consumables. In recent years, ultrasonic cold water atomization and two-fluid cold mist diffusion technology have been mainly promoted - without high-temperature combustion, without damaging essential oil components, and without releasing secondary harmful volatiles. The new model uses a food-grade PP recyclable water tank, equipped with an intelligent sleep and humidity sensing module. The power consumption per operation is as low as several watts, and the standby energy consumption meets the national first-level energy efficiency standard. Some government and commercial aromatherapy systems have extended their service life through domestic chip substitution and modular design, reducing the generation of electronic waste.

Since 2025, Shanghai and other regions have successively issued group standards for "Limits of Harmful Substances in Daily Fragrances", setting strict upper limits for total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), benzene derivatives, and aldehydes and ketones in fragrance products, compelling enterprises to eliminate controversial solvents such as phthalates. The China Fragrance and Flavor Industry Association has also released the "Guidelines for Sustainable Development (Environmental, Social, and Governance) of Fragrance and Flavor Cosmetics Enterprises", guiding the entire industry to establish a full-chain ESG management system from raw material traceability, clean production to recyclable packaging.

Data shows that in 2025, the proportion of aromatherapy products in China using environmentally friendly plant-based waxes has surpassed 58%, and aromatherapy diffusers equipped with energy-saving cold mist systems have achieved a 40% penetration rate in the household market. The once extensive "scent business" is transforming into a sunrise industry that promotes green living aesthetics amidst the tide of building a beautiful China.

Looking ahead, with the comprehensive implementation of the "14th Five-Year Plan for Building a Beautiful China", the aromatherapy and aromatherapy machine industries will continue to anchor their focus on green and low-carbon transformation. By utilizing cleaner raw materials, more energy-efficient equipment, and stricter environmental standards, they aim to enable millions of households to feel the warmth and quality of ecological civilization construction with every deep breath.