Use of inhaled essential oils to reduce the symptoms of pain or nausea, enabling a patient to have increase participation with PT or OT, thereby minimizing hospitalization-related risks and potentially reducing the length of stay in the hospital.

The study intervention consists of 3 essential oils: lavender, mandarin and peppermint administered on an inhalation patch affixed in the chest region of the participant gown. The inhalation patch consists of hydrogel cast onto polyester film, supported by non-woven polyester fabric, covered with a polyethylene film. The proprietary foil-backed lamination on the patch is used to provide an occlusive barrier that prevents any essential oil from being absorbed through the skin. The placebo will consist of a comparable sized felt patch with adhesive backing with no essential oil applied.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Inpatients of acute care setting at University Health hospital
2. Provision of a signed and dated informed consent form
3. English or Spanish speaking
4. Male or Female, aged 18 years and older
5. Willing to comply with all study procedures

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Respiratory disorders, e.g., asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, emphysema, lung cancer, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, pleural effusion
2. Cognitive impairment
3. Unable to communicate
4. Admitted to the closed access unit or to psychiatry
5. Allergic to lavender, mandarin or peppermint oil
6. Diseases that cause olfactory disorders such as: COVID-19, benign growths or polyps, congestion from a cold, sinus infection or allergy flare-up
7. Drugs that may cause loss of the ability to smell e.g., intranasal zinc products, decongestant nose sprays and certain oral drugs such as nifedipine and phenothiazines
8. Pregnant women (self-reported)
9. Prisoner

The study will be registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and will be conducted in accordance with the ICMJE publication and data sharing policies and regulations.

Data will become available once analyzed and published

Subjects will be assigned to an arm based upon the symptoms they are experiencing prior to their therapy session. If a patient reports nausea symptom, they will be assigned to the peppermint fragrance or a placebo. The randomization will be conducted in a 1:2 ratio, one placebo to two experimental. If a patient reports pain symptom, they will be assigned to the lavender or mandarin fragrance or placebo. The randomization will be conducted in a 1:2 ratio, one placebo to two experimental. The experimental group will then be randomized to a 1:1 ratio between lavender and mandarin. For those that refuse the aromatherapy patch will be asked to serve as a control and receive usual care with no patch.