Patients were asked to choose amongst 4 different aromatherapy scents. The study administrator then stuck an adhesive patch without any aromatherapy oil on it, to the patient's facemask. This was worn throughout the perioperative experience from the ambulatory ward to the operating theatre and post anaesthesia care unit (PACU).

Patients were asked to choose amongst 4 different aromatherapy scents. The study administrator then stuck an adhesive patch with 1 drop of their chosen aromatherapy oil on it, to the patient's facemask. This was worn throughout the perioperative experience from the ambulatory ward to the operating theatre and post anaesthesia care unit (PACU).

patients chose their preferred aromatherapy scent to be used for at least 30 minutes

preoperative anxiety was ranked by the patient on a scale of 0-100 on a visual acuity scale (VAS) measuring 100mm, in the preoperative ambulatory ward, before and after the intervention/placebo was applied for at least 30 minutes. The change in the VAS score at these 2 timepoints was the primary outcome