7 Essential Oils for Erectile Dysfunction: What Works?

Using essential oils for erectile dysfunction (ED) is considered an alternative treatment, but there’s limited scientific research supporting its effectiveness. Like CBD and acupuncture, essential oils like lavender and ylang ylang may appeal to men looking for a natural way to improve their erections. But how much difference will a few drops of essential oil make?

Below, we’ve shared the current research on essential oils for ED, explained what makes us skeptical about the research on aromatherapy and ED, and outlined a few more effective treatments for your sexual health.

If you’re here because you want to know the best oil for erectile dysfunction, keep reading to find out if there’s a better solution available.

Essential oils are plant extracts typically diluted with a carrier oil like olive or coconut oil for topical application or used with a diffuser.

While you may find that using essential oils is an enjoyable and relaxing part of your routine, if you’re hoping all you need to improve your erections is a bit of sandalwood and a good diffuser, you may not get the results you’re hoping for.

At best, research shows that essential oils may benefit general wellness. For example, several essential oils are purported to have antioxidant properties, which may help reduce oxidative stress in the body and protect against inflammation. 

Essential oils used in aromatherapy might also support mental health by helping to reduce feelings of stress and promote relaxation.

And while mental health and sexual health are connected (there are psychological causes of ED, for example), there isn’t any high-quality research on the role of essential oils for erectile dysfunction treatment in humans.

Of the few studies available, most are tiny in size and conducted on animals rather than humans. That means the evidence is thin, and we also don’t have any conclusive info on basics like where to apply essential oils for erectile dysfunction.

We’re clearing all of this up ahead of time because if you’re curious about the benefits of any of the popular essential oil ingredients below, you’ll need to take them with a grain of salt.

The purported benefits of the essential oils below include higher sexual desire, lower anxiety, and improved testosterone production. These benefits may indirectly lead to improved erectile function, but much more research is needed to know for sure.

If you poke around the internet, you’ll find the following listed as the best essential oils for erectile dysfunction and male stimulation:

• Cinnamon

• Cloves

• Ylang ylang

• Rose

• Ginger

• Lavender

• Basil

1. Cinnamon 

Some animal studies have shown that inhaling cinnamon essential oil (and its main compound, cinnamaldehyde) may reduce anxiety. 

In theory, this could be helpful if you struggle with sexual performance anxiety, but the researchers didn’t test this specifically, and even if they did, we wouldn’t be able to know for sure if this effect extended to humans. 

One 2019 study did aim to better understand cinnamon essential oil’s role in erectile function in rats and humans and found some promise for treating diabetes-related ED, but the study was small, looked at injections rather than aromatherapy, and noted that more research needs to be done in this area to draw any real conclusions.

2. Cloves 

Cloves haven’t exactly rocketed to the top of the ED treatment oil pyramid, but one study from 2004 did find that an ethanolic extract of the clove flower triggered a “significant and sustained” increase in the sexual activity of normal male rats. 

The authors tentatively called it a point for the traditional view of cloves as an aphrodisiac, but human studies would offer a much more valid point.

Beyond that, a more recent 2020 study found that clove essential oil could help improve diabetes-related ED in rats, but again, the results haven’t been duplicated in humans.

3. Ylang Ylang 

Ylang ylang essential oil doesn’t affect your hormones or make your penis grow, but some cultures have used ylang ylang to create feelings of confidence and euphoria and reduce anxiety, particularly when it comes to sexual anxiety.

It is also traditionally thought to help with depression and high blood pressure, two conditions that may cause ED, but we need more evidence here to know whether it’s a truly effective treatment.

4. Rose

Rosa damascena, better known as damask rose, has been shown to help with depression and aid in relaxation, which could indirectly improve ED symptoms.

One very small human study found that rose oil might improve psychological ED. In it, a group of men with depression and ED due to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) gained better erectile function after using the essential oil.

However, we’ve yet to see these results reproduced. In other words, it looks good on paper, but can they do it twice?

5. Ginger

As essential oil ingredients go, ginger’s sexual benefits might have the widest base of support. Some research has suggested that ginger can improve testosterone production and may have antioxidant benefits. Other studies — once again limited to rats — have suggested that it can improve sperm quality.

Ginger has also been used in combination with a few other compounds to manage certain types of erectile dysfunction in rats. 

However, the majority of the research has looked at eating ginger, not using ginger root essential oil, which may produce entirely different results.

6. Lavender

There isn’t any significant evidence about lavender oil for ED in the world of medicine, but we would point you to the very thin connection between lavender and mental health.

Lavender is sometimes mentioned as a natural remedy for anxiety, which could include performance anxiety and other psychological issues that may cause sexual dysfunction. However, no studies have yet tested the theory directly.

In one interesting study, researchers tested how certain odors affected penile blood flow in a small group of men. The combined scent of lavender and pumpkin pie increased blood flow to the penis the most (by 40 percent). However, all 30 odors they tested boosted penile blood flow at least a small amount, so the results leave us with more questions than answers.

7. Basil

Basil may be delicious on pizza, but is it an effective herb for ED? A 2013 study found a link between basil consumption and improved testicular function in male rats with testicular toxicity induced by cadmium. 

Basil is also high in vitamin K, which helps to protect your cardiovascular health. Because erections are all about proper blood flow to the penis, your cardiovascular system is an essential component of your sexual health.

All that said, the promise here seems to lie in eating basil. There’s no real evidence that applying or inhaling basil oil can help with erectile dysfunction.

Although there aren’t any conclusive studies that show a link between essential oils and better erections, there are several proven, science-based treatments for ED available.

They include:

• ED medication

• Therapy

• Lifestyle changes

• ED devices and tools

ED Medication

Some of the most common and effective ED medications are Viagra^® (sildenafil) and Cialis^® (tadalafil). 

These medications are PDE5 inhibitors — vasodilators that work by increasing blood circulation to your penis and making it easier to get and maintain an erection.

While they can potentially cause side effects and drug interactions, problems are rare when they’re used as directed. On that note, all require a prescription from a healthcare professional who can help you determine what ED medication is right for you and the most effective way to take it.

Therapy 

Because ED medications work by increasing blood flow, they’ll only cause erections when you’re actually aroused — which means sexual desire is key. And one of the things blocking sexual desire can be your own brain.

Mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and sexual performance anxiety can all be potential triggers for psychological ED. In many cases, the best way to deal with these problems is therapy.

Lifestyle Changes

Making a few small changes to your habits and lifestyle can often improve your sexual performance and reduce the severity of ED — a topic we’ve covered in our list of natural ways to protect your erection. In short, make sure you get enough sleep and exercise, eat a healthy diet, and definitely quit smoking to improve your sexual health and overall well-being.

ED Devices and Tools

There are various devices, procedures, and tools for ED, ranging from vacuum erectile devices (aka penis pumps) to penile implant surgery for more severe cases. 

You can also try sex toys to help improve your erections, such as cock rings and vibrating penis rings.

If you’re thinking about using essential oils for male stimulation or better erections, remember the following:

• Research on essential oils for ED is lacking. While the studies above may look promising, they have several weaknesses. Although some look at certain aspects of sexual function, none specifically address the effects of essential oils on erections or sexual performance. The studies are also tiny, with very few test subjects, and mostly conducted on animals.

• Essential oils may still hold some value. Some essential oils might benefit your sexual performance. For instance, lower anxiety, better blood flow, and increased testosterone could in theory result in better erections.

• There are better options available. If you want science-backed results, get advice from a healthcare provider about the latest ED treatment options.

We know it can be hard to talk about sexual health issues, but ED is more common than you think. It affects between 30 and 50 million men in the United States alone. Determining the cause of your ED symptoms is essential to solving the problem. After all, ED can be psychological, it can be a nervous system issue, it could be related to testosterone levels, or it could be a vascular issue, among other causes.

Ready to do something about it and get answers? Reach out to speak with a healthcare provider today.