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Service workers not classified elsewhere

How to become an Aromatherapist

Gives customers treatments with blended aromatherapy oils, based on specialist knowledge of essential oils, to maintain and improve beauty and health.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say high school or vocational college (senmon gakko) is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

No particular education or qualification is required to start, but almost everyone holds a private aromatherapy qualification. For example, the Aroma Environment Association of Japan runs the aromatherapy test (on basic aromatherapy knowledge) and the aromatherapist exam and certification. The association certifies as aromatherapists those who pass the aromatherapist written exam (for which the aromatherapy adviser qualification is a prerequisite), the body treatment practical exam and a review of client records. Aromatherapists gain, at training institutions or beauty senmon gakko (vocational colleges), specialist knowledge of aromatherapy, of physical and mental health (anatomy, physiology, hygiene, dermatology, general health, relaxation and stress care), of treatments (body and facial) along with the techniques, and of consultation and customer service along with the skills. Some aromatherapists gain other relaxation qualifications or build experience so they can offer a wider range of services alongside aromatherapy. Massage, however, requires the national qualification of anma massage and shiatsu practitioner, and cannot be done without it. Mid-career hiring is fairly common, and some people change jobs to match their expertise and skill level. After one to two years spent learning the skills and gaining qualifications, you can work at an aromatherapy business, go freelance and treat your own clients, run aromatherapy events for companies on assignment, or teach at an aromatherapy school training future aromatherapists. With longer service you may become a team leader or chief. In those roles, guiding and managing junior staff is added to daily treatments and paperwork. After starting, you are expected to keep improving not only your aromatherapy knowledge but also your knowledge of physical and mental health, treatment techniques, consultation and customer service. Some employers require you to attend schools or courses to build your skills. You need to enjoy dealing with people and to show empathy for and support customers' physical and mental state.

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Questions people ask

How do I become an Aromatherapist?

No particular education or qualification is required to start, but almost everyone holds a private aromatherapy qualification. For example, the Aroma Environment Association of Japan runs the aromatherapy test (on basic aromatherapy knowledge) and the aromatherapist exam and certification. The association certifies as aromatherapists those who pass the aromatherapist written exam (for which the aromatherapy adviser qualification is a prerequisite), the body treatment practical exam and a review of client records. Aromatherapists gain, at training institutions or beauty senmon gakko (vocational colleges), specialist knowledge of aromatherapy, of physical and mental health (anatomy, physiology, hygiene, dermatology, general health, relaxation and stress care), of treatments (body and facial) along with the techniques, and of consultation and customer service along with the skills. Some aromatherapists gain other relaxation qualifications or build experience so they can offer a wider range of services alongside aromatherapy. Massage, however, requires the national qualification of anma massage and shiatsu practitioner, and cannot be done without it. Mid-career hiring is fairly common, and some people change jobs to match their expertise and skill level. After one to two years spent learning the skills and gaining qualifications, you can work at an aromatherapy business, go freelance and treat your own clients, run aromatherapy events for companies on assignment, or teach at an aromatherapy school training future aromatherapists. With longer service you may become a team leader or chief. In those roles, guiding and managing junior staff is added to daily treatments and paperwork. After starting, you are expected to keep improving not only your aromatherapy knowledge but also your knowledge of physical and mental health, treatment techniques, consultation and customer service. Some employers require you to attend schools or courses to build your skills. You need to enjoy dealing with people and to show empathy for and support customers' physical and mental state.

How much does an Aromatherapist earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥4,026,700 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Other service workers, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become an Aromatherapist?

Not always. In this job's census occupation group, 28% of workers are university graduates.

Will AI change the work of an Aromatherapist?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026