© 2017 Indian Journal of Psychiatry | Published by Wolters Kluwer - Medknow. Background: Although aromatherapy is widely used, the pharmacology of the essential oils remains undiscovered. Aim: The present study assessed the effect of (-)-linalool, the main contained material of lavender, on the brain function. Materials and Methods: Healthy male volunteers calculated the regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) before and after inhalation of (-)-linalool, and CBF changes were evaluated. Results: There were significant CBF reductions in the right superior temporal gyrus to insula, anterior cingulate cortex after inhalation. Conclusions: The previous study detected the regulatory influence of (-)-linalool on the glutamatergic transmission. The effect of (-)-linalool on the ACC and insula would cause the sedative and anxiolytic activity.