essential oil
Noun: A concentrated, hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aroma compounds from plants. Essential oils capture the plant's scent and flavor, or "essence." They are typically extracted through distillation or mechanical methods and are used in perfumes, cosmetics, soaps, flavorings for food and drink, and in aromatherapy.
Essential oils are used as natural additives and fragrances. They are not true oils in a fatty sense but are volatile aromatic compounds. - Lavender essential oil is popular for its calming scent. - The recipe calls for a drop of peppermint essential oil for flavor.
- Therapeutic Use: In practices like aromatherapy, essential oils are used for their purported psychological and physical benefits.
- She uses eucalyptus essential oil in a diffuser to help clear her sinuses.
- Carrier Oil Dilution: For safe topical application, essential oils are often diluted in a carrier oil.
- Always dilute tea tree essential oil with a carrier oil before applying it to the skin.
- Volatile Oil: A synonym for essential oil, emphasizing its evaporative nature.
- Aromatic Oil: A general term that can refer to essential oils or synthetic fragrances.
- Essence: In a culinary context, this can sometimes refer to a highly concentrated flavoring, which may be an essential oil or an extract.
- Volatile oil
- Ethereal oil (a less common, more technical term)
- Essential oil blend: A mixture of several essential oils.
- This relaxing essential oil blend contains lavender, chamomile, and bergamot.
- Essential oil diffuser: A device that disperses essential oils into the air.
- She turned on the essential oil diffuser to fill the room with a citrus scent.
Essential oils are highly concentrated and should be used with knowledge and caution. They are generally not meant to be ingested unless under specific guidance and should be kept away from children and pets.
- an oil having the odor or flavor of the plant from which it comes; used in perfume and flavorings