Hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aroma compounds from plants
For the Midnight Oil album, see Essential Oils (album).Not to be confused with essential fatty acid or fragrance oils.
Plant oils
Sandalwood oil
Types
Vegetable oil (list)
Macerated oil (list)
Essential oil (list)
Uses
Drying oil
Oil paint
Cooking oil
Fuel
Biodiesel
Components
Saturated fat
Monounsaturated fat
Polyunsaturated fat
Trans fat
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An essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile (easily evaporated at normal temperatures) chemical compounds from plants. Essential oils are also known as volatile oils, ethereal oils, aetheroleum, or simply as the oil of the plant from which they were extracted, such as oil of clove. An essential oil is essential in the sense that it contains the essence of the plant's fragrance—the characteristic fragrance of the plant from which it is derived.[1] The term "essential" used here does not mean indispensable or usable by the human body, as with the terms essential amino acid or essential fatty acid, which are so called because they are nutritionally required by a living organism.[2]
Essential oils are generally extracted by distillation, often by using steam. Other processes include expression, solvent extraction, sfumatura, absolute oil extraction, resin tapping, wax embedding, and cold pressing. They are used in perfumes, cosmetics, soaps, air fresheners and other products, for flavoring food and drink, and for adding scents to incense and household cleaning products.
Essential oils are often used for aromatherapy, a form of alternative medicine in which healing effects are ascribed to aromatic compounds. Aromatherapy may be useful to induce relaxation, but there is not sufficient evidence that essential oils can effectively treat any condition.[3] Improper use of essential oils may cause harm including allergic reactions, inflammation and skin irritation. Children may be particularly susceptible to the toxic effects of improper use.[4][5] Essential oils can be poisonous if ingested or absorbed through the skin.[5]
^"essential oil". Oxford English Dictionary (online, American English ed.). Archived from the original on 2014-08-09. Retrieved 2014-07-21.
^Reeds PJ (2000). "Dispensable and indispensable amino acids for humans". The Journal of Nutrition. 130 (7): 1835S–40S. doi:10.1093/jn/130.7.1835S. PMID 10867060.
^Lee MS, Choi JC (2012). "Aromatherapy for health care: an overview of systematic reviews". Maturitas. 3 (71): 257–260. doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2011.12.018. PMID 22285469.
^Posadzki P, Alotaibi A, Ernst E (2012). "Adverse effects of aromatherapy: A systematic review of case reports and case series". The International Journal of Risk & Safety in Medicine. 24 (3): 147–61. doi:10.3233/JRS-2012-0568. PMID 22936057.
^ ab"Essential oils: Poisonous when misused". US National Capital Poison Center. Retrieved 2017-12-01.
An essentialoil is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile (easily evaporated at normal temperatures) chemical compounds from plants. Essential...
sealed containers. Oil of thyme, the essentialoil of common thyme (Thymus vulgaris), contains 20–54% thymol. Thyme essentialoil also contains a range...
Lavender oil is an essentialoil obtained by distillation from the flower spikes of certain species of lavender. There are over 400 types of lavender...
Tea tree oil, also known as melaleuca oil, is an essentialoil with a fresh, camphoraceous odor and a colour that ranges from pale yellow to nearly colourless...
The essentialoil obtained from the oleogum resin of Boswellia serrata showed antimicrobial activities. A 2022 study stated that "frankincense oil has...
Mustard oil can mean either the pressed oil used for cooking, or a pungent essentialoil also known as volatile oil of mustard. The essentialoil results...
extraction). Essential oils are distinguished from aroma oils (essential oils and aroma compounds in an oily solvent), infusions in a vegetable oil, absolutes...
Citronella oil is an essentialoil obtained from the leaves and stems of different species of Cymbopogon (lemongrass). The oil is used extensively as...
aches, liver complications, colds and coughs. EssentialOil: studies relate various compounds within Mugwort oil to effects on blood pressure, tumor growth...
leaves, so that they instead fall to the ground and die. Vetiver's essentialoil has anti-fungal properties against Rhizoctonia solani. As a mulch, vetiver...
the initial fresh weight and can be stored for up to 18 months. The essentialoil includes the chemicals thujone and phenol, which give it antiseptic...
essentialoil 1 parts myrrh essentialoil 1 part calamus essentialoil 1 part cassia essentialoil 7 parts olive oil This is a highly fragranced oil that...
Lemongrass at a market Prepared lemongrass Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) essentialoil in clear glass vial Thai yam takhrai kung sot (ยำตะไคร้กุ้งสด), a salad...
significantly in taste because phenolic compounds are missing from its essentialoil. Some varieties show a flavour intermediate between oregano and marjoram...
also found in many parts of North East India. Noted for its fragrant essentialoil, it has many commercial uses and is now extensively cultivated in tropical...
colour and a lemon scent. The essentialoil is commonly co-distilled with lemon oil, citronella oil or other essential oils. Yields are low; 0.014% for...
anti-clotting activity of its own. Hydrodistillation of ajwain fruits yields an essentialoil consisting primarily of thymol, gamma-terpinene, p-cymene, and more...
first time in davana oil. The leaves and flowers yield an essentialoil known as oil of Davana. Several species yield essentialoil and some are used as...
scents because the volatile aromatic compounds vary with cultivars. The essentialoil from European basil contains high concentrations of linalool and methyl...
major volatile components of cumin oil, which is used for a variety of flavors, perfumes, and essentialoil. Cumin oil may be used as an ingredient in some...
Carrier oil, also known as base oil or vegetable oil, is used to dilute essential oils and absolutes before they are applied to the skin in massage and...
there. Common sage is grown in parts of Europe for distillation of an essentialoil, although other species such as Salvia fruticosa may also be harvested...
mace, from the seed covering. It is also a commercial source of nutmeg essentialoil and nutmeg butter. Indonesia is the main producer of nutmeg and mace...
Oil of clove, also known as clove oil or eugenol, is an essentialoil extracted from the clove plant, Syzygium aromaticum. Clove oil is commonly used in...
Rose oil (rose otto, attar of rose, attar of roses, or rose essence) is the essentialoil extracted from the petals of various types of rose. Rose ottos...
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