adjective
essential
Containing concentrated aromatic oils from plants.
The bottle contains essential oil extracted from lavender.
Etymology
The older root names essence. An essential oil was understood as carrying the characteristic aromatic essence of a plant in concentrated form.
More examples
- The shop sells several essential oils.
- She labeled the essential oil before storing it.
- The laboratory analyzed the plant's essential oil.
Forms
essential
Similar words
- volatile oil
- Another term emphasizing that the oil readily evaporates.