essential oil

noun

: any of a class of volatile oils that give plants their characteristic odors and are used especially in perfumes and flavorings, and for aromatherapy compare fixed oil

Examples of essential oil in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Try mixing 15 to 20 drops of an essential oil in a spray bottle of water with a few drops of liquid dish soap. —Joan Morris, Mercury News, 25 May 2026

Programming includes hula hooping, breathwork, DIY spa treatments, essential oil blending, discussions on body literacy rooted in menstrual cycle awareness, cacao, a dress-up dance party and an optional nature walk and movie night. —Lauren Schuster, Sacbee.com, 20 May 2026

The program includes hula hooping, breathwork, DIY spa treatments, essential oil blending and discussions on body literacy rooted in menstrual cycle awareness. —Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 20 May 2026

Extracted from the seeds of the neem tree, the essential oil interferes with the reproduction and feeding of pests like aphids, whiteflies, and thrips. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1674, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for essential oil

• aerofoil
• cinquefoil
• hydrofoil
• quatrefoil
• airfoil
• benzoyl
• despoil
• embroil
• etoile
• gargoyle
• recoil
• subsoil

Medical Definition

essential oil

noun

: any of a large class of volatile odoriferous oils of vegetable origin that give plants their characteristic odors and often other properties, that are obtained from various parts of the plants (as flowers, leaves, or bark) by steam distillation, expression, or extraction, that are usually mixtures of compounds (as aldehydes or esters), and that are used often in the form of essences in perfumes, flavorings, and pharmaceutical preparations

called also ethereal oil, volatile oil

compare fatty oil, fixed oil