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

Other natural ant deterrents include vinegar, essential oils, and diatomaceous earth. —Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 13 Mar. 2026

Forget about using essential oils, specific plants such as lavender or lemongrass, or sonic devices as flea repellents. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026

The PureGuardian humidifier also has an aromatherapy tray for your favorite essential oils. —Claire Peltier, ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026

Orange peels are rich in bioactive compounds such as citric acids, flavonoids, polyphenols, and essential oils like limonene. —Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 5 Mar. 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