essential oil

noun

Updated on: 15 May 2018

Definition of essential oil

: 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

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Recent Examples of essential oil from the Web

Spray made with essential oils is applied to the tires, the sides and the back.

— christina hall, Detroit Free Press, "Rats can't resist wiring in newer cars: Here's why," 7 May 2018
Suite 120, Granite Bay: The organic nail spa touting the use of sea salts, essential oils and herbs hosted grand-opening festivities on April 27.

— mark glover, sacbee, "Countdown is on for Market 5-ONE-5 opening in Sacramento | The Sacramento Bee," 5 May 2018
Her studio, an upstairs bedroom in her Ellicott City , Marylandtownhouse, was fragrant with essential oils.

— tara bahrampour, chicagotribune.com, "I went to get hugged by a professional cuddler. Here's how it felt.," 5 May 2018
The products are made with natural extracts from the Bocelli family vineyards and blended with Tuscan plants and essential oils.

— rosemary mcclure, latimes.com, "Ever heard of vinotherapy? Cruise line adds grape-based spa treatments," 4 May 2018
Her studio, an upstairs bedroom in her Ellicott City townhouse, was fragrant with essential oils.

— tara bahrampour, Washington Post, "I went to get hugged by a professional cuddler. Here’s how it felt.," 24 Apr. 2018
Potions, which include Sacred Ground floor cleaner and Crystal Ball glass cleaner, are made with all natural, vegan ingredients, and high-quality essential oils these products are safe for kids and pets.

— marni elyse katz, BostonGlobe.com, "Practical magic," 19 Apr. 2018
Tip: Add a few drops of essential oil and the whole house will smell terrific.

— doreen christensen, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Spring cleaning: Recipes for green cleaning products that cost pennies to make," 19 Mar. 2018
The haircuts are topped off with an essential oil hot towel.

— joyce smith, kansascity, "New mobile barbershop shaves haircut time | The Kansas City Star," 6 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'essential oil.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of essential oil

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in the meaning defined above

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ESSENTIAL OIL Defined for English Language Learners

essential oil

noun

Definition of essential oil for English Language Learners

: an oil that comes from a plant, that smells like the plant it comes from, and that is used in perfumes and flavorings

Medical Dictionary

essential oil

noun

medical Definition of essential oil

: 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

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essential oil

Definition of essential oil

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essential oil

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