List of essential oils


s are volatile and liquid aroma compounds from natural sources, usually plants. They are not oils in a strict sense, but often share with oils a poor solubility in water. Essential oils often have an odor and are therefore used in food flavoring and perfumery. They are usually prepared by fragrance extraction techniques. Essential oils are distinguished from aroma oils, infusions in a vegetable oil, absolutes, and concretes. Typically, essential oils are highly complex mixtures of often hundreds of individual aroma compounds.
Image:EucalyptusGlobulusEssOil.png|thumb|Essential oil of Eucalyptus
Image:SandalwoodEssOil.png|thumb|A glass vial containing sandalwood oil
Image:DavanaEssOil.png|thumb|Davana essential oil
Image:StarAnise.jpg|thumb|The spice star anise is distilled to make star anise oil

Books

  • Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils: The Complete Guide to the Use of Oils in Aromatherapy and Herbalism 1995
  • ''The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy''