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
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Plus, the aromatic nature of chamomile will support basil's essential oil production, leading to a more flavorful harvest. Heather Bien, Southern Living, 16 May 2026 Use simple, chemical-free methods, such as soapy water traps or essential oils, to safely remove crickets indoors. Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 16 May 2026 Yes — 20 to 50 drops of essential oil like lavender or tea tree work well. Ryan Brennan may 13, Miami Herald, 13 May 2026 Use insecticides, traps, or essential oils to manage carpenter bees, or call a professional for severe cases. Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 9 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for essential oil

Word History

First Known Use

1674, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of essential oil was in 1674

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Cite this Entry

“Essential oil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/essential%20oil. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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

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