Essential Oil
A volatile aromatic material obtained from plants by distillation or expression, such as steam-distilled lavender oil or expressed citrus-peel oil.
Essential oils are botanical fragrance materials obtained by distillation or expression. In steam distillation, steam carries aromatic compounds from plant material into a condenser; the condensed oil is separated from the water. Expression mechanically releases oil from citrus peels, including bergamot and orange.
A plant extract can contain many scent compounds. Its botanical source and extraction method help explain its character. An essential oil and an absolute from the same plant are different preparations, so comparing their names alone tells you less than smelling the actual materials or finished fragrances.
When reading a perfume description, distinguish a named essential oil from a note. A bergamot note describes a scent impression; a maker specifying bergamot essential oil gives more information about a material. The finished composition determines how that material sits alongside the other ingredients.
For the extraction methods, see IFF’s perfume-making guide and SFA Parfum’s terminology glossary.