Plant oils Types Vegetable fats (list) Essential oil (list) Macerated (list) Uses Drying oil - Oil paint Cooking oil Fuel - Biodiesel Aromatherapy Components Saturated fat Monounsaturated fat Polyunsaturated fat Trans fat An essential oil is any concentrated, hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aroma compounds from plants, which are called aromatic herbs or aromatic plants. They are also known as volatile or ethereal oils, or simply as the "oil of" the plant material from which they were extracted, such as oil of clove. The term essential indicates that the oil carries distinctive scent (essence) of the plant, not that it is an especially important or fundamental substance. Essential oils do not as a group need to have any specific chemical properties in common, beyond conveying characteristic fragrances. They are not to be confused with essential fatty acids. Essential oils are generally extracted by distillation. Other processes include expression, or solvent extraction. They are used in perfumes, cosmetics and bath products[1], for flavoring food and drink, and for scenting incense and household cleaning products. Various essential oils have medicinal properties that have been applied in folk medicine since ancient times and are still widely used today. For example, many essential oils have antiseptic properties.[3]. Many are also claimed to have an uplifting effect on the mind. The claims are supported in some studies[4][5] and unconfirmed in others.[6]