Essential Oils and Their Applications

The essential oils are primarily found in specialized cells, known as glandular cells, located in various plant parts. When these cells rupture, they release a fragrant aroma that is volatile and composed of a range of chemical constituents. Essential oils have a wide range of applications, including perfumery, aromatherapy, cosmetics, incense, medicine, and household insect repellent and cleaning products, as well as for flavoring food and drink. In addition, they are also used in the agricultural industry as anti-feedants, repellents, botanical insecticides, natural herbicides, and growth boosters, which remains an area of ongoing research. The information regarding essential oils is scattered and difficult to access, which led to the compilation of this book to provide a comprehensive overview of the subject in a simple and easily understandable manner. This book is structured into five sections: introduction, general extraction methods for essential oils, market statistics highlighting the importance of essential oils, individual medicinal and aromatic plants, and new aromatic plants and their future research prospects.