Essential Oil Worst Fragrance Synthetic and Natural No known benefits Essential Oil at a glance A group of primarily plant-derived volatile oils Primarily used as a fragrant agent in cosmetics Often include a mix of skin-sensitizing compounds Can cause skin redness, dryness and flaking Some essential oils also have antioxidant properties Essential Oil description Essential oil, or essential oils, are a group of volatile fluids derived primarily from plants and used in cosmetics primarily as fragrant additives. These components most often include a mix of alcohols, ketones, phenols, linalool, borneol, terpenes, camphor, pinene, acids, ethers, aldehydes, citral, and sulfur, all of which have extremely sensitising effects on skin. Essential oils also bring benefits to skin, most notably from their antioxidants, but there are other ingredients, including many natural ingredients, that provide these same benefits without the risk of aggravating skin. Related ingredients: Volatile Oil Parfum/Fragrance