Basic Information
Am essential oil is a highly concentrated organic extract, typically produced from its feedstock by steam distillation for use in herbalism or related crafts and/or alternative medicine. These oils tend to contain high levels of whatever naturally occurring compounds are most prevalent in the source (typically a plant but things like musk or ambergris can also be treated like this). Where the primary property of the material being distilled is its scent, and especially when the extract is intended for perfume or incense production, the oil may be termed an attar.
As noted, these oils may be used for scenting purposes, but may also be diluted into massage oils, baths or ointments. Almost all applications will be topical - any oral use will typically only follow dilution and formulation into some more finished medicine.
Sources
Game and Story Use
- Usually a time consuming job for skilled labour, and so valuable and thus potential treasure.
- Potentially useful in spyragic or ritual magic, where it might have all sorts of correspondences.
- A common product of monasteries and similar communities.
- A fetch quest might require the party to secure a particular oil from a distant source and return it in good time.
- This is the sort of thing that might be used in an anointing oil.