Essential oils beyond aroma — a review

Essential oils are odorous, volatile and secondary metabolites produced by diverse group of plants. Aromatic plants are referred as ‘natural biochemical factories’ or ‘chemical goldmines’. They are present in different parts of plant like roots, stems, bark, flowers, fruits, seeds and leaves. The regular use of essential oils for different purposes like cosmetics, perfumery, paint industry, paper and printing industry etc. is a known factor. But beyond this, aromatic plants can be utilized for different purposes like aromatherapy, food preservation, preservation of fruits and vegetables, plant protection, weed management and veterinary pest management which are lesser-known to the mankind. Therefore an attempt is made to highlight the significance of essential oils beyond aroma.