A concise glossary of the essential-oil and export terms you'll meet when sourcing from India.
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| Absolute | A highly concentrated aromatic extract obtained by solvent extraction, typically of flowers. |
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| Attar | A traditional Indian perfume, classically hydro-distilled, often into a sandalwood base. |
| CAS number | A unique chemical identifier used to reference substances precisely. |
| Cineole (1,8-cineole) | The key constituent of eucalyptus oil, responsible for its fresh, camphoraceous character. |
| Citral | The lemony aldehyde that dominates lemongrass oil. |
| COA | Certificate of Analysis — a document listing an oil's physical and chemical parameters. |
| Constituent | An individual chemical compound within an essential oil, identified by GC-MS. |
| Dementholised mint oil (DMO) | The mint oil co-product remaining after menthol crystals are separated. |
| Fixative | A material that slows evaporation and anchors a fragrance; vetiver and nagarmotha are natural fixatives. |
| GC-MS | Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry — the standard test that identifies an oil's constituents and proves purity. |
| Geraniol | A rose-like alcohol abundant in palmarosa oil. |
| INCI | International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients — standardised names used on cosmetic labels. |
| IFRA | The International Fragrance Association, whose standards guide safe fragrance use. |
| Incoterm | Standard trade terms (e.g. FOB, CIF) defining who pays freight, insurance and risk. |
| Menthol | The crystalline cooling compound derived from mint oil. |
| MSDS / SDS | Material/Safety Data Sheet — safety information for handling and transport. |
| Steam distillation | The most common method of extracting essential oils using steam. |
| Withanolides | The active compounds in ashwagandha, to which extracts are standardised. |
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