Essential Oil Aromatic Classifications

What Is an Aromatic Classification?

The term Aromatic Classification refers to the categorization of essential oils based on their primary aromatic characteristics and scent profiles.

Why Is It Helpful to Categorize Essential Oils into Aromatic Classifications?

When blending essential oils, it is helpful to understand what aromatic traits particular essential oils have in common.

This classification helps describe an essential oil's overall aroma family, making it easier to compare and blend oils effectively.

Aromatic classifications include aromatic groupings such as citrus, floral, herbaceous, spicy, woody and more. These classifications help to understand an essential oil’s general fragrance category and how it may interact with other aromas.

The Challenge of Classifying Essential Oils by Scent

These classifications do not perfectly define an essential oil's exact aroma or chemical composition. Instead, they focus upon the dominant olfactory characteristics of the essential oil.

Scent is highly subjective, and many essential oils do not have a single dominant aromatic characteristic. Therefore, it can be challenging to classify some essential oils. Some oils can be associated with more than one scent category or fragrance family. Lastly, the aroma can vary between one distillation and another for natural reasons. The Petitgrain Essential Oil that I am working with, for example, may be more floral or woody in aroma than the Petitgrain Oil that you have on hand.

Essential Oil Classification is Open to Interpretation

Do you disagree with any of the classifications shown below? Essential oil classification is personal and adaptable!

Not everyone will be in agreement with how some essential oils in this list are classified, and that is perfectly fine.

For example, you may disagree with the inclusion of Lemon Tea Tree and the other non-citrus rind oils within the Citrus group.

This list serves as a good basis for your own personal assessments and categorizations.

It can be excellent practice to individually evaluate your essential oils and create your own classification system.

List of Over 100 Essential Oils Grouped By Scent Families

Shown below is a list of 100 essential oils that have been categorized into 18 aromatic groups based on the most dominant aromatic trait within the oil. Click on an essential oil's link to view a detailed profile for the essential oil.

Anisic

Balsamic

Camphorous

Cineolic

Citrus

Yuzu

Coniferous

Earthy / Rooty

Floral

Fruity

Green

Herbaceous

Medicinal

Minty

Mossy

Oakmoss

Peppery

Resinous

Spicy

Woody

References:

Jennifer Peace Rhind, Listening to Scent (London and Philadelphia: Singing Dragon, 2016), 121-127.
Valerie Ann Worwood, The Fragrant Mind (Novato, CA: New World Library, 1996), 272-276.