ABSTRACT
Essential oils have become an integral part of everyday life. They are used in a great variety of ways: as food avorings, as feed additives, as avoring agents by the cigarette industry, and in the compounding of cosmetics and perfumes. Furthermore, they are used in air fresheners and deodorizers as well as in all branches of medicine such as in pharmacy, balneology, massage, and homeopathy. A more specialized area will be in the elds of aromatherapy and aromachology. In recent years, the importance of essential oils as biocides and insect repellents has led to a more detailed study of their antimicrobial potential. Essential oils are also good natural sources of substances with commercial potential as starting materials for chemical synthesis.
